Summary
Starting out with a ten-minute live demo from an expert screen reader user, Samuel Proulx will introduce you to not only how they work, but the thought processes behind using the Internet with a screen reader. What are some of the most important things to take into account when attempting to construct a mental model of a screen reader user? How do these effect the way you think about designing for accessible, public use? How can civic designers learn to move beyond thinking visually, to create designs that work for everyone? After this introduction, the floor will open to your questions! If you have burning questions about how people who are blind use the Internet, or what design patterns work best and why or why not, this is your chance! Ask any question at all in an open, safe learning environment.
Key Insights
-
•
Using assistive technology like screen readers is a skill that requires significant training and practice.
-
•
Screen readers navigate web pages by jumping between semantic elements like headings rather than reading everything sequentially.
-
•
Default out-of-the-box settings for screen readers do not reflect the experience of expert users, who heavily customize them.
-
•
Hover-only interface elements are inaccessible to screen reader users who rely on keyboard navigation.
-
•
Visual states such as pressed buttons must be communicated through ARIA attributes or focus changes for screen reader users.
-
•
Dialogs and dynamic content must manage focus properly to notify screen reader users of changes.
-
•
Screen reader users rely on short, immediate alerts for form errors and can explore more detailed messages at their own pace.
-
•
Custom hotkeys for applications should be designed considering frequency of user interaction and the complexity of memorization.
-
•
Accessibility must be a shared responsibility, integrated across design, development, and content rather than siloed.
-
•
Screen reader users can customize voice profiles and settings, meaning one-size-fits-all accessibility assumptions are flawed.
Notable Quotes
"It is very difficult for somebody who has never used assistive technology to have the same experience as someone who uses it daily for everything."
"The experience of using a screen reader is probably 10 times faster as you become more expert with it."
"Screen readers navigate based on the code and semantics, not on visual layout or appearance."
"If something is only visible on hover, it either needs to be visible to screen readers at all times or have an alternative way to access it."
"When you press a button like an upvote, it’s the developer’s job to make sure the visual state is communicated via ARIA landmarks."
"Focus changes are critical to inform screen reader users when dialogs open or content changes."
"Errors in form fields should alert users immediately but also allow them to explore details at their own pace to avoid cognitive overload."
"If you’re designing a site used infrequently, don’t overload it with custom hotkeys that are hard to memorize."
"Accessibility is not just one person’s responsibility; it must be distributed through the whole product team."
"Screen reader users control how metadata or tooltip voices are played, it’s a personal setting, not dictated by web designers."
Or choose a question:
More Videos
"Decision makers often have to try to piece all the pieces of the puzzle together themselves."
Brad Peters Anne MamaghaniShort Take #1: UX/Product Lessons from Your Industry Peers
December 6, 2022
"I like to think of myself as a DJ at a party, amplifying the power of design so more people can dance to the future."
Lona MooreScaling Design Beyond Designers
June 11, 2021
"Radically adaptive experiences bend to your current wants and needs, creating unique, unpredictable journeys."
Josh Clark Veronika KindredSentient Design, AI, and the Radically Adaptive Experience (1st of 3 seminars)
January 15, 2025
"Being involved early in product planning lets us bring the art and science of research to where it can be most helpful."
Erin May Roberta Dombrowski Laura Oxenfeld Brooke HintonDistributed, Democratized, Decentralized: Finding a Research Model to Support Your Org
March 10, 2022
"People were more likely to explain their thought process and just more context around the particular situation of their org."
Tara TresselInvestigating qualitative depth of AI-moderated interviews
March 10, 2026
"We absolutely need feedback loops so engineers and designers can influence the design system and keep it relevant."
Charles Lee Jennie YipBuilding a New Home for the Atlassian Design System
October 22, 2020
"Equipped with the right tools, we can truly meet students where they are."
Kristin SkinnerFive Years of DesignOps
September 29, 2021
"Put the most important message right up front no matter what the format."
Megan BlockerGetting to the “So What?”: How Management Consulting Practices Can Transform Your Approach to Research
March 26, 2024
"Even the best-designed public-facing tools need operational and policy support to succeed."
Shanti Mathew Natalie Sims Natalia RadywylCivic Design at Scale: Introducing the Public Policy Layer Cake
December 9, 2021
