Summary
As we shift into a mobile first world, are you struggling to conceptualize and design accessible mobile experiences? While screen readers are included on both IOS and Android, it can be difficult and overwhelming for designers to learn about them. This session will help you get started! Samuel Proulx, Fable’s accessibility evangelist and a life-long screen reader user, will guide you through the ins and outs of screen readers on mobile. This interactive live demo will show you what an excellent mobile experience can sound like, give you some ideas of things to keep in mind during design, and help you make the case for bringing the voices of assistive technology users into the training and testing at your organization.
Key Insights
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Accessibility is not one-size-fits-all; needs vary by user.
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Customization is crucial in accessibility tools for users with disabilities.
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iOS and Android have their strengths; users choose based on their preferences.
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Testing with real users is essential for understanding genuine experiences with accessibility tools.
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Simple interactions can be complex for new users; empathy in design is crucial.
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VoiceOver offers numerous configuration options that can greatly affect usability.
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Real user feedback can lead to meaningful improvements in product accessibility.
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Interactive demos can simulate user experiences but do not replace user testing.
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Accessibility requires design empathy and a commitment to understanding user needs.
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Engagement with assistive technology users must be ongoing throughout the development process.
Notable Quotes
"I'm a full-time screen reader myself and have been using one for over 20 years."
"Accessibility isn't difficult; it can actually be easy if we all take our small piece of the accessibility pie."
"You want to make sure that accessibility is customizability because that's really the key."
"It's important to get recordings of real user sessions; they humanize the challenges faced."
"The way that voiceover works is that it is activated when you touch something."
"Even Apple has hundreds of configuration options in VoiceOver."
"Testing with real users builds empathy and gives you great research results."
"You can never replace user testing with simulations or personas."
"This experience that I'm having is complicated and difficult may not apply to the user."
"It's vital that people with disabilities are involved in the actual testing process."
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