Get the most out of your accessibility expert
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Transcript of Get the most out of your accessibility expert
GET THE MOST OUT OF YOURACCESSIBILITY EXPERT
Olivier NOURRY – Qelios.fr
@OlivierNourry
CSUN 2012 - WEB-018 1
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What is it about?
In the Accessibility field, Expert resources are:
• Limited
• Expensive
Yet, necessary in most cases.
Let’s explore ways to use this peculiar resource in a smart way.
CSUN 2012 – WEB-018Olivier NOURRY – Qelios.fr@OlivierNourry
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Who can it be useful for?
Certainly:
• Project Owners• Project Managers
Possibly:
• Procurement Managers• Accessibility Consultants
CSUN 2012 – WEB-018Olivier NOURRY – Qelios.fr@OlivierNourry
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Why experts?
When one starts considering Web Accessibility, it feels like this…
CSUN 2012 – WEB-018Olivier NOURRY – Qelios.fr@OlivierNourry
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An overwhelming challenge…
CSUN 2012 – WEB-018Olivier NOURRY – Qelios.fr@OlivierNourry
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…for which we are not well-equipped
Lots of available documentation, but:• Rather impenetrable for the
newcomer
• Not every answer is in the books
Some tools available,but:• They seem undersized for the
task
• They do not solve problems – they are just tools
CSUN 2012 – WEB-018Olivier NOURRY – Qelios.fr@OlivierNourry
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Fortunately, some people can take the challenge up
Well, not exactly him, but people who know this stuff:
Accessibility Experts
CSUN 2012 – WEB-018Olivier NOURRY – Qelios.fr@OlivierNourry
Me???
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Why optimization is necessary
Available Expert time is:
– Rare– Not cheap
Too often, it’s an extra cost that was not budgeted
So we need to be smart when spending it…
CSUN 2012 – WEB-018Olivier NOURRY – Qelios.fr@OlivierNourry
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OPTIMIZING EXPERT TIMEFOR A WEB PROJECT
CSUN 2012 – WEB-018Olivier NOURRY – Qelios.fr@OlivierNourry
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How to do this?
Basic principle of resources management:
Use people for what they are best at
That means:
• Know what Accessibility Experts are valuable for
• Know when someone else is better fitted for the task
CSUN 2012 – WEB-018Olivier NOURRY – Qelios.fr@OlivierNourry
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What do accessibility experts bring with them?
Knowledge• They know the answers to your questions
(or where to find them)
• They understand the users’ needs
Experience• They have gone through that several times already
CSUN 2012 – WEB-018Olivier NOURRY – Qelios.fr@OlivierNourry
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In the perspective of a Web project
Whatever your project management system is,you will go through 4 phases:
DefineWhat you want to do.
DesignHow you are going to do it.
DoWhen you, errrr… Do.
DeliverWhen actual people can start using what you have done.
CSUN 2012 – WEB-018Olivier NOURRY – Qelios.fr@OlivierNourry
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Practical application
Let’s see how we can optimize a key task for each phase:
– Define: initial choices– Design: requirements– Do: coding– Deliver: testing
CSUN 2012 – WEB-018Olivier NOURRY – Qelios.fr@OlivierNourry
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Define: initial choices 1/2
Experts can make you avoid costly initial mistakes, thanks to their experience.
CSUN 2012 – WEB-018Olivier NOURRY – Qelios.fr@OlivierNourry
What you can ask to your Accessibility Expert• To help you set realistic goals• To assess the frameworks and systems you have
chosen• To help you with your requests for proposals
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Define: initial choices 2/2
Don’t leave the choice of your CMS to your Accessibility Expert only.
• There is much more than accessibility only to consider. Many other factors are critical.
• Accessibility must be a core requirement, but can not be the only one.
CSUN 2012 – WEB-018Olivier NOURRY – Qelios.fr@OlivierNourry
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Design: requirements 1/2
Always remember: Things do not happen by chance or by accident. Accessibility must be set as a requirement.
CSUN 2012 – WEB-018Olivier NOURRY – Qelios.fr@OlivierNourry
What you can ask to your Accessibility Expert
• To review your requirements or test plans• To alter your Definition Of Done (DoD) to include
relevant accessibility items
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Design: requirements 2/2
Don’t have them write the whole specs for you.
• It’s a very time consuming process
• It’s not a guarantee that all your functional expectations will be met
CSUN 2012 – WEB-018Olivier NOURRY – Qelios.fr@OlivierNourry
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Do: coding 1/2
Coding is a key activity for accessibility. It’s a prerequisite for the accessibility of the whole.
CSUN 2012 – WEB-018Olivier NOURRY – Qelios.fr@OlivierNourry
What you can ask to your Accessibility Expert
• To train your teams• To provide on-going support• To produce technical notes, guidelines, code
snippets, etc.
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Do: coding 2/2
Don’t have them code instead of your teams.
• Being a good coder requires a specific skill set.
• Most accessibility experts are decent coders, but the best coders for your project are already in your teams.
CSUN 2012 – WEB-018Olivier NOURRY – Qelios.fr@OlivierNourry
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Deliver: testing 1/2
Technical testing for Accessibility is preliminary to users testing.
It requires specific tests, but no specific technique.
CSUN 2012 – WEB-018Olivier NOURRY – Qelios.fr@OlivierNourry
What you can ask to your Accessibility Expert
• To train your teams• To prioritize testing based on users needs• To advise you on testing tools
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Deliver: testing 2/2
Don’t have them test everything, all the time.• Acquiring the testing techniques is affordable; not expert
time.
• Save your expert time for difficult subjects: rich interfaces, media content, user experience.
• Reminder: Technical testing is meant to avoid main pitfalls. There is no substitute for actual users tests.
CSUN 2012 – WEB-018Olivier NOURRY – Qelios.fr@OlivierNourry
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Let’s wrap it up
CSUN 2012 – WEB-018Olivier NOURRY – Qelios.fr@OlivierNourry
The best uses of Expert time:• Training• Guidance• Support
Not such a good idea:
• Anything outside their expertise area• Production (of requirements, code, tests)
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To conclude: which qualities should your expert demonstrate?
Being a good teammateTo integrate smoothly with your teams and processes.
Being a good teacherThey will train and support your teams, extensively. They’d better be good at it.
Being pragmaticTo know when they are needed, and when they should step out and let others do the job.
CSUN 2012 – WEB-018Olivier NOURRY – Qelios.fr@OlivierNourry
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Questions welcome!
Olivier NourryBusiness Development Manager at Qelios
@OlivierNourryabout.me/oliviernourry
CSUN 2012 – WEB-018Olivier NOURRY – Qelios.fr@OlivierNourry