Half Baked Idea #5 - Baking in accessibility from the beginning
Lessons in agility from the Great British Bake Off
Introduction
Last year’s series of the Great British Bake Off had it’s first ever deaf contestant Tasha, accompanied by British Sign Language interpreter, Daryl.
Having Daryl on set ensured Tasha had equal access to communication, so she got the same quality of instructions from judges, time calls from the hosts, and could describe her bakes and receive Paul & Prue’s feedback.
For a truly equitable participant experience, Daryl was in the kitchen with Tasha from the start; he wasn’t added part way through the series.
Here’s a recipe for success for baking accessibility in to the development lifecycle from the beginning.
GATHER YOUR INGREDIENTS:
Start together to make sure you have all the skills, tools and ingredients you need
Involve all team members from the beginning to ensure inclusivity and commitment to accessibility.
Including all disciplines at the planning stage helps identify whether we have everything and everyone we need, creates a sense of ownership and helps establish a clear commitment to creating a product that is inclusive and accessible to users of all abilities.
READ YOUR RECIPE:
Ensure accessibility is part of the brief
Imagine following a recipe that skips important steps in the middle, assuming you'll somehow figure it out. Bakers might miss crucial details or forget about them entirely.
Similarly, when product briefs lack clear guidance on accessibility, requirements may be overlooked or not prioritised. To ensure success, we need comprehensive product briefs that explicitly highlight accessibility as an essential component.
This way, everyone knows it's a crucial step not to be missed.
PREHEAT YOUR OVEN:
Accessible Design
Incorporate inclusive design principles from the outset to create an accessible end product. This means considering the needs of all potential users, including those with disabilities, right from the start. By doing so, we can ensure we create a final product that is accessible to everyone.
BAKE:
Build bake it right
Building simple, reusable code following production standards and principles sets the tone, ensures that our development process is smoother than a well-kneaded dough and keeps our kitchen (and code) free from unnecessary waste.
TEST:
Testing whether it’s baked done
During the build process, it's essential to integrate automated tests that cover various aspects of product functionality, including accessibility.
Testing should involve both evaluating the product with assistive technologies, such as screen readers, and conducting usability tests with individuals representing diverse abilities. This step ensures that the product meets accessibility standards and provides a seamless experience for all users.
SERVE:
No half-baked fixes
Attempting to retro-fit accessibility during bug fixes is a bit like trying to cover up a baking disaster – rather than trying to cover up a soggy bottom or hide the flavour of burnt caramel, sometimes you might actually just have to start again.
Planning accessibility from the start means it’s seamlessly integrated, avoiding the sticky situation of serving our users an unfinished product that leaves a sour taste.
Accessibility should be an essential ingredient, not a last-minute addition.
STORE:
Accessibility requires a long shelf-life, it is never truly "done"
Evolving standards
Changing technologies and advancements
User feedback, needs and preferences can change
Content updates
Legal compliance
Accessibility is a continuous commitment to creating digital products that can be used by the widest possible audience, meet legal requirements, and exclude nobody. While initial efforts may address many accessibility concerns, ongoing monitoring, updates, and improvements are necessary to ensure that digital products remain accessible and inclusive over time.
PRESENT TO THE JUDGES:
All users deserve a show-stopping user experience, not a technical challenge. Inaccessible software shouldn’t be leaving the kitchen.
The bakers have to present their bakes to Paul & Prue no matter what state they are in, but we don’t have to!
When accessibility is part of our culture and just the way we do things, all of this becomes just part of the process for creating high quality products that work for everyone.