IF you sell outside the United States, chances are you do business in Canada. And if you do business in Canada, chances are you do business in Ontario, which contains almost 40 % of the Canadian population. But do you…
The First rule of Providing Support to Customers with Disabilities is to Have Multiple Modalities that Use Different Senses
Making things difficult for your customers is an excellent way to drive them to your competitors. If your customer support solely relies on voice communication, you’re likely losing potential customers who cannot or prefer not to communicate in this way.…
Accessibility Meme: Did you know that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has no automatic enforcement provisions?
Did you know that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has no automatic enforcement provisions? This vital piece of civil rights legislation relies almost entirely on individuals identifying and reporting non-compliance issues. Here is why this self-enforcement aspect is crucial…
Accessibility is like Oxygen. Without it, Disabled People Cannot Thrive
Sometimes I complain publicly about something inaccessible, and I’m told I’m overreacting, either directly or indirectly. This takes the form of statements that start with words like: “Why didn’t you just (blah blah blah)”: where “blah blah blah” is something…
Deconstructing Accessibility Statements
This is MY interpretation of the accessibility statement legal-ese. I am not your lawyer. You need to make up your own mind. With your own lawyer, who is someone other than me. I received the following question after writing an…
Product Owners Drooling Over New Features and People with Disabilities Waiting for Any Access at All
Even as an extremely no-nonsense accessibility strategist, I have heard, “Sorry Sheri, the release has to go as is,” or “Too bad the features took too long, so we couldn’t fix those accessibility bugs.” Why does this keep happening? Lack…
Accessibility Meme: it takes less than 8 seconds for a seasoned assistive technology user to decide if a site is inaccessible and take their business elsewhere
Did you know it takes less than 8 seconds for a seasoned assistive technology user to decide if a site is inaccessible and take their business elsewhere? Here’s why and how: A sighted user with vision loss might try to…
It’s Easier to Remove Physical or Digital Barriers than Mental Ones
It’s a lot easier to remove physical or digital barriers than mental ones. When I encounter a planter blocking my wheelchair path, I can ask someone to move it. It’s a straightforward request where both the barrier and the solution…
Accessibility Meme: Progress Towards Perfection
The mantra “progress over perfection” is often uttered in the context of accessibility and inclusion. While this sentiment encourages movement and action, I feel the better approach is to strive for “progress towards perfection.” That one-word change is about two…
My disability is NOT a superpower. My superpower is my ability to solve problems when others create barriers by not including my disability
Disability is not a magical gift that grants the recipient extraordinary abilities. It is a condition that frequently creates barriers in a world not designed with us in mind. The true superpower lies in the ingenuity, perseverance, and resourcefulness that…
