"We know how screen readers work now, so we don't need to include people that are blind in our work -- we've got experience with this. We've done eleventy jillion hours of testing and interviews and blah blah blah."
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You'd even be coming from the right place - we get to a point where we're ready to tackle the NEXT disability and learn more about that. I totally get it.
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I've even told you myself to stop thinking about screen readers and get working with people with low-vision, or people with mobility or dexterity related needs.
That doesn't mean "leave people that are blind out" though.
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Because if you do, you're taking a risk.
You get complacent. You think you know all that is there. You stop looking for new insights. You stop including.
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You need to keep working with people that use screen readers. Technology changes. The tools change. People change. 5 blind people are not exactly like the next 5 blind people. You will find different behaviours. Different opinions. Different ways of approaching problems.
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If you think "I got this" and you move on and start to exclude again, you're missing ALLLLL kinds of opportunities for new insights, new understanding, and new ways of knowing.
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So keep including. Even if you think you already know. Even if you think you're not going to learn anything new -- break that mindset.
If you think you're not going to learn anything new, you won't. Keep your mind open... look for new insights.
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Ask: "How does this thing you're learning right now in this interview with X contribute to making new connections and new understanding... new meaning, that wasn't there for you before? How does this connect in new ways?"
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So in that moment -- the one where you're thinking "We don't need to include ____ any more" -- that's when it's even more important to lean in, ask why you're thinking it, and then make sure you're intentionally including them.
#accessibility #GAAD2022 #InclusiveDesign
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That is a great point I'm making it in my current book and presented it in Austin at #accessu last week. Dr. Robert sapolsky at Stanford is a neuroscientist neuroendocrinologist neurosurgeon and primatologist who has pointed out primates operate on an us-versus- them methodology.
May 20, 2022 · 12:34 AM UTC