summary

In this episode of the Web Usability podcast, Lucy Collins speaks with Jon O'Donnell, a Senior Accessibility Specialist at the Department for Work and Pensions. They discuss Jon's personal journey into accessibility, the importance of document accessibility, common issues found in documents, and the need for a mindset shift regarding accessibility practices. Jon shares insights on the DWP's proactive approach to improving accessibility and the impact of assistive technologies like Dragon software on his work and life. The conversation emphasises the importance of making documents accessible to unlock the potential of individuals with disabilities and create a more inclusive society.

takeaways

• Jon's journey into accessibility began from personal experience.
• Document accessibility is often overlooked but crucial for inclusion.
• Accessibility should be seen as a standard practice, not an extra task.
• Good design benefits everyone, not just those with disabilities.
• DWP has invested in an accessibility team to improve practices.
• Training and awareness are key to improving document accessibility.
• Micro barriers can significantly impact productivity and self-worth.
• Assistive technologies can empower individuals with disabilities.
• Creating accessible documents is a matter of good practice and efficiency.
• Accessibility is essential for unlocking the potential of all individuals.

titles

• The Hidden Importance of Document Accessibility
• The Future of Accessibility in the Public Sector

Sound Bites

• "I realised how much of a barrier there was."
• "Documents often get overlooked in the accessibility space."
• "It's about communicating with your audience."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Web Usability and Accessibility

01:09 John O'Donnell's Journey into Accessibility

03:56 The Importance of Document Accessibility

09:47 Common Accessibility Issues in Documents

15:14 Changing Mindsets Around Accessibility

20:04 DWP's Approach to Accessibility

25:08 Personal Experiences with Accessibility Tools

27:58 Unlocking Potential Through Accessibility

summary

In this episode, Lucy Collins and her team discuss the importance of accessibility in various digital spaces, including websites, mobile apps, forms, office documents, PDFs, emails, e-learning, social media, and intranets. They emphasise the need to consider accessibility in all digital content and highlight the impact it can have on improving the user experience for everyone. The team provides practical tips and considerations for creating accessible content in each of these spaces.

keywords

accessibility, digital spaces, websites, mobile apps, forms, office documents, PDFs, emails, e-learning, social media, intranets

takeaways

• Accessibility is important in all digital spaces, not just websites.
• Improving accessibility benefits people with disabilities and improves the user experience for all users.
• Mobile apps should be built with accessibility in mind, considering factors like orientation, target size, responsiveness, and keyboard operability.
• Forms should be designed with clear instructions, expectations, and error messaging to ensure usability for all users.
• Office documents, including Word, PowerPoint, and Excel files, should follow accessibility guidelines, such as using proper heading structure, plain language, and relevant alt text for images.
• PDFs should be avoided if possible, but if necessary, they should be created from accessible Word documents and checked for accessibility using tools like Adobe Acrobat Pro.
• Emails should have descriptive link text, proper heading structure, and readable font sizes and styles.
• Social media content should include alt text for images, use camel case for hashtags, and avoid relying on emojis to convey important information.
• E-learning should consider different learning styles and provide alternative routes for users with different accessibility needs.
• Intranets should be accessible for internal staff, as they play a crucial role in efficient work and service delivery.
• Adopting an accessibility-first mentality in all digital content creation will lead to better usability and inclusivity.

titles

• Designing Usable Forms
• Writing Accessible Emails

Sound Bites

• "Accessibility should be a basic human right."
• "Apps are more important for disabled users."
• "Check your documents with the accessibility checker before sending or publishing."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Overview

02:34 Building Accessible Mobile Apps

04:26 Designing Usable Forms

08:09 Creating Accessible Office Documents

10:57 Avoiding Inaccessible PDFs

12:44 Writing Accessible Emails

16:58 Ensuring Accessibility in Social Media

22:26 Considerations for Accessible E-Learning

26:07 Making Intranets Accessible

30:23 Adopting an Accessibility-First Mentality

Summary

In this episode, Lucy Collins interviews Scott Fulton, Director of Digital Rebels, about the importance of evidence-based design in creating effective digital services. Scott shares his experience of becoming a digital leader and the pivotal moment when he realised the importance of user-centered design. They discuss the common mistakes organisations make in designing websites and intranets, such as being organisation-centric and not prioritising user needs. Scott emphasises the need for organisations to be open to being wrong and to prioritise customer empathy. He also shares his insights on coaching and training teams to thrive in the digital age.

Keywords

evidence-based design, user-centered design, website design, intranet design, customer empathy, coaching, training

Takeaways

• Designing digital services based on assumptions and without user evidence can lead to ineffective and unhelpful experiences for users.
• Organisations should prioritize customer empathy and be willing to admit when they don't know something, in order to gather evidence and design better digital services.
• Intranets often suffer from egocentric thinking and department-centric structures, which can result in content that is not user-driven.
• Investing in employees and providing them with the information they need to do their jobs better ultimately benefits the external customers.
• Cutting through the noise and prioritizing tasks that deliver value to customers is essential for teams to thrive in the digital age.

Titles

• Prioritising Customer Empathy and User Needs
• Common Mistakes in Website and Intranet Design

Sound Bites

• "Design your website...