deconspray

deconspray

@deconspray.bsky.social

Digital worker passionate about digital accessibility, seeking to evangelize awareness and best practices to the entire digital world. https://linkedin.com/in/dennisdeacon/ https://mastodon.social/@deconspray

560 followers890 following1.9K posts

deconspray
@deconspray.bsky.social

AI won't replace accessibility testing. It may expose how poorly we're using it. The future is AI + automation + human judgment. www.barrierbreak.com... #Accessibility #A11y #AIAccessibility #AccessibilityTesting #WCAG #DigitalAccessibility #InclusiveDesign #AccessibilityLeadership

barrierbreak.comWhat Is AI-Powered Accessibility Testing and How Does It Work?Learn what AI-powered accessibility testing is, how it works alongside manual testing, and where AI still falls short in 2026.
deconspray
@deconspray.bsky.social

Only 11% of 113 accessibility pros start with WCAG criteria alone. Auditing is more than a checklist. www.testwithlabrador... #Accessibility #A11y #WCAG #AccessibilityTesting #DigitalAccessibility #InclusiveDesign

testwithlabrador.comWhat 113 accessibility professionals say about auditing - Labrador BlogI asked 113 accessibility professionals whether they audit criteria-first or issues-first. Most do both, for four different reasons: scope, speed, real barriers, and the issues WCAG doesn’t cover. What they said, how I work, and what it means for the tools we build.
deconspray
@deconspray.bsky.social

What if “move fast” is the wrong design goal? Hannah Wagner argues that accessibility, trust, and resilience require care. Speed can ship products. Care builds products that last. www.youtube.com/watc... #Accessibility #InclusiveDesign #UXDesign #DesignLeadership #DigitalAccessibility #ID24

youtube.comHannah Wagner / Design as Care: Building What Speed Alone Can’t Deliver #id24 2025Silicon Valley says move fast and break things. But when you break access, trust, or safety, you’ve already failed. This talk reframes design as care—and explores how accessibility work builds what speed alone can’t: resilience, equity, and long-term value. In a high-speed industry, careful design i
deconspray
@deconspray.bsky.social

A perfect accessibility score proves only what the tool tested. Automation is valuable, but accessible experiences require human evaluation. www.youtube.com/watc... #Accessibility #DigitalAccessibility #A11y #WCAG #AccessibilityTesting #InclusiveDesign #ID24

youtube.comBeau Vass / A false sense of accessibility: What automated testing tools are missing #id24 2025It’s commonly understood that automated accessibility testing tools can find around 20-30% of accessibility issues, but what does this actually mean in practice? Beau takes a closer look at these tools using specific examples, demonstrating the types of accessibility issues automated testing tools w
deconspray
@deconspray.bsky.social

WCAG 3 is coming. But accessibility work can't wait. Shawn Henry and Kevin White discuss what's next, and what matters now. www.youtube.com/watc... #Accessibility #DigitalAccessibility #WCAG #WCAG3 #InclusiveDesign #A11y #W3C #UX #ID24

youtube.comShawn Lawton Henry and Kevin White / W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) Update #id24 2025Join us to learn about continuing work on Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2, on WCAG 3 (it's a long way off), and activities between 2 and 3. We'll also highlight updated resources to put WCAG standards in perspective and focus on the user experiences of disabled people, as well as the b

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24 Accessibility
@24accessibility.bsky.social

Trip down memory lane: Mikey Ilagan challenged tech events in 2018. Eight years later, why are accessibility basics still treated as extras? Read Mikey's article from the #24Accessibility archives: www.24a11y.com/2018/accessi... #A11y #InclusiveDesign #TechEvents #DigitalAccessibility #24A11y

24a11y.comHow To Advocate For Accessible And Inclusive Tech Events - 24 AccessibilityLearn how to make tech events accessible and inclusive through accessible venues, disability representation, captioning, and ASL.
deconspray
@deconspray.bsky.social

