Strategies for getting accessibility in the user experience product development cycle

Darren KallKeynote address

Wright State University

Learning with Disabilities Winter Workshop

3-4 December 2009

4 December 2009 © Darren Kall darrenkall@hotmail.com

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Early Accessibility Involvement

Born into a family with deaf family member In the deaf community I learned my favorite

childhood joke riddle:

4 December 2009 © Darren Kall darrenkall@hotmail.com

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Lesson Learned

People with disabilities have to be strategists to “fix” the world to meet their needs.

My deaf family member taught me: The world was not designed for him But, if you were clever, it was possible to create

something to make it work for you

4 December 2009 © Darren Kall darrenkall@hotmail.com

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Personal History

My new, unnamed,

user experience company.

4 December 2009 © Darren Kall darrenkall@hotmail.com

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How to Make Change:

1 Understand the situation(Which you already know from your interest in

accessibility.)

2 Have the skills to make change(Which you are learning as part of this program.)

3 Choose the strategy and tactics that will allow you to use these skills

(The focus of my talk today.)

4 Never give up(Perseverance is up to you.)

4 December 2009 © Darren Kall darrenkall@hotmail.com

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Accessibility Champions Needed

Most corporations don’t naturally invest in designing accessible products.

They need someone to champion convincing them they should.

That champion is you.

4 December 2009 © Darren Kall darrenkall@hotmail.com

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What Success Looks Like

Getting accessibility into the product development process.

Partner with the end-to-end user experience since it is usually already part product development cycle. User and customer research, product concept

phase, funding, prioritization, design, building, launching, marketing, sales, installation, evaluation of success, customer support etc.

4 December 2009 © Darren Kall darrenkall@hotmail.com

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No Single Strategy Works with All Companies One size does not fit all. You have to pick a strategy and tactic to try

but if it fails, try another. You may have to combine them.

4 December 2009 © Darren Kall darrenkall@hotmail.com

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To schedule Darren to speak at your company or event:

E-mail: darrenkall@hotmail.com Phone: +1 937-648-4966

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/darrenkall SlideShare: http://www.slideshare.net/DarrenKall Twitter: darrenkall