Summary
Online shopping was first premiered in the 1980s, as a way for people who couldn’t shop in-person to easily make purchases. But how far we’ve come! In this talk, Fable’s Accessibility Evangelist Sam Proulx will walk you through some of the key factors to create an online shopping experience that is accessible to everyone. From his perspective as a full time screen reader user, and drawing on Fable’s thousands of hours working with people with disabilities, Sam will highlight how consistency, convenience, confidence, and customizability enable a smooth experience for all users, disabled or not. Let’s bring online shopping back to its accessibility roots!
Key Insights
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Consistency in design reduces cognitive load and helps assistive technology users build muscle memory, improving usability.
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Convenience features like browser autofill and saving progress significantly ease checkout for users with physical or cognitive challenges.
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Strictly timed interactions during checkout processes create unnecessary stress and barriers for many users, not just those with disabilities.
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Confidence in the security and clarity of controls strongly influences whether users with disabilities complete purchases.
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Customizability is crucial as no two disabilities are identical; offering adjustable settings and multiple interaction modes is key.
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Providing multiple payment providers increases accessibility by accommodating various assistive technology compatibilities.
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Including multiple support options, such as chat, benefits users with disabilities like those who are deaf or hard of hearing.
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Automated accessibility audits identify code issues but cannot assess actual user experience or prioritize fixes effectively.
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Involving people with disabilities early and continuously in product development yields better, more accessible experiences.
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Accessible experiences designed for edge cases also improve usability for the general population, demonstrating universal design value.
Notable Quotes
"Accessible experiences are better experiences for everyone whether you are a person with a disability or not."
"If it didn’t come from Amazon or Costco, I probably don’t own it because their site is consistent and predictable."
"Consistency builds convenience and reduces cognitive load, which is critical for assistive technology users."
"Browser autofill is not just a convenience for everyone but a critical accessibility feature for many."
"Timed interactions stress out all users, and stressed users close tabs and go elsewhere."
"If a control isn’t clear or isn’t reading properly with a screen reader, a user might give up instead of experimenting."
"The more payment providers you support, the greater chance every person will find one that works for them."
"Customizability allows users to tailor experiences because no two disabilities are the same."
"Automated tests tell you where the code is wrong but not how the experience affects real users."
"Building accessible foundations with people with disabilities involved will build better experiences for everyone."
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