Inclusive Design Principles

👩🦰 Designing Accessibility Personas (https://lnkd.in/evVnB4hd). How to embed accessibility and test for it early in the design process ↓ We often assume that digital products are merely that — products. They either work or don’t work. That they help people meet their needs or fail on their path to get there. But every product has its own embedded personality. It can be helpful or dull, fragile or reliable, supportive or misleading. When we design it, willingly or unwillingly, we embed our values, views and perspectives into it. Sometimes it’s meticulously shaped and refined. And sometimes it’s simply random. And when that happens, users assign their perception of the product’s personality to the product instead. Products are rarely accessible by accident. There must be an intent that captures and drives accessibility efforts in a product. And the best way to do that is by involving people with temporary, situational and permanent disabilities into the design process. One simple way of achieving that is by inviting people with disabilities in the design process. For that, we could recruit people via tools like Access Works or UserTesting, ask admins of groups and channels on accessibility to help, or drop an email to non-profits that work in accessibility space. Another way is establishing accessibility personas for user journeys. Consider them as user profiles that highlight common barriers faced by people with particular conditions and provide guidelines for designers and engineers on how to design and build for them. E.g. Simone, a dyslexic user, or Chris, a user with rheumatoid arthritis. For each, we document known challenges and notable considerations, designing training tasks for designers and developers and instructions to simulate experience through the lens of these personas. By no means does it replace proper accessibility testing, but it creates a shared understanding about what the experiences are like. You can build on top of Gov.uk’s profound research project (https://lnkd.in/evVnB4hd) — it also explains how to set up devices and browsers, so that each persona has their own browser profile. Once you do, you can always switch between them and simulate an experience, without changing settings every single time. All Accessibility Personas (+ Tasks, Research, Setup) https://lnkd.in/evVnB4hd Accessibility doesn’t have to be challenging if it’s considered early. No digital product is neutral. Accessibility is a deliberate decision, and a commitment. Not only does it help everyone; it also shows what a company believes in and values. And once you do have a commitment, and it will be much easier to retain accessibility, rather than adding it last minute as a crutch — because that’s where it’s way too late to do it right, and way too expensive to make it well. [Useful pointers in the comments ↓] #ux #accessibility

Before you drop a single component into a design system or write a single line of code, accessibility projects must start with research. Too many accessibility projects begin with solutions instead of questions. - Who are your users? - What assistive technologies do they rely on? - Which platforms and browsers matter most? - What accessibility issues have already been reported? - Which personas should shape your decisions? - What legal and organizational requirements apply? - Could your six-month project be replaced with a one-line policy change? Research does more than help you understand people. It helps you understand the work that has already been done. Most accessibility challenges are not new. It is likely someone else has faced a similar problem. Sometimes they documented their approach and shared components, patterns, or code via open-source projects or blogs. Learning from those efforts can save time, avoid common mistakes, and give teams a stronger starting point, allowing them to focus their time and energy on enhancements instead of reinventing the wheel. Research gives teams the context they need to make good decisions. Without it, teams risk spending time fixing the wrong problems, prioritizing low-impact issues, or rebuilding solutions that already exist. Accessibility work is not just about checking requirements. It is about understanding people and learning from the broader community. The projects that deliver the most value rarely start with code. They start with listening, learning, and gathering evidence. Research first. Components later. #Accessibility #A11y #UX #DesignSystems #InclusiveDesign #OpenSource

