Accessibility and design: a failure of the imagination

ABSTRACT

This paper examines the relationship between accessibility and design. Accessibility is often viewed as a limitation on creativity and design. Designers look at accessibility guidelines and see only restrictions against techniques upon which they have long relied. They look at sites that are meant to serve as models of accessibility and are appalled by the aesthetics. For most designers, accessibility equates with boring, uninteresting designs. The state of accessibility on the web today represents a failure of the imagination. Accessible sites don't have to be boring. Boring sites do not have to serve as models of accessibility. Perhaps one of the greatest limitations on accessibility today is the sites we hold up as models of accessibility ARE boring. We have yet to bring the power and creativity of the design community to bear on the challenge of accessibility. If accessibility is to truly become a part of mainstream best practice, designers should be inspired to create sites that meet the requirements of accessibility elegantly. The accessibility community needs to find ways to invite mainstream designers to meet the challenge of accessible design and cultivate innovation in design. This presentation looks at some of the most common challenges of accessible design. These include issues related to navigation, layout and typography. Examples of various strategies as well as common practices will be presented.