Sam Proulx

" We need to become data ethicists and curators, not just data vacuum cleaners, to prioritize quality data. "

" Customizability is about meeting people where they are, whether that’s on mobile, desktop, voice interaction, or different communication channels. "

" Involving people with disabilities from the start reveals impact and usability issues that automated testing simply cannot catch. "

" With great customizability comes great complication. "

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

" If you falsely think you are having the same experience as a native user, you become afraid of accessibility and say it's impossible. "

" Offering the ability to save your progress allows users with disabilities to complete tasks on their own time. "

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

" Apple’s innovation with VoiceOver on iOS changed the world by making accessibility a built-in, first-party responsibility. "

" Mobile app crashes give more detailed feedback and user metrics than desktop browser crashes. "

" Compliance is a framework, not just a checklist to tick off. "

" It took competitors over seven years to catch up to Apple’s accessibility features like Siri, dark mode, and multitouch. "

" Disability isn't rare; one in five people have a disability right now. "

" You might be thinking about accessibility backwards; start with mobile first, then extend to desktop. "

" We still think of accessibility as a binary when it should be recognized as a continuum. "

" Starting your accessibility efforts on mobile makes the process simpler and easier to reuse when expanding to other platforms. "

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

" The Apple 3GS and the accessibility that was developed by Apple was a massive shift. "

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

" Thinking about accessibility is really thinking about creating technology that works for all people all the time. "

" Screen reader users control how metadata or tooltip voices are played, it’s a personal setting, not dictated by web designers. "

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

" Screen reader users require prototypes that contain semantic information like heading levels, control labels, and landmarks. "

" Involving people with disabilities throughout the product development cycle is crucial, from prototype reviews through to acceptance testing. "

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

" The question who are most people is confusing when applied to assistive technology users in usability scales. "

" If you make an app that users only use once a year, don’t expect them to learn dozens of custom shortcuts. "

" Traditional usability labs often force assistive tech users to use unfamiliar setups, creating barriers. "