How do you communicate and collaborate with accessibility experts and advocates?

1 Know your audience

Before you start designing or developing your software, you need to understand who your target users are, and what their accessibility needs and preferences are. Accessibility experts and advocates can help you identify and empathize with your diverse user personas, and provide you with relevant data, research, and standards on accessibility. You can also consult with them on how to conduct user research and testing with people with disabilities, and how to incorporate their feedback into your software quality assurance.

2 Use accessible tools and methods

Communication and collaboration with accessibility experts and advocates should be done using accessible tools and methods, such as email, video conferencing, chat, or project management software. You should ensure that the tools and methods you use are compatible with assistive technologies, such as screen readers, magnifiers, or keyboards, and that they follow the principles of clear, concise, and consistent communication. You should also use common accessibility terminology, such as WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines), ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications), or ATAG (Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines), and avoid jargon, acronyms, or abbreviations that may confuse or exclude your accessibility partners.

3 Involve them early and often

Accessibility experts and advocates should be involved in your software development process from the beginning to the end, and not as an afterthought or a checkbox. You should invite them to participate in your planning, design, development, testing, and evaluation stages, and solicit their input, feedback, and approval on your accessibility goals, strategies, and outcomes. You should also keep them updated on your progress, challenges, and achievements, and acknowledge their contributions and expertise. By involving them early and often, you can avoid costly and time-consuming accessibility issues, and ensure that your software meets the expectations and needs of your users.

4 Learn from them

Communication and collaboration with accessibility experts and advocates is also an opportunity for you to learn from them, and to improve your own accessibility skills and knowledge. You should be open-minded, respectful, and curious about their perspectives, experiences, and suggestions, and ask them questions, clarifications, and recommendations. You should also seek their feedback on your own accessibility performance, and identify areas for improvement or further learning. You can also leverage their resources, networks, and communities, and join accessibility events, webinars, or courses to enhance your accessibility competence and confidence.

5 Empower them

Communication and collaboration with accessibility experts and advocates is not a one-way street. You should also empower them to communicate and collaborate with you, and to share their accessibility insights, opinions, and concerns. You should create a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment for them, where they feel valued, respected, and heard. You should also encourage them to challenge, question, or propose changes to your software design, development, or quality processes, and to advocate for accessibility best practices and standards. You should also recognize and celebrate their accessibility achievements and impact, and support their professional development and growth.

6 Foster a culture of accessibility

Communication and collaboration with accessibility experts and advocates is not only a project-based activity, but also a culture-building one. You should foster a culture of accessibility in your software quality team, where accessibility is seen as a shared responsibility, a core value, and a source of innovation and excellence. You should also promote accessibility awareness, education, and engagement among your team members, stakeholders, and users, and showcase your accessibility successes and stories. By fostering a culture of accessibility, you can create a positive and lasting impact on your software quality, user satisfaction, and social responsibility.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?