As part of our efforts to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) at Mission Met, we're hosting internal workshops where each team member explores topics of interest about incorporating DEIJ principles into our work

These workshops help us better understand and commit to creating a diverse, fair, inclusive, and just environment at Mission Met and in our broader community. This is the sixth workshop in our series and we’re sharing the key takeaways with you. (You can also find insights from our previous workshops on project management, unconscious bias, allyship, a reflection of our company’s current DEIJ efforts, and recent DEIJ news.)

The Topic

This workshop focused on the importance of accessibility, web accessibility in general, and accessibility in Causey and outlined various principles, guidelines, and best practices for creating accessible web products. 

Nick Smith, a software developer at Mission Met, presented on this topic. His professional journey is deeply influenced by a personal connection to accessibility; his wife works as an intervention specialist, which provides him with a unique perspective on how individuals with disabilities navigate and often face barriers within various systems.

These insights into the daily challenges faced by people with disabilities sparked a desire to make digital spaces more inclusive. As a developer, he is keen to understand and implement the various tools and methods that can enhance accessibility in software products.

Through his exploration of accessibility, Nick has gained valuable technical knowledge about the tools and libraries available to developers. More importantly, he has come to understand that disability is far more common than he previously believed. This realization has reinforced his commitment to designing for disability, recognizing that such efforts not only benefit the affected population but also improve the overall user experience.

Introduction to Accessibility

This article highlights the key takeaways from this workshop including an introduction to accessibility and best practices. You can access the presentation slides for more information.

The training began with a quick overview about accessibility and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). These are guidelines that provide a comprehensive framework for creating accessible websites, with the following principles:

• Perceivable: Users must be able to see or hear the information. This includes providing captions for videos for users who are hard of hearing.

• Operable: Users must be able to interact with and operate the website, which includes providing keyboard access.

• Understandable: The content must be comprehensible. This involves using clear and simple language and avoiding jargon.

• Robust: The website should be compatible with various tools and devices, such as screen readers.

Engaging Exercises

Prior to the training, the Mission Met team explored our own software, keeping accessibility in mind. These exercises provided the team with tangible insight into what individuals with disabilities experience on a regular basis. It helped us gain awareness and empathy for these individuals. Because we are more mindful of the challenges they face, we want to be better developers of products and services to ensure inclusivity.

For example, individuals with disabilities often experience the common digital accessibility challenges listed below:

1. Screen Reader Issues: Users relying on screen readers encounter difficulties because certain interactive elements (such as expandable or collapsible sections, icons, names, and color-coded buttons) do not announce themselves properly. This limits the accessibility and usability of the information.

2. Visual Impairments and Color Blindness: Did you know that 70 Percent of Internet Websites in some industries are unavailable to visually impaired users? Visual impairment includes color blindness and key information on websites can be obscured by a color-coded scheme. This makes it difficult for them to distinguish important elements and access necessary information effectively.

3. Keyboard Navigation Difficulties: Navigating software using only the keyboard can reveal challenges with completing tasks efficiently. Keyboard-based navigation varies from software tool to software tool, and inconsistent suport hinders their ability to interact with software.

4. Content Complexity: Many users of software would benefit from simpler language and wording. It’s important for product teams and developers to simplify language, avoid complex sentences, and eliminate confusing wording to enhance clarity and understanding.

We want to continue to grow and evolve as a business and most of the exercises we completed revealed ways that the software's accessibility could be improved to provide a better experience for users of all abilities. If you’re interested in exploring ways to test software for accessibility purposes or to build your own empathy, here is a list of exercises.

Best Practices for Accessibility

Through the discussion, we touched on some best practices for making sure our products and services are accessible. 

• Involve Users with Disabilities: Engage users with disabilities early and often in the design process to understand their experiences and needs.

• Flexibility and Consistency: Create flexible designs that can be adapted to new needs and maintain consistency in design to reduce surprises and increase accessibility.

• Text-to-Speech and Focus Aids: Utilize text-to-speech software and focus aids to assist users with cognitive impairments.

• Cognitive Impairments: Addressing cognitive impairments such as attention deficit disorders, memory impairment, and learning disabilities involves making content understandable and using tools like text-to-speech.

• Design Strategies: Use simple language, consistent navigation, chunk information into manageable pieces, and minimize errors to make the website more accessible.

Future Direction

Beyond the realm of software development, Nick is passionate about extending accessibility practices to consulting, training, and marketing. He seeks to explore and promote best practices that ensure inclusivity in all aspects of Mission Met's work, striving to create an environment where everyone can fully participate and thrive.

This training helped our team recognize the significant areas where we can enhance accessibility in all aspects of our business. This experience has increased our empathy for individuals with various disabilities. It has also highlighted how accessibility challenges, despite the foundations laid by the ADA in the 1990s, remain prevalent across industries and around the globe.

Our awareness has expanded to include the spectrum of disabilities of all kinds—temporary, situational, and permanent—and how Universal Design seeks to create digital environments, products, services, and communication methods that help people of all different abilities. As we continue to improve, our commitment to accessibility and inclusivity will not only enhance user experience but also contribute to a more equitable digital world for everyone.