WebAIM - Web Accessibility In Mind

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Re: how do I find a developer who knows accessibility

for

From: Peter Shikli
Date: Apr 27, 2020 3:16PM

My initial recommendation is to recognize that website accessibility is
a team sport.  You've been asked to find a quarterback who is also a
good lineman.  Better is to find two who work well together.

We've got over a dozen highly experienced accessibility experts who know
something about web design.  I wouldn't hire the one who knows the most
about web design to be an organization's web developer.  We also have an
accessibility expert who can talk website security to a client's
sysadmin.  Do you think she could be made responsible for a website's
security?  No way.

The good news is that you don't need two full-time bodies.  You probably
do need a full-time webmaster/designer since they are also systems
integrators, but the mark of a great accessibility expert is how little
you need her for your organization to become accessible. They get
involved early with requirements, wire frames, mockups, widget
selection, and most importantly hands-on training during the design
phase, but only an hour here and there, and then a final audit which you
may well pass on the first attempt.

    Cheers,
    Peter Shikli
    Access2online Inc.
    www.access2online.com
    Prison inmates helping the internet become accessible