Accessible charts need more than alt text. Jonathan Zong explores how screen readers can support real data exploration. www.youtube.com/watc... #Accessibility #InclusiveDesign #DataVisualization #ScreenReaders #A11y #DigitalAccessibility #ID24

youtube.comJonathan Zong / Accessible Data Visualization for Screen Reader Users #id24 2025As we increasingly rely on visualization to communicate about data, lack of equitable information access for blind and low vision (BLV) people can exclude people from important conversations. I work with blind and low-vision collaborators and study participants to design systems that support BLV use
deconspray
@deconspray.bsky.social

We're nearing the start of the 2026 24 Accessibility article series, starting December 1. Don't miss out; follow 24 Accessibility and receive all the last new, info and articles. 24a11y.com #A11y #Accessibility #DigitalAccessibility #24A11y #24Accessibility

24 Accessibility@24accessibility.bsky.social

24 days. 24+ global experts. Zero fluff. Hit 'Follow' to ensure you don’t miss actionable insights on WCAG, inclusive UI, and accessible engineering. Only 38 days before the first article. Can't wait! 24a11y.com #A11y #Accessibility #DigitalAccessibility #24A11y #24Accessibility

deconspray
@deconspray.bsky.social

Are “decorative images” a design excuse? Adrian Roselli challenges us to question why an image exists before hiding it from screen readers. adrianroselli.com/20... #DigitalAccessibility #A11y #AltText #InclusiveDesign #UX

adrianroselli.comDecorative Images……aren’t a thing. Three hand-drawn lines curling together like an S or three skinny snakes trying to spoon. At least not as far as people are concerned. Yes, this is an absolutist take, but sometimes it’s necessary to take the absolutist position to force someone to justify their own reasoning.…
deconspray
@deconspray.bsky.social

Foldable phones change more than screen size. They change the accessibility equation. Hinge force, reflow, focus, weight, cost, and more. www.linkedin.com/pul... #Accessibility #DigitalAccessibility #InclusiveDesign #A11y #UX #AssistiveTechnology #MobileAccessibility

linkedin.comFoldable Phones and Accessibility: Benefits, Barriers, Weight, Care, and CostApple announced the iPhone Duo, its first foldable iPhone, on September 9, 2026. ABC News reported a starting price of $1,999, with the phone arriving in stores on October 23.
deconspray
@deconspray.bsky.social

If users must hover or tab to discover a link, the design is making them work. Links should look like links before interaction. a11ywithdiana.substa... #Accessibility #A11y #UXDesign #InclusiveDesign #WebAccessibility #WCAG #DesignSystems

a11ywithdiana.substack.comWhy a link should look like a link before you click itThere’s a small design decision that can make a surprisingly big difference to accessibility: how you visually distinguish links from ordinary text.
deconspray
@deconspray.bsky.social

Orange isn't inaccessible. Your orange pairing might be. Here's why contrast matters, and how to keep the vibrancy without locking people out. www.dennisdeacon.com... #Accessibility #A11y #WCAG #InclusiveDesign #UXDesign #DesignSystems #Color #ColorContrast

dennisdeacon.comWhy Orange Is an Accessibility Trap (and What to Do Instead) - Dennis DeaconOrange looks fun but often fails WCAG contrast. Learn which color pairings work, why black is safest, and how to fix orange for digital accessibility.
deconspray
@deconspray.bsky.social

How many pages should an accessibility audit test? Maybe that’s the wrong question. Test for meaningful variation, not arbitrary page counts. afixt.com/how-many-p... #Accessibility #DigitalAccessibility #A11y #WCAG #AccessibilityTesting #UX #InclusiveDesign

afixt.comHow many pages is enough in an accessibility audit? - AFixtAnyone who performs accessibility audits eventually gets asked the same question: How many pages should we test? There is no especially satisfying answer to this question. Obviously, testing every page is preferable when that is practical. For a sufficiently small website or application it may be possible to do exactly that. It does not take […]
deconspray
@deconspray.bsky.social

