How can you incorporate accessibility into your career development strategies?

Educating yourself is the first step towards building more inclusive products, I know building for all seems too good to be true, but I always believe in creating inclusive designs that cater to all type of audience. Understanding it will make you a better product designer. Take up courses, look at guidelines and try talking to people and empathise with them.

Start by understanding the basics of making websites and apps easy for everyone to use. Take online classes to learn simple rules for designing things that work for everyone. Read guides from groups like W3C or A11y Project to get helpful tips.

Learning the basics starts with training. It is great to watch a few videos on YouTube but nothing beats formal training. Consider self-study courses like the Section 508 Trusted Tester course or hiring a company that specializes in web or document accessibility. I have found many people interested in accessibility as a career have had to re-learn topics due to misinformation or partial truths.

Develop a genuine desire to create products that can be accessed and used by all people, rather than just a select few. Continually learn and adopt best practices, and always employ common sense in your projects. Scrutinise each design decision, asking yourself whether it will apply to all users or whether it might restrict the user group. Remember, accessibility and inclusivity encompass everyone. Ensure that all individuals who wish to use your product/services can do so.

Committed to accessibility, we prioritize it from the start in our product development process. This involves continuous testing for visual bugs and full user flow assessments, treating accessibility issues with high priority. Our dedicated teams in engineering, product, documentation, and testing ensure adherence to best practices and ADA standards, reinforcing our dedication to inclusivity. An open channel for feedback allows us to constantly improve and evolve, recognizing accessibility as not just best practice but a fundamental right of all users, vital to our product's success.

Applying accessibility is the first step, but testing that user experience is a crucial next step. Knowing how the user will experience the content you have created will ensure what you have implemented will not create any unintended barriers, reading or navigation issues.

If you want to effectively showcase accessibility in your portfolio, include projects that highlight your experience in creating accessible designs. Detail the specific accessibility guidelines you followed, such as WCAG, and explain how you implemented them. For instance, you could showcase a website redesign where you improved colour contrast for better visibility or restructured content for screen reader compatibility. Additionally, discussing the challenges you faced and how you overcame them can provide insight into your problem-solving abilities.

Engaging with other professionals in the accessibility community is key. This is how you learn real-world remediation techniques and problem-solving advice. Fortunately, this community is very friendly. There are many groups on LinkedIn and social media where you can ask questions and find a supportive community.

A great way to update your resume is to get a certification for web or document accessibility. Job experience is great too! Organizations like the IAAP or the Department of Homeland Security offer certificates and certifications for accessibility related to documents, web, and general accessibility.

Use AI tools like Jobscan to optimize keywords on your resume and LinkedIn for enhanced visibility. Platforms such as Canva offers AI-driven features to craft visually compelling presentations of your accessibility projects. Leverage AI analytics on LinkedIn to refine content strategy and monitor engagement. Highlight your commitment to accessibility with AI-powered storytelling tools, creating impactful narratives for potential employers. Integrating these AI tools streamlines branding, emphasizing expertise and dedication in the accessibility domain. Additionally, integrate LinkedIn features like endorsements or portfolio updates to provide valuable examples of your expertise.

Use AI tools like Jobscan to optimize keywords on your resume and LinkedIn for enhanced visibility. Platforms such as Canva offers AI-driven features to craft visually compelling presentations of your accessibility projects. Leverage AI analytics on LinkedIn to refine content strategy and monitor engagement. Highlight your commitment to accessibility with AI-powered storytelling tools, creating impactful narratives for potential employers. Integrating these AI tools streamlines branding, emphasizing expertise and dedication in the accessibility domain. Additionally, integrate LinkedIn features like endorsements or portfolio updates to provide valuable examples of your expertise.

Integrate accessibility into UX career development by staying informed, pursuing certifications, and incorporating inclusive design into skill development plans. Engage in mentorship, advocate for accessibility within teams, and include accessibility goals in performance metrics. Seek inclusive design projects, participate in accessibility communities, and collaborate with diverse teams. Encourage accessibility advocacy in leadership roles, conduct regular audits, and stay current with guidelines. Document best practices, celebrate accessibility successes, and foster a culture of continuous feedback and iteration for a more inclusive design approach.

Accessibility is a journey, and the most important thing is to be on it. Even if you aren’t an Accessibility guru yet, having some experience distinguishes you from another candidate who has none.