When including all users into the scope of a digital project, project managers and product owners need to have a good understanding of what makes a product accessible and of the wide range of users that accessibility serves.
Product management
The United States General Services Administration offers a guide that lays out the essence of what a product manager needs to get started on accessibility. It includes the basics of accessibility, a quick reminder of diverse users that a final product may have and ideas to work on within the flow of a project.
Shift left
The concept of shifting left, meaning to start accessibility at the earliest stage of a project, has been around for a few years. In the article The ongoing evolution of ‘Shift left’, Derek Featherstone gives us an overview of where this idea came from and links to yet another article. This second article, How to Get Started on Accessibility Before You Have a Product, we get tips on how to leverage accessibility by reviewing your competitors product and getting to know what users with disabilities are looking for in your product.
Understanding the end users
Learning How People with Disabilities Use the Web will give some insights into what barriers users with disabilities face while using web content. Although it’s a good idea to talk directly to users with disabilities, this content helps underline different perspectives and increase awareness.
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
Lastly, Understanding the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines overviews essential aspects of these internationally recognised standards. It also explains the difference between the latest iterations of WCAG. This standard is a good place to start, but note that other initiatives like user testing with people with disabilities may give other indicators that this standard does not address.
Conclusion
An accessible project is the result of teamwork. When all parties involved have accessibility in mind, including the project manager and the product owner, there are less chances of excluding a user from interacting with your product. If you want more insights on users with disabilities and digital accessibility in general, I highly recommend you follow Sheri Byrne-Haber and Meryl Evans. They both have an interesting and thought provoking collection of articles.