8-Step Implementation Model
Step 8: Remain Flexible Through the Changes
The WebAIM Strategic Accessibility Framework provides a more comprehensive model for implementing digital accessibility than is provided in this article. This article is maintained here for archival purposes.
The Importance of Flexibility
What happens to your organization's web accessibility standard when a new version of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines is released? Does your policy immediately become obsolete? Will your employees know how to incorporate the changes and new techniques into their design? What if you discover that your policy is inadequate to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities? What if you discover that you've set the standard too high (a much rarer occurrence)?
The answers to these and other questions will depend on the situation within your organization, but one thing is consistent across all organizations: things change, and you have to be flexible to accommodate those changes.
Adapting to Change
Perhaps the most important concept to remember as you travel the road of institutional reform is that change is a dynamic and flexible process. There will be changes in staff, standards, and technologies. Your organization must have in place a system to handle these changes and a mechanism to update standards as new technologies emerge. You should also remember that there will be turnover of developers and new developers hired all the time. In that case, new training will be required, as well as retraining when standards change or work becomes sloppy. Your organization must always be at the ready for revamping and retooling as necessary. In fact, there should be allowances and provisions made for this in all policy plans.
We Wish You the Best!
Hone your newly learned skills by utilizing the questions and planning guides provided at each step. As you travel down the road of accessibility we wish you the best of luck in all your future endeavors.