Passing WCAG isn’t the finish line. Speech recognition testing can expose interaction barriers that other testing misses. blog.pope.tech/2026/... #Accessibility #DigitalAccessibility #A11y #InclusiveDesign #SpeechRecognition #WCAG #AssistiveTechnology

blog.pope.techSpeech recognition and complex tables with fields - Pope Tech ResourcesLearn how speech recognition software works with tables and how testing with AT can identify small changes that make it better for everyone.
deconspray
@deconspray.bsky.social

WCAG 3 is evolving beyond compliance. The goal isn't a better checklist, it's better user experiences for people with disabilities. www.w3.org/blog/2026... #WCAG3 #Accessibility #DigitalAccessibility #A11y #InclusiveDesign #W3C

w3.orgCrafting WCAG 3 for more accessible user experiencesIn this post, W3C's Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) Director Shawn Lawton Henry covers some of the stakes and challenges in developing W3C Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 3 that is under active development.
deconspray
@deconspray.bsky.social

Accessibility isn't just about usable technology. Can people afford access? Crystal Preston-Watson explores the economics behind. www.youtube.com/watc... #Accessibility #DigitalAccessibility #InclusiveDesign #Disability #DigitalEquity #AssistiveTechnology #a11y #ID24

youtube.comCrystal Preston-Watson / Broke with Accessible Taste: The Economics of Access #id24 2026Accessibility doesn't begin when a disabled person opens an app or visits a website; it begins with income, employment, broadband access, and the cost of assistive technology. With 1.3 billion people experiencing significant disability worldwide (WHO), this 2026 update revisits the economic journey
deconspray
@deconspray.bsky.social

AI agents expose the same web barriers people face. Semantic HTML, structure, and keyboard access aren't optional. They're foundational. www.youtube.com/watc... #Accessibility #InclusiveDesign #A11y #AI #AgenticAI #DigitalAccessibility #ID24

youtube.comNeha Pandit/ Building for People in the Age of AI Agents #id24 2026AI agents are changing how we interact with the web — browsing, clicking, and completing tasks on our behalf. But in doing so, they’re running into a familiar problem: the web was never truly built for every user. The same foundations that make the web usable for people — semantic HTML, meaningful
deconspray
@deconspray.bsky.social

If your UX assumes everyone thinks the same way, it isn't inclusive. Neuroinclusive design is good UX, not a niche accommodation. www.youtube.com/watc... #Accessibility #Neurodiversity #Neurodivergence #InclusiveDesign #UXDesign #A11y #DigitalAccessibility #UserExperience

youtube.comNeurodivergence: What is it and Why Does it MatterNeurodivergent users face executive-function, communication, and sensory challenges. Neuroinclusive design helps all users by focusing on simplicity, clarity, control, support, and co-creation. Read More: https://www.nngroup.com/articles/write-alt-text/ Watch Next: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h
deconspray
@deconspray.bsky.social

Not every system state deserves a UI control. Lea Verou’s dark mode argument exposes a bigger UX problem: we design for possibilities, not needs. lea.verou.me/blog/20... #Accessibility #UX #UserExperience #InclusiveDesign #WebDesign #Usability #DigitalAccessibility

lea.verou.me The best dark mode toggle is probably none • Lea VerouMy post on two-state dark mode toggles sparked a lot of discussion about the optimal dark mode toggle design. But should you have a (persistent) dark mode toggle at all? I have since been convinced that for most websites, the answer is no.
deconspray
@deconspray.bsky.social

Are you designing for how people actually interact, or how you expect them to? Mobility accessibility demands less effort, not just WCAG compliance. tetralogical.com/blo... #Accessibility #InclusiveDesign #DigitalAccessibility #UXDesign #A11y #WCAG #UserExperience

tetralogical.comDesigning for people with no or limited mobility - TetraLogicalPeople with limited or no mobility use a wide range of assistive technology, alternative input devices, and accessibility settings to interact with digital content. As you design your websites and mobile apps, how can you ensure they work well for them? This post explores important considerations for designing for people with moving disabilities.
deconspray
@deconspray.bsky.social

