Summary
In this interactive session, Sam Proulx, accessibility evangelist at Fable, will draw from experience as a person with a disability, and from Fable’s thousands of hours of research experience, to answer all of your questions about conducting prototype reviews with people with disabilities. What design systems work best? What disabilities can participate in prototype reviews out of the box, and what types of disabilities might need special adaptations? What information should a prototype contain, to get the best feedback and engagement from people with disabilities? How can you, within the public sector, learn to better shift left, and involve people with disabilities as early as possible in the design process, and why should you? We’ll also have plenty of time for your own questions! If you’ve been wanting to conduct prototype reviews that involve people with disabilities, but weren’t quite sure where to begin, don’t miss this session!
Key Insights
-
•
Involve people with disabilities throughout the entire design process for true accessibility.
-
•
Start prototype testing with screen magnification users before expanding to users with physical disabilities and screen readers.
-
•
Ensure high contrast and clear visuals for low vision users and screen magnifiers.
-
•
Label controls appropriately to assist voice control users and ensure clear navigation paths for them.
-
•
Consider the layout impact of white space, particularly for users with physical disabilities who may struggle with scrolling.
-
•
Adapt prototypes to include semantic representation for screen reader accessibility.
-
•
Conduct research to understand how assistive technologies function on different platforms.
-
•
Fixing accessibility issues for one user group often rectifies issues for others.
-
•
Iterative testing with diverse users leads to better overall usability.
-
•
Prototyping tools should be chosen based on their capacity to engage users with disabilities effectively.
Notable Quotes
"Accessibility isn't just a checkbox; it should be a foundation of your design process."
"Involving voices of people with disabilities ensures that you're designing with empathy and understanding."
"The experience of one user can inform and improve the experience of another, so expand your circle of users."
"Prototypes need to reflect the user's experience; if it's just a visual representation, it won't serve everyone."
"Consider how assistive technology interacts with your design rather than just the aesthetics."
"When you're testing, don't just rely on one type of user; diversity is key in feedback."
"It's not just about including people with disabilities—it's about adapting your approach to meet their needs."
"A lack of accessibility in essential services can lead to significant barriers for individuals with disabilities."
"Creating an accessible prototype doesn't need to be complex, but it requires a conscious effort."
"Ask questions, engage with your users, and you'll find answers to improve your design."
More Videos
"What do you want your AI to do? What do you want their background to be?"
Noz UrbinaRapid AI-powered UX (RAUX): A framework for empowering human designers
May 1, 2025
"The success of the album is because of that spontaneity."
Jim KalbachJazz Improvisation as a Model for Team Collaboration
June 4, 2019
"I want you to take a little time out of your week and say, hey, what is it like working for me?"
Holly ColeUnderstanding Experiences: When you have to do more than work
November 8, 2018
"All the rules defined for the header apply, ensuring consistency throughout our design."
Jack BeharHow to Build Prototypes that Behave like an End-Product
December 6, 2022
"You don't want to miss out on one of the really cool parts about the conference, which is going home with a bunch of cool swag."
Bria AlexanderOpening Remarks
October 3, 2023
"Organizations must build a culture of safe experimentation and reward curiosity."
Erika FlowersAI-Readiness: Preparing NASA for a Data-Driven, Agile Future
June 10, 2025
"The future of education lies in collaboration and adaptation."
Kristin SkinnerFive Years of DesignOps
September 29, 2021
"Our goal is to create a sound for you, the audience, and empathize with each other to do that."
Jim KalbachJazz Improvisation as a Model for Team Collaboration
November 6, 2017
"Swarm behaviors are not natural; they must be coached and reinforced."
Surya VankaUnleashing Swarm Creativity to Solve Enterprise Challenges
June 10, 2021
