The British Standards Institute defines inclusive design as follows: “The design of mainstream products and/or services that are accessible to, and usable by, as many people as reasonably possible... without the need for special adaptation or specialized design.”
Ensuring inclusivity for a business’s products and services increases the total pool of potential customers and the general traffic of a website.
According to the CDC, one in every four adults in the United States has some type of disability. This 26% is a huge population that should not be ignored by businesses. Although not all individuals with disabilities require web accessibility enhancement tools, a large portion of them do, and catering to their needs, other than being a compliance issue, would be a smart business decision.
Inclusive design involves designing for accessibility from the beginning of the design process, rather than trying to retrofit accessibility features onto a product or service after it has already been created. It also involves the inclusion of people with disabilities in the design process to ensure that their needs and perspectives are taken into account.
Inclusive design principles consist of things like clear and simple language, intuitive navigation, flexible layout, and providing multiple ways to access digital content. By designing with inclusivity in mind, designers can create products and services that are not only accessible to people with disabilities but also easier to use and navigate for everyone.
Where can I learn about inclusive design?
You can learn about inclusive design principles from a variety of sources, including online courses, books, articles, and conferences. Here are a few resources to get you started:
- The Inclusive Design Toolkit: This website provides a range of resources and tools for designing inclusively, including guidelines, case studies, and design methods.
- Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1: This is the international standard for web accessibility and provides guidelines for making web content more accessible to people with disabilities.
- The A11Y Project: This is a community-driven resource that provides guidance and resources on making websites more accessible.
- A Web for Everyone: Designing Accessible User Experiences: This book by Sarah Horton and Whitney Quesenbery provides practical guidance on designing accessible and inclusive digital products and services.
- Inclusive Design 24: This is a 24-hour online conference that features talks and workshops on inclusive design.
- EqualWeb training programs: EqualWeb is a web accessibility vendor that provides a variety of accessibility solutions to businesses and organizations that are looking to remediate their digital assets and comply with legal demands.
Training your web designers for inclusivity with EqualWeb
There are many benefits when choosing EqualWeb to train your staff and web designers. Other than thoroughly covering the standard inclusive design principles, its training includes topics such as web accessibility guidelines, accessible content, and user testing with people with disabilities.
EqualWeb’s training programs are available in different formats, including on-site training, online courses, and workshops. They can be tailored to meet the specific needs of organizations and can be customized to cover the specific topics that are most relevant to a particular industry or product.
In addition to EqualWeb’s training programs, the company also provides a range of accessibility services, including website audits, accessibility testing, and accessibility remediation solutions. Their goal is to help businesses and organizations create digital products and services that are accessible to everyone, regardless of abilities or disabilities, meeting web accessibility laws in the process to avoid costly lawsuits.
Contact EqualWeb now for training your staff on inclusive design principles.
