Part 3: Development and Testing That Makes a Difference
We've explored how accessible design patterns can transform user experiences and how product leadership can make accessibility central to strategy. Now let's talk about where the rubber meets the road: development. After all, our most thoughtful designs and strategic plans only become real when developers bring them to life—and they often shoulder the bulk of accessibility implementation.
While I'm a designer by trade, I've spent most of my career working closely with developers. In smaller teams, where I was often the only designer, I found myself collaborating more with developers than other designers. Through these partnerships, I've learned valuable lessons about making accessibility an integral part of the development process, not just a design consideration.
Here are real examples of how small changes can make a big difference:
Error Message Evolution:
Before: Invalid input detected
After: The phone number you entered is missing the area code. Add your area code (e.g., 555-123-4567) to continue.
Form Validation:
Before: * Required field
After: Phone Number (Required) - Enter in format: XXX-XXX-XXXX
The Power of Small Changes
As someone who experiences both anxiety and sensory processing differences, I've seen firsthand how small development decisions can have huge impacts on accessibility. It's not always about major overhauls or complex implementations—sometimes it's as simple as rewording an error message or adjusting a colour contrast.
When developers ask me where to start with accessibility, I often share what I've learned from watching great developers work: start with what you can test yourself, right now, with the tools you already have.
Testing in the Real World
The most powerful accessibility testing doesn't require special tools or expertise—it starts with questioning our assumptions. I've watched developers discover crucial insights simply by testing their work in different conditions. Those error messages that seem so clear? Try understanding them without being able to see the form fields they reference.
Here are a few powerful testing approaches I've seen developers use:
Try completing a full user flow using only Tab, Space, and Enter keys
Test form submissions with a screen reader to hear how errors are announced
Attempt to recover from errors without using a mouse or trackpad
Making It Part of Your Process
Through years of collaborating with development teams, I've learned this truth: sustainable accessibility happens when we treat it as part of our core development process, not as an afterthought. The most effective teams write clear error messages from the start, test keyboard navigation as they build, and—most importantly—challenge their assumptions about how different people will actually use their features. This mindset shift transforms accessibility from a checklist item into an integral part of creating better software for everyone.
The Impact of Intentional Development
Every small improvement helps someone have a better experience with our products. That error message you made clearer? It might help someone complete a crucial task during a high-anxiety moment. That keyboard navigation you improved? It could make the difference between frustration and success for someone who relies on alternative input methods.
Accessibility improvements often help everyone, not just users with specific needs. Clear error messages help everyone recover from mistakes more easily. Well-implemented keyboard shortcuts help everyone work more efficiently. Thoughtful focus management helps everyone navigate more effectively.
Your Journey Starts Now
Creating truly accessible technology isn't a destination—it's an ongoing journey of learning, testing, and improving. Whether you're a designer, developer, or leader, you can start making a difference today:
Test your work under real-world conditions
Question your assumptions about how people use your products
Make accessibility part of your daily practice, not a separate checklist
Share your learnings and advocate for inclusive design in your organization
Remember: Every small improvement you make helps someone have a better experience with technology. What change will you make today?
