Reflecting on the “Access for Accessibility” Workshop
A Day at Apple Developer Academy: Learning About Accessibility
Accessibility has become an increasingly important issue, especially in digital products like websites or apps. According to the WebAIM Million Report from February 2024, 96.3% of 1 million analyzed web pages worldwide failed to meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 standards. These guidelines aim to make web content accessible to all users, including those with disabilities, highlighting significant gaps in current web accessibility practices.
A brief intro about me
Hi, I’m Affifah. It’s hard to believe, but I’ve worked as a researcher for nearly four years. Currently, I am a UX Researcher with a keen interest in learning new things, especially about design accessibility.
I first discovered this event through an invitation email from ADP List. The topic immediately caught my attention, and I registered without hesitation. This subject has gained significant traction as it highlights the importance of equal access to websites and applications for people with disabilities.
Everyone deserves easy access to everything, especially when it comes to the internet and the amazing world of technology. Don’t you think so too?
A Memorable Event
The workshop, held on May 25, 2024, at Apple Developer Academy, featured PetaNetra, an app designed to aid independent navigation for the visually impaired. Jessi Febria, a 2021 Apple Academy graduate, led the session, making it interactive and fun. Participants were grouped into teams of 3–4, fostering collaboration and creativity.
Learning and Application
Before diving into the “case study,” Jessi provided an insightful overview of the CBL framework and how we could apply it to the main idea she presented. The essence of CBL is not just theoretical learning but also practical application. The framework consists of three interconnected phases: engage, investigate, and act.
1. Engage
The first step in applying the Challenge Based Learning framework is the ‘engage’ phase. During this stage, the Apple Academy team introduces the big idea of focusing on disabilities.
The big idea serves as the main theme or broad topic that forms the foundation for discussion and exploration. This overarching concept guides participants to think deeply from various perspectives. Workshop participants, divided into groups of 3–4, are expected to actively engage in developing this big idea.
After understanding the big idea, the next step is to formulate essential questions. These essential questions are fundamental queries arising from the big idea, directing participants to further investigate the issue. These questions should be relevant and challenging, promoting critical thinking. In this activity, the context is disabilities. An example of an essential question posed is: “How can we help individuals with physical disabilities find employment?”
The focus on physical disabilities is due to the prevalence of this type of disability, yet there are still few employment platforms that adequately support these individuals in job searching.
Next, the challenge is the concrete task that participants must complete based on the essential question. This challenge requires applying knowledge and skills to find practical and innovative solutions. In this case, the task we proposed is to create a platform that can assist individuals with physical disabilities in finding employment more easily and inclusively.
2. Investigate
The second step in the Challenge-Based Learning framework is the “Investigate” phase, where research becomes crucial to tackling the set challenge. This stage begins with generating as many questions as possible to serve as learning sources and to find solutions for building the determined platform through guiding questions.
Guiding Questions are specific inquiries that help steer participants in finding answers and gaining a deeper understanding of the challenge. They break down the essential question into smaller, more directed parts. Some major questions from our group include:
- What spectrum of physical disabilities will be the primary focus in developing this product?
- What is the current job market condition for individuals with disabilities?
- Are job opportunities for individuals with disabilities significantly limited?
These questions can be answered through research during the activities and resources phase, which involves a series of activities and resources participants use to gather information and data related to the guiding questions.
Research methods may include surveys, in-depth interviews with members of the disability community, students and staff at special education schools (SLB), or relevant government officials to understand the potential for building this platform.
After conducting research guided by the guiding questions, participants will begin the synthesis process. This involves combining information and findings from various activities and resources to develop a comprehensive understanding. It includes data analysis, identifying patterns, and drawing conclusions that support solutions to the challenge.
Given the limited time, we focused on providing a general idea of the research methods.
3. Act
The final phase, “Act,” engaged participants in solution development, implementation, and evaluation. They crafted solution statements and worked with designers and developers to build a platform aligned with their ideas.
Key Takeaways
1. Accessibility is crucial in today’s fast-paced era. A study conducted by the Web Accessibility in Mind Project in February 2024, shows that approximately 1 million websites worldwide still do not meet necessary accessibility standards.
2. The CBL framework emphasizes research and effective solution implementation. From this workshop, I learned a lot from the CBL method as it encourages participants to engage with practical issues.
I also learned that in developing websites or applications, this framework encourages participants to understand both technical and legal requirements. Unlike the Design Thinking method, although there are some similarities, what I have learned is that this topic is quite interesting to discuss.
Design Thinking is highly centered on understanding user needs through empathy. While this is important, this approach may not be structured enough to ensure that the solutions produced are fully inclusive and meet specific accessibility standards. Accessibility, however, requires a deep understanding of technical guidelines that may not be fully accommodated in an approach focused solely on empathy.
If we compare, Design Thinking fundamentally supports collaboration, but CBL places greater emphasis on teamwork within a broader context, encompassing various fields of knowledge. Although Design Thinking is very valuable in many contexts, CBL is much more suitable because it provides a more direct, structured, and collaborative framework for addressing significant issues.
3. All stakeholders must be aware that in creating applications or websites, understanding the importance of website inclusivity for prioritizing digital accessibility is essential. This is to ensure equal access and opportunities when accessing the internet or using gadgets
4. Accessible Design Tips: Design should facilitate navigation for users with physical disabilities, providing sufficient space between elements and maximizing keyboard functionality. Avoid elements requiring high precision, short display durations, and excessive scrolling.
“Accessibility allows us to tap into everyone’s potential.” — Debra Ruh
References
[1]: WebAIM. 2024. The WebAIM Million — The 2024 Report on the Accessibility of the Top 1,000,000 Home Pages. https://webaim.org/projects/million/
[2]: Government Digital Service. 16th May 2024. “Celebrating Global Accessibility Awareness Day.” Accessibility in Government. https://accessibility.blog.gov.uk/2024/05/16/celebrating-global-accessibility-awareness-day/
[3]: Iin Kurniati. 5th June 2024. Menuju Aksesibilitas Digital melalui Inklusi Sosial bagi Disabilitas. https://suarise.com/category/journal/aksesibilitas-digital/
[4]: Challenge Based Learning. About Challenge Based Learning https://www.challengebasedlearning.org/
[5] Apple Education Learning Center. Challenge Based Learning https://education.apple.com/learning-center/R006554