Accessibility isn't a QA problem. It's a development practice. What if developers built accessibility in, instead of fixing it later? www.youtube.com/watc... #Accessibility #DigitalAccessibility #A11y #WebDevelopment #InclusiveDesign #WCAG #Developers #OZeWAI

youtube.comOZeWAI Ask the Professionals: Accessibility Deep Dive for DevelopersIn this edition of OZeWAI's Ask the Professionals series, moderator Ricky Onsman leads a deep-dive discussion with accessibility experts from Intopia, GitHub, and Telstra. The panel explores how developers can move beyond basic compliance to build intuitive, accessible web experiences from day one.
deconspray
@deconspray.bsky.social

A disabled submit button can become a dead end. If autofill breaks your validation, your “helpful” UX just blocked the user. cerovac.com/a11y/202... #Accessibility #A11y #UX #InclusiveDesign #WebDevelopment #WCAG #Usability

cerovac.comWhen a disabled submit button becomes a dead end | Bogdan on Digital Accessibility (A11y)Manually typing passwords is a burden and is slowly being abstracted or going away. Disabled buttons for sign up, login, password resets are often a lazy solution with giant possibility to block users out. Do not use disabled buttons please.
deconspray
@deconspray.bsky.social

Not every WCAG failure should stop a launch. But if someone can’t finish checkout, it’s a blocker. Ask: can they complete the task? www.dennisdeacon.com... #Accessibility #DigitalAccessibility #WCAG #ProductManagement #QA #InclusiveDesign #A11y

dennisdeacon.comDigital Accessibility Release Blockers: How to Decide What Stops a LaunchNot every WCAG failure should stop a release. Learn how to identify digital accessibility blockers using task completion & user impact as your release gate.
deconspray
@deconspray.bsky.social

If your system already knows the answer, why make users type it again? WCAG 3.3.7 says redundant entry is an accessibility barrier. tarnoff.info/2026/08... #Accessibility #A11y #WCAG #WCAG22 #InclusiveDesign #UX #DigitalAccessibility

tarnoff.infoA11y 101 – 3.3.7 Redundant EntryYou’re shopping online at your favorite store. You set up an account for future visits. You fill out your name, email, shipping address, billing info, card details. You save the info. You sta…
deconspray
@deconspray.bsky.social

If your design system ignores cognitive accessibility, who exactly is it designed for? People are the point. zeroheight.com/blog/... #Accessibility #CognitiveAccessibility #InclusiveDesign #DesignSystems #UX #DigitalAccessibility #A11y

zeroheight.comPeople are the point: Why cognitive accessibility needs to be part of your design system - zeroheightNathania Gilson explains why cognitive accessibility belongs in design systems, and how better documentation and governance can create more inclusive experiences.
deconspray
@deconspray.bsky.social

Inclusive imagery isn't a checkbox. It's a signal of who belongs. Leonie Theißen explores how brands can build authentic, inclusive image language. www.youtube.com/watc... #Accessibility #InclusiveDesign #Representation #DesignLeadership #A11y #ID24

youtube.comLeonie Theißen / Beyond ticking boxes - How to build an inclusive image language #id24 2026Who do you show on your websites and what does that say about your brand? Who is going to feel invited to interact with your brand, to use your product or to apply at your company, and who isn't? Who we show in our image language often seems like a trivial choice: a happy, smiley person, job done.
deconspray
@deconspray.bsky.social

Inclusive research asks who gets included. Trauma-informed research asks how safely they can participate. That distinction matters. www.youtube.com/watc... #InclusiveDesign #Accessibility #UXResearch #DesignResearch #TraumaInformedDesign #UserResearch #A11y #ID24

youtube.comHitomi Yokota / Trauma-Informed Design Research for Inclusive Practice #id24 2026Inclusive design requires more than accessibility—it also asks us to consider emotional safety, power, and lived experience. In this session, participants will explore how trauma shapes people’s experiences of user research engagement, particularly in complex and sensitive topics. The talk introduce
deconspray
@deconspray.bsky.social

