Summary
Online shopping was first premiered in the 1980s, as a way for people who couldn’t shop in-person to easily make purchases. But how far we’ve come! In this talk, Fable’s Accessibility Evangelist Sam Proulx will walk you through some of the key factors to create an online shopping experience that is accessible to everyone. From his perspective as a full time screen reader user, and drawing on Fable’s thousands of hours working with people with disabilities, Sam will highlight how consistency, convenience, confidence, and customizability enable a smooth experience for all users, disabled or not. Let’s bring online shopping back to its accessibility roots! Read the transcript
Key Insights
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Accessibility should focus on the four Cs: consistency, convenience, confidence, and customizability.
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A consistent user experience across platforms builds trust and reduces cognitive load for all users.
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Convenience features like multiple payment options and browser autofill can enhance user experience for everyone, especially those with disabilities.
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Providing a seamless and familiar checkout process alleviates stress for users with disabilities who may face additional challenges.
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Customizability in design allows users to interact with products in ways that suit their individual needs, improving overall accessibility.
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Investing in accessibility means investing in a better experience for all customers, not just those with disabilities.
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Engaging with users who have disabilities during product development is crucial for creating effective and accessible designs.
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Accessibility work can lead to increased customer loyalty and a broader market reach.
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Online retailers that prioritize accessibility may find greater success in retaining customers.
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Understanding accessibility as part of the user experience journey improves satisfaction and reduces abandonment rates.
Notable Quotes
"When you design for the edges, you get the middle for free."
"The accessibility of Amazon and Costco isn't perfect, but they're so consistent that I can now buy a product from Amazon basically in my sleep."
"If a product is available at Amazon, I'm gonna default to buying it there because of consistency."
"When we talk about convenience, we mean reducing stress and cognitive load."
"If you can take PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, you are guaranteed to be taking at least one payment provider that works with someone's accessibility needs."
"When I can't check out confidently, I'm not going to struggle through a checkout process making me nervous about it."
"Meeting people where they're at helps create a more accessible experience."
"With customizability comes accessibility, not just for people with disabilities but for everyone."
"The best way to improve accessibility is by involving people with disabilities in your product development phases."
"The journey and conversation about accessibility need to keep going forward."
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