OZeWAI’s strategic plan has considered the consequences of considering accessibility and inclusive design earlier in a project, know as the ‘shift-left’ or ‘baking in accessibility’. This change in when to consider accessibility has a focus that is not necessarily relevant when coding or testing (unless prototyping in code and using a design system).
The focus, instead, is on the users or customers and talking, listening and collaborating with them directly.
Digital accessibility checks at this earlier stage involves understanding some of the considerations for researching and usability testing with People with Disabilities (PwD) and other users with diverse backgrounds, environments or situations.
OZeWAI has developed a workshop to provide guidance for user researchers in partnership with the ResearchOps.Community and an important aspect is the building of relationships with PwD where they are, either via support and advocacy organisations or connecting with people directly on social media and at relevant events and activities.
Communities and organisations
- Australian disability organisations and advocacy groups
- Australian Government’s Representative Organisations
- Neurodiversity and Neurodivergent: Meanings, types and examples
- Cognitive Accessibility at W3C
Inclusive design
- Design for Cognitive Bias Resources Sheet by David Dylan Thomas
- Designkit.org: templates and examples
- Inclusive design by Microsoft
- Inclusive Design Principles
- Lean UX Canvas
- W3C’s Accessibility Fundamentals
- W3C’s business case
- Neurodiversity hub
Safety and well-being
- DSS – Good Practice Guidelines for Engaging People with Disability
- Job Access: Short courses on disability and mental health
- Phoenix Australia’s Trauma informed care
- Working with People with Lived Experience (Trauma informed & Stigma informed)
Recruitment and employment
- Intopia Connect
- Fable
- Fiverr Empower: support for freelancers with disabilities to be successful sellers on Fiverr
- Job Access – driving disability employment