I am working on finishing up this weeks module ‘Diversity and Accessibility’ in my Foundations of Instructional Systems Technology course. This was one of my favorite sections since I been working hard to educate myself and implement digital accessibility and usability in my work. I never thought it would become a passion of mine but something inside me spurred me to do better, code better and make everything I touch accessible.
Why does Accessibility and Universal Design Matter?
Accessibility is about providing equal access/opportunities, not customizations for a specific individual, it’s in fact for everyone. Universal design is a broad concept, The Center for Universal Design at North Carolina State University defines it as “the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.”
Technology and products that are universally designed are accessible to a wide community of people, including different types of disabilities. These products help minimize the need for assistive technology.
Examples of Universally Designed Products
- 36″+ width doorframes
- websites (that are accessible)
- sidewalks and cut curbs
- storage units tall, short, etc people can access
- screen readers
- video captions
The Universal Benefits of Accessible Design
Fantastic video of White House Champion of Change, Forbes 30 under 30 leader, and BBC Women of Africa Hero, Haben Girma is an acclaimed accessibility and inclusion advocate. She is the first deaf blind person to graduate from Harvard Law School, Haben champions equal access to information for people with disabilities, earning her recognition from both President Obama and President Clinton. Through the presentation, Haben shares how designing with accessibility in mind benefits not just users with disabilities, but developers, too.
