Last week’s BIMA Breakfast event, held in conjunction with Global Accessibility Awareness Day, brought together an expert panel of designers, disability advocates, and accessibility consultants to discuss the crucial need for inclusive digital design for people with physical disabilities. At Anything is Possible, we’re all about exploring new horizons and uncovering our own knowledge gaps. So we’re thrilled to share the insights and knowledge gained from this powerful event, led by a phenomenal speaker line-up featuring Matt Gibson, Paul Bepey, Meera Rao, and Yahye Siyad.
The great accessibility challenge
Did you know 96% of the top million websites are inaccessible? It’s time to change that! As touchscreens and devices evolve, they’ve ironically become less accessible for some users. The event delved into understanding the challenges faced by people with physical disabilities in everyday life using digital products. We must innovate and develop creative ways to normalise inclusive digital design to include everyone in our rapidly advancing digital world.
Teamwork makes the dream work
Businesses often struggle with accessibility because of isolated teams. To create an inclusive digital space, we need to break down barriers and embrace a holistic approach. Collaboration and diversity, including hiring individuals with disabilities, can bring unique perspectives and solutions to the table and can create inclusive digital spaces that cater to everyone’s needs.
Transforming the accessibility mindset
The key to unlocking true digital accessibility lies in shifting our mindset. Let’s bring the conversation to the forefront, integrating inclusive digital design into developers’ education and promoting a culture of empathy and understanding.
Dare to think differently! By embracing innovative approaches to accessibility, we can create digital products that cater to diverse audiences. Good design isn’t just visually appealing – it’s designed for everyone. It is important to remember that it is digital barriers that disable users with impairments in the first place.
To go beyond merely technically accessible solutions, we need to focus on user-friendliness and understandability. This can be achieved through in-depth user research and routine accessibility audits, ensuring we’re crafting experiences that truly resonate with everyone.
AI: The game-changer for accessibility
AI technology, such as ChatGPT, holds the potential to revolutionise accessibility. Although it’s not fully accessible yet, imagine a future where AI effortlessly follows accessibility guidelines and offers seamless, inclusive experiences across all platforms!
Accessible design in action
The gov.uk website is a fantastic example of how accessibility can be integrated into a user-friendly digital experience. Let’s learn from their success and strive to create similarly inclusive digital offerings.
To sum it up, the BIMA Breakfast event was a thrilling reminder of the vast potential that lies in making the digital landscape accessible for all. By being proactive, embracing innovation, and prioritising inclusivity, we can shape a digital world where everyone feels welcome. At Anything is Possible, we’re committed to championing digital accessibility, and we can’t wait to see what exciting developments lie ahead!
