This case study explores the journey of Accessible Minds as they partnered with a rapidly expanding company to streamline their agile accessibility support. The client, a fast-growing technology company; recognized the importance of inclusivity and accessibility in their products and sought Accessible Minds’ expertise to ensure their software was accessible to all users. Facing numerous challenges in managing accessibility requirements within an agile development framework; Accessible Minds devised innovative solutions to overcome these obstacles and achieve remarkable results.
About the Client:
The client is a dynamic technology company that offers a diverse range of software solutions catering to a global user base. As they experienced substantial growth; the company recognized the need to prioritize accessibility to ensure that their products were inclusive and could be used by people with disabilities. They approached Accessible Minds to assist them in integrating accessibility seamlessly into their agile development processes.
What did they want?
The client aimed to establish a robust and efficient accessibility support system within their agile development framework. They sought a streamlined process that would enable their development teams to incorporate accessibility requirements seamlessly and iteratively without compromising the speed and flexibility of the agile methodologies. Their goal was to ensure that accessibility was an integral part of their software development lifecycle. They wanted that their products met the highest accessibility standards.
Challenges:
Integration of Accessibility and Agile: The client faced the challenge of integrating accessibility considerations into their agile development process. They needed to strike a balance between the iterative nature of agile methodologies and the comprehensive and evolving accessibility requirements.
Knowledge and Expertise: The development teams lacked in-depth knowledge and expertise in accessibility standards and practices. They needed guidance and support to navigate complex accessibility guidelines and ensure their implementations were compliant.
Communication and Collaboration: Effective communication and collaboration between the accessibility consultants and the development teams were essential to achieve seamless integration. The challenge was to establish clear channels of communication and provide continuous support throughout the development cycle.
Solutions:
Tailored Accessibility Training: Accessible Minds conducted customized accessibility training sessions for the client’s development teams. These sessions covered accessibility fundamentals, guidelines, and best practices; equipping the teams with the necessary knowledge to integrate accessibility into their work.
Accessibility User Stories: Our team collaborated with the client’s product owners and developers to create accessibility-focused user stories. These user stories were included in the product backlog; ensuring that accessibility requirements were considered during sprint planning and prioritized alongside other features.
Agile Accessibility Review: We introduced a systematic accessibility review process, conducted in parallel with regular feature development. By embedding accessibility checks into the agile workflow, potential issues were identified early and feedback was provided promptly; allowing for quick iterations and improvements.
Result:
Streamlined Accessibility Integration: The collaboration between Accessible Minds and the client’s development teams resulted in the successful integration of accessibility into the agile development process. Accessibility considerations became an inherent part of the development lifecycle; ensuring that accessibility was not an afterthought but an integral component of the software.
Increased Accessibility Compliance: Through the agile accessibility review process, the client’s development teams gained a deeper understanding of accessibility guidelines and standards. This step resulted in improved compliance with accessibility requirements; making their software more accessible to users with disabilities.
Efficient Communication and Collaboration: The establishment of clear communication channels between Accessible Minds and the development teams fostered effective collaboration. Accessibility consultants provided timely feedback, guidance, and support, ensuring a seamless integration of accessibility within the agile development workflow.
Enhanced User Experience: By prioritizing accessibility and integrating it into the agile development process, the client achieved a more inclusive user experience. Their software became accessible to a wider range of users, boosting user satisfaction and market reach.
Result:
Through a strategic partnership with Accessible Minds, the client successfully streamlined their agile accessibility support, overcoming challenges related to integration; knowledge, and collaboration. By embedding accessibility within their development processes, the client achieved increased compliance, improved user experience, and a more inclusive product. Accessible Minds’ expertise and innovative solutions paved the way for a successful transformation from complexity to clarity, setting a new standard for agile accessibility support in the technology industry.