Inclusive design processes integrate accessibility throughout product development rather than treating it as a checklist or afterthought. This systematic approach ensures products work for people with diverse abilities from day one.
Core Inclusive Process Principles
- Proactive integration: Addressing accessibility from inception
- Diverse representation: Including disabled perspectives
- Shared responsibility: Making inclusion everyone's concern
- Continuous evaluation: Testing throughout development
- Compliance framework: Meeting legal and ethical standards
- Budget allocation: Resourcing for inclusive practices
- Knowledge building: Developing team accessibility expertise
Process Integration Points
- Research phase: Including diverse participants
- Requirements: Defining inclusive success criteria
- Design: Creating accessible patterns and components
- Development: Building with accessible code practices
- Testing: Verifying with assistive technologies
- Launch: Documenting accessibility features
- Maintenance: Ongoing accessibility monitoring
Organizational Approaches
- Accessibility champions program
- Inclusive design reviews and critiques
- Accessibility training for all roles
- Internal accessibility guidelines and standards
- Regular accessibility audits and remediation
- Disabled user testing partnerships
- Investment in specialized tools and expertise
Business Impact
Organizations with mature inclusive design processes report 30% fewer post-launch accessibility issues and 40% lower remediation costs.
Expert Perspective
As Microsoft inclusive lead Kat Holmes explains: "Inclusion isn't a feature or product category—it's a design methodology that considers the full range of human diversity from the beginning of the process."