Cultivating empathy through immersive experiences
I want to begin by sharing a few thoughts on empathy, as empathy is one of the strongest drivers for inclusive design. Not the feel-good “let’s all be nice to each other” version, but the raw, eye-level understanding that comes from witnessing real people struggle.
When design teams witness end users running into accessibility barriers, disability inclusion quickly goes from a constraining theoretical set of requirements to an eye-opening, meaningful shared responsibility.
Most experts would agree that organizations that actively embrace inclusive design are also the ones who ultimately reach more customers, reduce their legal risks, and stay ahead of changing user needs and expectations. That has certainly been my observation over the years.
And while accessibility training sessions, governance policies, and role-based checklists certainly have the potential to go a long way, truly transformational...
