Lesson 9Getting started: planning and initiating accessible web design
- Notion 60 - Take stock of what you know and what you need to know
- Notion 61 - Make sure everyone on your team is on the same page
- Notion 62 - Include accessibility into your budget
- Notion 63 - Make note of the technical requirements needed for accessible design
- Notion 64 - Test and evaluate your ideas with experts and tools
- Notion 65 - Test and evaluate your ideas with your target audience
- Notion 66 - Review of the main concepts
Notion 60
Take stock of what you know and what you need to know
Target skills
Estimating your know-how and the knowledge you have before undertaking a project is crucial to determine:
- the internal resources you can mobilize
- the resources to be acquired, either through training, the acquisition of tools or through resources and recruitment that you will outsource.
- Define a global strategy for the company regarding accessibility and an action plan.
- Appoint or recruit an accessibility consultant within your company.
Estimating your internal resources
In order to best organize your assessment, various tools are available to you. By creating lists and mind maps, you will be able to take stock of your knowledge. Don't forget to assess your level of legal knowledge. Nearly 72% of companies developing a digital service are unaware of the risks arising from a lack of accessibility...
Estimate the skills to be acquired
The skills to be acquired are those that you will be able to use in the short, medium and long term within your company. If you undertake training to acquire them or if you acquire new tools, these choices must be part of a global company strategy.
Knowledge and skills to outsource
There are many reasons for outsourcing: you need an expert opinion on the issue and you don't have that expertise, you need a specific technical skill, you don't have the time internally to deal with the issue... To enable the development of skills, an expert is needed to advise, assist and propose training as well as awareness-raising actions for a better consideration.
Define a global strategy for your company by carrying out an evaluation (audit) of the level of accessibility
If you are in the process of redesigning or creating a new website, accessibility must be taken into account from the design stage.
If your support is already online, an audit with recommendations will give you a precise idea of the actions to take.
Appoint or recruit an accessibility referent
The accessibility referent is responsible for ensuring that the processes necessary to take accessibility into account are established, implemented and maintained.
He/she reports to management on the level of accessibility and any need for improvement within the organization.
He/She ensures that awareness of accessibility requirements throughout the organization is promoted.
The accessibility referent will become the single point of entry on digital accessibility issues within your company.
Please note that there is no magic or miracle solution when it comes to accessibility. A simple plug-in or overlay implemented on your website will not guarantee the compliance of your website to the norms and standards in force. Accessibility is a rigorous process that involves many skills and serious planning.