We can change how we incorporate accessibility in IT projects' life-cycles, by assigning responsibilities to each role involved. When we determine accessibility responsibilities for project managers, designers, developers, usability and accessibility specialists, etc., everyone is accountable and one person doesn't have the oft impossible task of "accessifying" projects. Otherwise, sometimes:
* People wait until an IT project is complete before they consider accessibility.
* The accessibility team?sometimes one person?has to test projects without consulting people with disabilities to see if they can use the project successfully.
* Projects go over budget because of extra time and work needed to re-develop their foundations, due to late planning.
* The team slates projects for remediation, yet never implement fixes because accessibility is an unprioritized afterthought.
* Projects fail because they're unusable liabilities. Each person can prevent these?and other?mishaps through planning carefully and knowing one's accessibility role. |