Complex experiences need more than WCAG checkboxes. Accessibility must be designed into the experience, not bolted on afterward. www.youtube.com/watc... #Accessibility #InclusiveDesign #A11y #UX #DigitalAccessibility #ID24

youtube.comMichel Joanisse / Easier and Better Accessibility for Complex Experiences #id24 2026Ever wondered how to make a virtual experience an accessible one? Or how about a gamification experience? Or, maybe a 360-degree video that includes interactivity. Not just WCAG checkboxes accessible, experience accessible. Something someone with a temporal, circumstantial, or permanent barrier to a
deconspray
@deconspray.bsky.social

Who gets to decide? Inclusive design means more than inviting people in. It means sharing power with those most affected. www.youtube.com/watc... #Accessibility #InclusiveDesign #CoDesign #UserResearch #DesignEthics #DisabilityInclusion #A11y #ID24

youtube.comSherry Shannon, Catherine Collins / Who Gets to Decide? ... #id24 2026Who Gets to Decide? People with Lived Experience Redesign a $68M System A paid cohort of people with lived experience of homelessness co-designed a $68M housing grant administration process for a Minnesota state agency. This changed not just what the process looked like, but who held power in shapi
deconspray
@deconspray.bsky.social

Accessibility is not just removing barriers. Sensory mapping can help people anticipate them, navigate confidently, and participate fully. www.youtube.com/watc... #Accessibility #InclusiveDesign #Neurodiversity #NeuroInclusion #SensoryDesign #UserResearch #ID24

youtube.comRebecca Adda / Sensory Mapping: Co-creating Towards a Neuro-Inclusive Environment #id24 2026Sensory mapping offers advance information about noise, lighting, crowding, smells and rest areas, helping neurodivergent people anticipate and navigate spaces with confidence. Although use of sensory maps is growing (particularly in museums and cultural spaces), their design and broader application
deconspray
@deconspray.bsky.social

We cannot expect accessible products if accessibility is not taught. Belén Barros Pena asks why higher education and industry need to close the gap. www.youtube.com/watc... #Accessibility #InclusiveDesign #A11y #HigherEducation #UX #DigitalAccessibility #ID24

youtube.comBelén Barros Pena / The groanings, travails and weepings of teaching accessibility in HE #id24 2026In 2023 I was asked to take over the course on Inclusive Design for masters students that is currently offered at City St George's, University of London. This course is one of the longest-running and one of the very few dedicated Inclusive Design university courses in the UK. In most higher-educatio
deconspray
@deconspray.bsky.social

Accessible outcomes start with accessible processes. Wilco Fiers explores Europe’s new Design for All standard. www.youtube.com/watc... #Accessibility #InclusiveDesign #DesignForAll #DigitalAccessibility #UX #ID24

youtube.comWilco Fiers / Process matters: Europe's new Design for All standard #id24 2026WCAG is fantastic, but it has the weaknesses all product standards have. EN 17161 Design for All adds a new dimension to accessibility compliance. One that works in the reality of bugs, of compliance over time, and that understands user needs aren't static or perfectly definable. Security has paved
deconspray
@deconspray.bsky.social

Designing for one culture creates assumptions. Designing for the wanderer challenges them. Accessibility gets stronger when we design beyond borders. www.youtube.com/watc... #Accessibility #InclusiveDesign #UX #DigitalAccessibility #a11y #DesignThinking #ID24

youtube.comVerónica Morales Beltrán/ Designing for the Wanderer: Accessibility Lessons from a Life Abroad #id24Explore how accessibility transcends borders. A journey through the UX of several countries. We’ll examine why the most successful interfaces are those that refuse to leave anyone behind, proving accessibility is the ultimate design win. About the speaker I am a professional digital accessibility
deconspray
@deconspray.bsky.social

A clean accessibility scan doesn't mean an accessible experience. Automation finds rules. Humans find barriers. Tanveer Khan explains why. accessibilitycraft.c... #Accessibility #DigitalAccessibility #A11y #AccessibilityTesting #WCAG #InclusiveDesign #UX

accessibilitycraft.com179: What Automated Accessibility Tools Will Never Catch with Tanveer Khan - Accessibility CraftTanveer Khan explored critical accessibility problems that automated tools often miss, and interaction patterns that require manual testing.