Book Review WCAG for Designers: Accessibility Reference Manual

As February comes to a close, we’ve wrapped up our reading of WCAG for Designers: Accessibility Reference Manual by Stacey Swinehart Gandersen. This book has been a critical resource for anyone looking to integrate accessibility into their design process, and it has been a pleasure discussing its valuable insights with our Accessibility Book Club members.

Key Takeaways from Stacey’s Final Message

Stacey’s message to designers in her closing is powerful and straightforward:

"Hopefully, this guide makes accessibility less overwhelming or intimidating and helps you start your accessibility journey. Remember, each small step forward is progress. Progress over perfection is one of the most common mantras in accessibility. Accessibility is about human experience, so there are many ways to implement it. The nuances are how you solve the problem to create inclusive, accessible, usable, and available experiences."

This passage encapsulates the true essence of accessibility: small, incremental steps that contribute to a broader, more inclusive web experience. Accessibility doesn't need to be an intimidating process, and this book breaks it down into bite-sized, actionable steps that are easy to follow.

Why You Should Read WCAG for Designers: Accessibility Reference Manual

1. Designed for All People
One of the highlights of this book is its thoughtful design. Stacey Swinehart Gandersen intentionally created a book that is accessible in itself, with large fonts and minimal text per page. This focus on usability isn’t just for the content—it extends to the format and layout of the book itself. If you're designing for accessibility, this is a great example of accessible design in action.

2. Practical Insights and Actionable Steps
The book is filled with actionable insights that can immediately be implemented in your design process. The section-by-section approach makes it easy for designers to understand how to integrate accessibility into their workflow without feeling overwhelmed.

3. A Must-Read for Every Designer
The book provides a comprehensive understanding of WCAG principles and how they apply to designers, breaking down concepts into easy-to-understand terms. This is why I believe it should be required reading for anyone in the design field, from students to seasoned professionals.

Accessibility as a Journey

As Stacey noted, progress over perfection is a mantra that rings true in the world of accessibility. Every small step you take—whether it's improving alt text, ensuring proper color contrast, or refining your website’s navigation—leads to a more accessible and inclusive digital experience. The nuances of how to solve these challenges will vary, but the objective remains the same: to create usable, inclusive, and accessible experiences for all users.

The journey towards accessibility is one that should be continuous, not a one-time task. I wholeheartedly recommend this book as a starting point on that journey.

Next Steps and More Resources

This book has become my new favorite accessibility resource for designers. It has been incredibly helpful in framing how we approach accessibility from a design perspective. I look forward to Stacey’s next book and will be following her updates on LinkedIn and her website, Make Adaptive Work.

For those interested in learning more about accessibility design and how to integrate WCAG into your workflow, here are some additional resources:

• W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG): The ultimate source for WCAG guidelines.
• WebAIM: Techniques for WCAG: A great resource for practical techniques to meet WCAG success criteria.
• A11Y Project: A community-driven resource with tips, tutorials, and articles on web accessibility.
• Deque Systems: Accessibility Resources: A leader in accessibility tools and resources.

Looking forward to continuing the journey toward a more inclusive web for everyone!