Organisational lessons paper

 



https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Anna-Mieczakowski/publication/258626752_Inclusive_Design_and_the_Bottom_Line_How_Can_Its_Value_Be_Proven_to_Decision_Makers/links/02e7e528b67277046a000000/Inclusive-Design-and-the-Bottom-Line-How-Can-Its-Value-Be-Proven-to-Decision-Makers.pdf?origin=publication_detail

The topic of digital accessibility does not yet exist on the educational curriculum, therefore this literature review will look to national strategy for guidance, as well as industry and educational research regarding the implementation and teaching of accessibility.  The aim is to understand key considerations, acknowledge any lessons learned and seek practical advice to influence an educational intervention for schools.

The government has clearly invested in legislation, monitoring and guidance, as well as new professional job roles and apprenticeships, why is progress so slow? 

Follow on from reports- talk about concerns about extra cost and complexity that become a barrier to progress. Return on investment and the business case.

Problems and perceptions are often fuelled by many aspects of digital accessibility implementation in organisations. One suggestion for the challenging perceptions is due to when accessibility is introduced or embedded into a organisation, products, processes or project lifecycles.

For example, the retrofitting of accessibility in a product at the end of the build can bring with it delay, complex fixes and frustrations having to put in constant help desk calls (Ref), reinforcing the perception that accessibility is costly and complex (Ref). In most guidance it is clear that accessibility needs to be built into the early process of building and testing products, at the beginning, throughout and before beta (GDS, 2023?, more). This earlier consideration can help streamline, carefully plan and simplify accessibility processes. But often leaving out the consideration for accessibility and engaging with users early on is seen as a cost saving exercise, yet Keates and Clarkson (year) have shown….quote… including it early on pays dividends longer-term. Second quote…..

Name of doc: There are challenges in how can its value be proven to decision makers? Return on investment (ROI), the business case for accessibility.

One of the most significant challenges raised was about training and education around digital accessibility 

It has been suggested that this perception of complexity impacts people’s engagement in training and learning about the topic (Refs). For example, even the word or term digital accessibility brings with it….. even a course changing its name demonstrates this (Refs)…..SCULPT (Wilson, 2020). It has already been highlighted that the main set of standards people are directed to for digital accessibility, the WCAG guidelines, are also deemed difficult for some people to grasp or interpret. All of this impacts how it is viewed as an educational intervention, often when accessibility is an optional unit it may not be taken up due to the effort and complexity it may hold (Ref).

Which in turn echoes the perception that this subject area is the responsibility of technical staff or web developers.

Skills are another aspect of why there is low progress. Investment in skills development maybe linked to the previous concern about the perceived overall cost of accessibility implementation.

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