Sam Proulx

" Understanding how assistive technology evolves is crucial because it foretells the future of interface design. "

" Consistency means the same interactions always do the same things; buttons are in the same place, and flows don’t change suddenly. "

" Accessibility is a journey and a conversation—thanks for starting yours by being here today. "

" VoiceOver gestures like swipe right move the focus through elements; double tap activates them. "

" Confidence is a higher burden in retail because people are giving real money; inaccessible flows cause quick abandonment. "

" Accessibility is now considered not just a moral necessity and a human right but a business good because accessible products are better and easier for everyone to use. "

" Lack of confidence caused by unlabeled or difficult controls often leads assistive tech users to give up on purchases. "

" Typing on a mobile screen reader requires exploring the keyboard and double tapping keys, which can be cumbersome. "

" It took competitors over seven years to catch up to where Apple is with voice dictation and accessibility. "

" Accessibility doesn’t stop at the desktop just because you’ve made your desktop website accessible. "

" If we create inaccessible products, we are locking out our future selves. "

" People said graphical user interfaces are bad for accessibility and that blind people would have to stick to command lines forever. "

" Everyone already uses accessibility features whether you have a disability or not. "

" On mobile, there's only one screen reader per platform—no confusion across multiple software versions. "

" Accessibility needs are a spectrum, not binary. "

" Every app built into my phone is perfect when it comes to accessibility – Apple and Android set a strong example. "

" Disability is normal, not shameful or rare, and everyone can benefit from accessibility innovations. "

" We are beginning to see cycles of history repeat themselves in accessibility, especially in gaming and AR/VR. "

" The tools on mobile are free and built-in, unlike desktop where accessibility tools often require licenses and procurement. "

" Diverse teams build diverse products. "

" Accessibility is not just one person’s responsibility; it must be distributed through the whole product team. "

" In a usability session, the biggest challenge is not to talk at the same time the screen reader is talking. "

" Aim to work with at least one person on each platform your product supports, because assistive tech varies. "

" Users with physical challenges often can see and interpret prototypes but may need help clicking through them because assistive tech may not support the prototype system. "

" Most people listen to 250 words per minute; I often listen at 400 to 800 words per minute. "

" Every piece of assistive technology is highly customized for the individual, so labs often fail to replicate users’ ideal setups. "

" What a screen reader user does is they don’t start at the top and tab through every single element; they navigate by headings and landmarks. "

" Alternative navigation users might use voice commands, head mice, or grid coordinates to access elements. "