Start small
Accessibility is a large topic. You are not expected to master everything today, not even next year. Start small. Aim for continuous learning. Once you are experienced with some aspects, expand your knowledge to new ones.
Intro
Usability
While accessibility aims to make services accessible to all, it is not a substitute for usability. A product can technically meet all compliance standards yet still be confusing or frustrating to navigate if the underlying logic is flawed. Ultimately, accessibility cannot fix poor usability; ensure you meet the fundamentals of usability to provide a truly equitable experience.
Responsibility
Accessibility is a shared responsibility that must be woven into every stage of the digital service lifecycle. Developers, product owners, testers, and content creators all play a vital role. However, designers sit at the helm of this process. By making intentional choices, they establish the blueprint for accessibility. Designers can play even a bigger role, e.g. by annotating their design for accessibility and raising issues in early phase. Don't assume something is someone else's responsibility; do what you can.
AI-nnotations
Use Figma annotation tool to add accessibility annotations. These annotations help developers and testers ensure the implementation is accessible. The annotations also provide important accessibility context to AI agents through Figma MCP server.
Handoff
A fully accessible design does not guarantee the accessibility of the actual service. Many accessibility aspects rely on how the code is implemented. Walk through the annotations with developers and testers to ensure the implementation is more accessible.
Requirements
The badges labelled "SC x.x" communicate the WCAG Success Criterion (SC) that is/are relevant to each requirement, including the level of conformance. Only levels A and AA are included as they are commonly required by laws.
The SC are linked to WCAG in Plain English (by Aaardvark), for more information and examples.
Recommendations
The badges labelled "Recommendation" means the item is not (yet) covered by WCAG.
WIP
The guidelines are a living document and a work in progress. If you have any comments or ideas, contact eyal.eshet@vincit.fi