Katie 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️Apr 27, 2023
Sommer Panage

Accessibility isn’t something you add to your product. It is your product.

I think 90% of my job is trying to convey this. If the button isn’t labeled, if the text cannot be seen, if the action cannot be performed, then it may as well not be there for some subset of people. #accessibility #a11y

Apr 27, 2023 at 2:32pmWeb
Show threadCIWS-30Apr 27, 2023
@sommer I agree with you, and applaud you for spreading this message. It's amazing how many apps and even games don't get this, both in the past, and even today.
Show threadberslingApr 27, 2023
@sommer devils advocate here: making things accessible costs money. Educating staff on this, adding the features etc. If this subgroup of people doesn't bring enough money, why should I add it as a capitalist corp? I mean it is completely non social and I don't advocate for this, but isn't that the reality?
Show threadEric EggertApr 27, 2023

@bersling @sommer But it makes financial sense, too. Accessible design is flexible and good design. And that will be a benefit to all users.

It’s true that there is a lot inaccessible (tech) debt out there, and rebuilding in an accessible way is more expensive than doing it from the beginning. And yes, because we missed the boat, we also need to educate people.

But in an ageing society, after a mass disabling event, accessibility investment pays back big time.

Show threadJessamynApr 27, 2023
@bersling @sommer Because ADA lawsuits could potentially be very very expensive and then you'll have to make it accessible anyhow? Also: it's discriminatory which is bad optics as well as a terrible idea.
Show threadJacob Ibáñez Apr 28, 2023
@bersling @sommer let me challenge your comment, please. Why would you play devil's advocate with something affecting people's lives? There are some minimums that should be out of discussion and this is one. Technology SHALL improve quality of life for every human. Hope it makes sense 🫶🏼
Show threadHans CathcartApr 27, 2023
@sommer As I've been getting more into iOS development and building automated tests in Xcode, I'm curious if there are any tools to automatically generate Xcode tests that warn of accessibility issues, like missing Button labels?
Show threadTinyrabbit ✅Apr 27, 2023

@sommer same goes for privacy, which is equally hard to get companoes to understand.

Keep up the good work! It’s needed.

Show threadAlditrusMay 6, 2023
@sommer UX is everything