Accessibility Manifesto: Making the web better for everyone

What are we talking about when we talk about accessibility?

  • We subscribe to the POUR principles: perceivable, operable, understandable, robust
  • We are not bound or limited by common understandings of what accessibilty includes. We want to make the web better for everyone, whatever that involves.
  • "Digital" isn't just about web - how do we consider accessibility in webinars and online events, emails, audio, etc
  • How do we consider people who aren't as tech savvy in how we set up our websites / apps/ digital products?
  • Not using dark patterns (e.g. burying "unsubscribe" to service options).

Who in an organisation is responsible, accountable, consulted and informed when it comes to accessibility?

Responsible

  • Designers
  • Content Writers
  • Devs and techies
  • QA and testers

Accountable

We suggest organisations form an "accessibiliy committee".

Consulted

  • Clients

Informed

  • Executives / board members
  • External stakeholders where relevant (e.g. grant reporting)

Ethical Considerations

  • Making websites and digital experiences accessibile is an ethical imperative. While it is a legal requirement in some legislations and contexts, we shouldn't let the legal requirements drive our work towards accessibility.
  • Use of AI (sometimes the robot is good). How can we ensure we are using AI tools ethically, e.g. Otter AI for transcripts and meeting summaries, ChatGPT for digesting information and reducing overwhelm etc. What are the ethical concerns with these technologies, and how can we mitigate them?

    • Context is key

    • Autoplay of music and video - MySpace songs. Context is key. TikTok "mute on entry" setting.

    We need to challenge our preconceptions