World Usability Day | November 2024
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In this episode, hosts Mark Miller and David Sloan discuss World Usability Day, what this day means for accessibility professionals, and the relationship between usability and accessibility. They also share their best practices for making websites and digital applications accessible, and usable.
Related Resources
World Usability Day
Are you new to World Usability Day? This annual event, taking place on November 14, highlights the importance of usability and accessibility as cornerstones of inclusive digital experiences. Learn more about building accessible, usable, and inclusive digital experiences in our World Usability Day 2024 blog post.
W3C Resources
In this episode, David mentioned a great resource from the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), “Making Content Usable for People with Cognitive and Learning Disabilities.” We’ve also included additional resources from the W3C to help you make your digital products accessible and usable:
Global Accessibility Awareness Day
Along with World Usability Day, Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) is also an annual event, held on the third Thursday in May, that promotes educating the public about digital access and inclusion. Here are some TPGi resources where you can learn more:
- Global Accessibility Awareness Day 2024: On-Demand Webinars and Videos
- Celebrate Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) Every Day (Blog Post)
- Welcome to Global Accessibility Awareness Day Trivia! (Trivia)
- Integrate Accessibility into Your Organization (On-Demand Webinar)
Accessibility and Usability
Creating accessible and usable digital experiences requires a thoughtful balance of design and functionality. In this episode, Mark and David emphasized the importance of integrating accessibility and usability principles into every stage of product development. Explore these resources to learn how accessibility testing, WCAG standards, and inclusive design practices can elevate your digital projects:
- Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) (Resource)
- Accessibility Testing Tools (Resource)
- UX and Accessible Design (Resource)
- Designing for Accessibility – Create Accessible User Experiences with AT User Flow Testing (Blog Post)
- Accessibility and UX Design: Building Inclusive User Experiences (Blog Post)
Cognitive Disabilities
Mark and David both shared insights on the unique challenges people with cognitive disabilities face when navigating digital spaces. Addressing these challenges requires an understanding of cognitive accessibility principles, WCAG criteria, and how assistive technologies can support users. Whether you’re designing for inclusivity or looking to improve accessibility for a broad audience, these articles will guide you:
- Making the Web Accessible: A Focus on Cognitive Disabilities
- Introduction to Cognitive Disability and Accessibility Testing
- WCAG 2.1: Success Criteria for Cognitive Disabilities
- What is Inclusive Design, and How Does it Relate to Accessibility? – Part 1
- Best Practices for Inclusive Design – Part 2
- A web of anxiety: accessibility for people with anxiety and panic disorders [Part 1]
- A web of anxiety: accessibility for people with anxiety and panic disorders [Part 2]
- The impact of motion animation on cognitive disability
- Cognitive Disabilities – Designing for a broad spectrum: AccessU
- Finding Freedom with Ghotit: Assistive Technology for Cognitive Disabilities