Incorporating nature into our lives is essential for well-being, especially for those with limited mobility and chronic pain. Here’s how to make the great outdoors accessible and enjoyable for everyone: 1. **Accessible Nature Trails:** Look for nature reserves, parks, or gardens that have accessible trails. These are often paved or have flat, firm surfaces suitable for wheelchairs and walkers. Many places also provide benches at regular intervals for resting. 2. **Scenic Drives:** Enjoying nature doesn't always mean you have to be on foot. A scenic drive through a national park or countryside can offer stunning views and the chance to stop at accessible viewpoints. 3. **Bird Watching and Nature Crafts:** Activities like bird watching can be done from a stationary position, such as a park bench or even from a car. Similarly, nature crafts (like leaf rubbing or flower pressing) can be a gentle way to connect with nature without needing to walk long distances. 4. **Adaptive Gardening:** Gardening can be made accessible through raised garden beds or container gardens. It's a wonderful way to be in touch with nature, and the act of caring for plants can be therapeutic and fulfilling. 5. **Picnics in Accessible Parks:** Choose a park with accessible picnic areas where you can enjoy a meal surrounded by nature. This is a great way to socialize and enjoy the outdoors with minimal physical strain. 6. **Mindfulness and Meditation in Nature:** Practicing mindfulness or meditation in a serene natural setting can be deeply soothing. This can be done sitting comfortably or even from inside a vehicle with a view of nature. 7. **Photography:** Nature photography can be a rewarding way to explore and appreciate the outdoors. It encourages you to look for beauty in the details and can be enjoyed while stationary or in areas with limited walking required. 8. **Fishing or Boating:** Activities like fishing or gentle boating can be suitable for people with limited mobility, offering a peaceful way to be on the water and engage with nature. 9. **Use of Mobility Aids:** Investing in or renting mobility aids like all-terrain wheelchairs can make more rugged outdoor spaces accessible. Some parks and nature reserves offer these as rentals. 10. **Virtual Nature Experiences:** When physical access to nature is challenging, virtual reality (VR) experiences or nature documentaries can provide a sense of immersion in the natural world. Remember, the goal is to enjoy the therapeutic benefits of nature without overexerting. Always consider the individual's comfort level, pain thresholds, and physical limitations when planning activities. Engaging with nature should be a source of joy and relaxation, not a cause for additional stress or discomfort. #InclusiveOutdoors #ChronicPainAwareness #NatureHeals #OutdoorAccessibility #EveryoneCanEnjoyNature

Futures work relies heavily on images: visions, maps, scenarios, diagrams, dashboards, renders, films, prototypes. Visual representation helps us make assumptions visible and compare possibilities. But it also narrows the field. 🚨 If we only visualize the future, we risk mistaking images for understanding. A future is not only something we can see. It is also something we may have to hear, smell, taste and feel. What would it mean to explore futures through the classical senses? 👂 A soundwalk might ask whether a climate-adapted city sounds calm, monitored, overheated or alive. Are there birds, cooling systems, drones, public announcements, ventilation hums, or the silence of empty streets during heat? 👃 A smellwalk might ask: how do we want the city of the future to smell? Like hot asphalt after weeks without rain? Disinfectant in an overburdened care system? Wet soil, compost, repair workshops, shared kitchens, urban forests? 👅 Speculative tasting can ask what transition actually enters the body. What does food security taste like? What does scarcity taste like? Which flavours disappear from everyday life? ✋ Haptic probes can ask what resilience feels like in the hand. Is the future smooth and frictionless, or patched, repaired, heavy, rough, reused and maintained? This is the value of multisensory experiential futures. Different senses open different epistemic angles: 👁️ Sight helps make futures visible. 👂 Hearing helps make futures audible and social. 👃 Smell helps make futures proximate. 👅 Taste / flavour helps make futures intimate. ✋ Touch helps make futures material. More sensory is not automatically better. But used carefully, it can help us move beyond the polished image of the future. Maybe futures work should stop only asking people to look at the future. Ask them to listen to it. Smell it. Taste it. Touch it.

Learning flourishes when students are exposed to a rich tapestry of strategies that activate different parts of the brain and heart. Beyond memorization and review, innovative approaches like peer teaching, role-playing, project-based learning, and multisensory exploration allow learners to engage deeply and authentically. For example, when students teach a concept to classmates, they strengthen their communication, metacognition, and confidence. Role-playing historical events or scientific processes builds empathy, critical thinking, and problem-solving. Project-based learning such as designing a community garden or creating a presentation fosters collaboration, creativity, and real-world application. Multisensory strategies like using manipulatives, visuals, movement, and sound especially benefit neurodiverse learners, enhancing retention, focus, and emotional connection to content. These methods don’t just improve academic outcomes they cultivate lifelong skills like adaptability, initiative, and resilience. When teachers intentionally layer strategies that match students’ strengths and needs, they create classrooms that are inclusive, dynamic, and deeply empowering. #LearningInEveryWay

