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


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Why experts?

When one starts considering Web Accessibility, it feels like this…


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An overwhelming challenge…


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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


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Fortunately, some people can take the challenge up

Well, not exactly him, but people who know this stuff:

Accessibility Experts


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…


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OPTIMIZING EXPERT TIMEFOR A WEB PROJECT


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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


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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


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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.


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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


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Define: initial choices 1/2

Experts can make you avoid costly initial mistakes, thanks to their experience.


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.


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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.


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


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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.



• 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.


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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.



• 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.


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Let’s wrap it up


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.


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Questions welcome!

Olivier NourryBusiness Development Manager at Qelios

@OlivierNourryabout.me/oliviernourry


https://twitter.com/OlivierNourry

https://twitter.com/OlivierNourry

http://about.me/oliviernourry

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