Disabled people are digital creators and consumers. We need accessibility in design and development tools.

By Yasmine Elglaly — People with disabilities are not solely end‑users of software; they also create software and digital content. Therefore, it is crucial to consider accessibility during the development of all types of software, including software development tools like integrated development environments (IDEs), version control systems, build tools, and continuous integration/continuous deployment systems. Making software development accessible to people with disabilities can lead to a more diverse and inclusive software industry. When people with disabilities are involved in software development teams, they bring a unique perspective and firsthand experience of accessibility needs and challenges. By creating a culture of accessibility and inclusion in software development, we can empower software teams to create software that is more accessible, more representative of all people, and ultimately more valuable to society.

From Horton, S., & Sloan, D. (2024). What Every Engineer Should Know About Digital Accessibility. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida.