Can Disability Inclusion & A11y Thrive in a Sea of Tech Layoffs?

Originally Published on LinkedIn: Article Source

In the past few years, tech companies have been making progress in their efforts to create inclusive products and services for users of all abilities. But this progress has recently been threatened by a wave of layoffs in the tech sector that have significantly impacted accessibility teams and inclusive design initiatives. In this post, I will explore the good, the bad, and the ugly in big tech and what I think this means for the future of digital accessibility.

These layoffs have caused setbacks for accessibility teams and inclusive design initiatives, however, there are still chances for tech companies to produce products that are accessible and embrace all users. I will cover how the accessibility community is advocating for disability inclusion as a priority in businesses' recruitment endeavors as there will be a flood of talent in the market for new roles. What the impact of these mass layoffs may be for disabled employees that were and weren't let go? Finally, I will discuss the opportunities for tech firms to ensure that everyone is included in the digital world.

The Good: Companies Prioritizing Accessibility

Engadget has produced a report over the past few years, in addition to their regular coverage, that looks back on the developments in the tech industry that impact the accessibility community, focusing on the largest companies like Apple, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Meta. Of these companies, there have been positive developments in inclusive design and accessibility efforts.

For example, Apple has been a leader in inclusive design. With the release of their latest operating system, they have included accessibility features like Voice Control and Sidecar, which makes it easier for people with disabilities to use Apple products. Amazon has also made strides in inclusive design, introducing Alexa Care Hub and an Accessibility Lab within their research division.

These companies are doing their part to make inclusive design a priority, and they serve as an example of how tech giants can create products and services that are inclusive for all users.

The Bad: Job Cuts in Big Tech & The Impact on A11y Initiatives

Unfortunately, several of the above-mentioned companies have also announced major layoffs, and companies like Twitter gutted their entire accessibility team. Not all companies will be able to maintain their a11y initiatives. The job cuts in big tech have had a significant impact on inclusive design and accessibility teams, leaving those remaining without the resources they need to continue their work.

The a11y community often calls on businesses to prioritize disability inclusion in their hiring efforts and move beyond the “one-and-done” mentality that has often characterized accessibility initiatives.

This has left many members and advocates of the disability community feeling like these needs may not be taken into account and that a11y will take a back seat to other initiatives. It’s also left the accessibility community wondering what can be done to ensure that inclusive design and accessibility remain a priority in tech product efforts.

Recent massive job cuts at many of these companies may slow or prevent further development or a noticeable slow-down concerning their accessibility initiatives. Even for those companies that still want to prioritize their a11y efforts, what will the impact of these mass layoffs have on their ability to get the job done?

More resource constraints will inevitably lead to hard decisions on what to prioritize going forward. Core user flow functionality may take priority over accessibility improvements. When these can both be tackled in the same sprint, that's great but it's also likely that this might not be realistic. The additional testing and QA needed to ensure features are working with assistive technology might result in pushback including these as baseline requirements for deployment. While many digital teams are motivated to include a11y requirements and testing as part of the "definition of done", something has got to give, and I fear product accessibility might take a hit... unless it's specifically mandated otherwise.

The Ugly: Accessibility of Tech Roles Responsibilities & Requirements

Regrettably, disability inclusion and accessibility frequently become afterthoughts in tech recruitment processes, job postings, and decisions during mass layoffs.

Making prior accessibility experience a core role requirement may not be the answer, but including accessibility practices in the description of what the role entails signals the company's commitment towards their a11y efforts and initiatives. This is something that should be considered for those tech companies with open roles.

One of the best ways to ensure the accessibility of a product is to include people with disabilities in the design and development of these products. So rather than treating a11y as an extra step, designing and building with the disability community is a better way to have these considerations as a core part of your workflow.

With all of these layoffs, and likely more coming what does that mean for disabled employees and contractors who often play an essential role of being the internal accessibility advocates or champions inside their organization?

The grind that is often synonymous with tech is likely to increase in intensity as companies are going to try to maintain the pace with a fraction of the resources. Tech jobs in general are often demanding and require long hours, making them more difficult for people with disabilities to sustain.

Accessibility should be included as part of the core values and practices of any organization. It is vital to support those with disabilities to ensure they have access to work opportunities that are not only equitable but also meaningful. This includes providing reasonable accommodations, providing training on how to design and build more accessible products.

So what makes this "the ugly"? During the pandemic, many tech companies had hiring booms, and remote work enabled opportunities for disabled workers to enter the workforce in full-time roles, often for the first time in their careers. Now, the combination of a more grueling environment for those remaining in their roles, many companies demanding a return to office or hybrid for the remaining staff, and the decrease in hiring have created an incredibly difficult situation for disabled workers. They have to compete with a larger, more experienced pool of potential candidates and may have more limited access to resources that often help people move into new roles.

In Conclusion

The impact of job cuts in the tech industry for inclusive design and accessibility cannot be overstated. The accessibility community is calling on tech to prioritize inclusive design, accessibility, and disability inclusion in their hiring efforts to make sure that people with disabilities are not left behind both in the open roles and the products these roles are producing.

The positive developments in inclusive design and accessibility efforts from tech giants like Apple, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Meta show that inclusive design initiatives can be successful when companies prioritize them. We must continue to push for inclusive design, accessibility, and disability inclusion to become a priority in tech hiring efforts and be considered when companies are making decisions during layoffs so that people with disabilities continue to have access to the products and services they need.