🔎 Accessible Usability Scale (AUS): Prioritizing Inclusive Usability The Accessible Usability Scale (AUS) is a focused, accessibility-centered usability metric designed specifically for users of assistive technologies. Developed by Fable and launched in 2020, AUS builds on the foundation of SUS — but adapts it to capture how inclusive and accessible digital products really are from the perspective of people with disabilities. 1️⃣ Collecting Feedback from Assistive Technology Users Collect responses from users who rely on assistive tech like screen readers, screen magnifiers, voice control, or switch devices. The questionnaire includes 10 statements, each rated on a 5-point Likert scale from “Strongly Disagree” (1) to “Strongly Agree” (5). Statements focus on frustration, navigation, clarity, and task completion with assistive tools. 📚 For a deeper dive into the questionnaire, you can explore the official AUS resource page provided by Fable: 2️⃣ Calculation Scoring AUS is nearly identical to SUS: • For positive items (1, 3, 5, 7, 9): (response - 1) × 2.5  • For negative items (2, 4, 6, 8, 10): (5 - response) × 2.5   • Total score = Sum of all 10 items → Range: 0–100 🎯 Score Meaning:  Higher score = better perceived usability for assistive tech users. 3️⃣ Interpreting the Results Fable’s data across 2,100+ sessions suggests considering the average AUS score is 65 and the average across different assistive technologies: • Screen Magnifier Users → 72 • Alternative Navigation Users → 67 • Screen Reader Users → 56 🔎 Pros & Cons of Using AUS ✳️ Advantages: • Accessibility-focused – designed specifically for AT users. • Simple & Familiar – Based on SUS; quick and easy to implement as well as for participants to complete. • Produces quantifiable scores and can be used alongside qualitative feedback for depth. • Free and open for anyone to use. Licensed under Creative Commons. Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) → Can be used, adapted, and shared, as long as you give appropriate credit to Fable. • Complements SUS in broader usability testing. ❌ Disadvantages: • Reflects feelings and perceived ease of use, not technical accessibility compliance. • Most useful post-task (after completing flows or sessions). Users must interact deeply with the product for results to be meaningful. • Not as widely adopted or recognized as SUS (but gaining traction). The illustration in the document is sourced from the official website. 💬 Have you tried using AUS or included AT users in your UX research? 👇 Share your thoughts below & check references in the comments. #Accessibility #AUS #InclusiveDesign #UX #UXMetrics #AssistiveTechnology #UsabilityTesting #ProductDesign

A survivor reached out for help. But the shelter had no ramp, the helpline had no sign language interpreter. This is why disability inclusion in Genderbased Violence (GBV) response matters. Here’s how to make GBV services truly accessible: ➔ Physical Access Ensure shelters, clinics, and safe spaces have ramps, elevators, and accessible restrooms. Communication Access ➔ Offer sign language interpretation, braille materials, and easy-to-read formats. Training for Staff ➔ Equip GBV responders with disability inclusion skills to recognize and address specific risks. Confidential & Safe Reporting ➔ Provide multiple reporting options, including non-verbal and online channels. Partnerships with Disability Organisations ➔ Collaborate to improve outreach and tailor interventions. Accessibility isn’t a bonus—it’s a necessity. Read this toolkit to learn more. #Disability #GBV 🔔 Follow me for similar content

🌍✨ What happens when children truly use their senses to learn? In our KG2 classroom, during the Unit of Inquiry “How the World Works”, learning went far beyond worksheets—it became an experience. 🔑 Central Idea Understanding the world using our five senses Instead of simply naming the senses, learners were invited to experience, question, and construct meaning through inquiry. 🔍 How did learning unfold? Through carefully designed, play-based provocations aligned with: ✔ Form – What are the five senses? ✔ Function – How do they work? ✔ Connection – How do they help us understand our world? Children explored through: 👃 Smell stations and sensory jars 👂 Sound walks around the environment ✋ Texture exploration and hands-on materials 👀 Observation tasks using “I see, I notice, I wonder” 🎨 Creative expression through art and role play 📊 What changed? (Impact & Evidence) What I observed was powerful: ✨ Increased student engagement and sustained focus ✨ Improved ability to describe experiences using language ✨ Stronger connections between learning and real-life situations ✨ Growth in confidence when sharing ideas and thinking Learners moved from simply identifying senses → to explaining and applying them. 🎯 Skills in Action (ATL Development) 🧠 Thinking – Analysing and making connections 🤝 Social – Collaborating and sharing ideas 🗂 Self-Management – Independence and responsibility 🔍 Research – Observing, questioning, exploring 🌟 Learner Profile in Practice ⚖️ Balanced – Understanding their bodies and wellbeing 📘 Knowledgeable – Building meaningful understanding of the world 💭 My Reflection as an Educator This unit reinforced a key belief: 👉 Children learn best when they are actively involved, emotionally engaged, and given the space to explore. By shifting from teacher-led instruction to inquiry-based facilitation, I witnessed deeper conceptual understanding and authentic student agency. This is the essence of the IB PYP—developing learners who are not just knowledgeable, but curious, reflective, and connected thinkers. Glad to create learning environments where children don’t just learn about the world… they experience it, question it, and make sense of it. 🌱 #IBPYP #InternationalBaccalaureate #IBSchools #PYPInquiry #EarlyYearsEducation #PlayBasedLearning #InquiryBasedLearning #KG2 #EarlyYearsPYP #ConceptBasedLearning #TransdisciplinaryLearning #StudentAgency #LearningThroughPlay #IBEducation #PYPClassroom #ATLskills #LearnerProfile #ConstructivistLearning #HolisticEducation #EducationInOman #TeachersOfOman #OmanEducation #MuscatTeachers #InternationalSchoolsOman #IBTeachers #PYPLeadership #InstructionalLeadership #FutureReadyLearners #21stCenturySkills #AzraSaqib

What is the EAA all about? The more I read the act, the simpler it becomes, and the more it becomes about customer experience design rather than compliance. The first thing that is apparent is that WCAG is not the EAA and the EAA is not WCAG. Anyone who tells you that you need to be WCAG compliant to meet the EAA needs to go back and read the act. The use of WCAG is "voluntary", and the same goes with any other EN, ISO, BBC, A11yQuest or other standards, guidelines or guidance frameworks. They are all full of good and useful things, but they are only part of the answer, not the answer itself. What the the EAA does focus on is approaches and outcomes. For the approach the POUR principles are key. Whatever it is you are designing, users need to be able to Perceive, Operate and Understand what the product or service is, regardless of any impairment or condition the user. People should have designed multi-modal experiences. Te product or service should also be Robust in that it works with all end user equipment including native and third party assistive technologies and user preferences. People have different needs, and they have preferences that support coping strategies that meet those needs. If those preferences aren't supported then their needs aren't met and CX barriers are designed into a product, and then you will not be EAA compliant. For outcomes you need to demonstrate that the approach had a positive impact on the whole audience. The thing about POUR is that POU can only be accurately measured as an outcome with user data. Only I can tell you whether as a dyslexic and ADHD person and customer I was able to Perceive, Operate and Understand your product. A checklist can only tell you if you took a particular approach, it can't tell you if the approach was successful. Even Robust can have a user outcome lens, particularly when it comes to segmenting the outcomes data to find out where the issues are. I would suggest that there is another lens to the act that can also help evaluate is that you should find out how satisfied your disabled and neurodivergent customers are, and measure that against how satisfied your non-disabled customers are. This is where real inclusion and EAA compliance lies, in inclusive customer satisfaction data and not in a checklist. The next time someone tries to tell you that WCAG auditing is the answer to EAA compliance, ask them to do a little more homework first. #EAA #UXDesign #UXResearch #Compliance #Accessibility #Inclusion

When a client is stuck in survival mode, cognitive strategies alone won’t help. Their nervous system needs to feel safe first. Here’s how to gently guide them back to regulation: ✨ Curious Orienting → Help clients notice colors, shapes, and movement around them. Engaging with the environment fosters a sense of safety. ✨ Micro-Movements → Encourage small shifts, like wiggling fingers or shifting weight. Subtle movement helps release stored energy. ✨ Vocal Vibration → Guide them to hum, sigh, or make gentle vocal sounds. This activates the vagus nerve and supports nervous system regulation. ✨ Temperature Titration → Offer warm or cool objects and invite them to track bodily sensations. Shifting temperature awareness can ground them. ✨ Proprioceptive Input → Use gentle pressure (like pushing hands against a wall) to enhance body awareness and stability. ✨ Pendulation → Shift attention between a pleasant sensation and discomfort. This teaches the nervous system to move in and out of activation safely. Regulation happens in the body first. Help clients reconnect before analyzing the trigger. – Esther Goldstein LCSW, Sensorimotor, IFS, EMDR Consultant Follow Esther Goldstein LCSW, Sensorimotor, IFS, EMDR Consultant for more content like this