Accessible Interactions and Experience

Bishop International Airport

  • Name: FNT Bishop International Airport

  • Field: Accessibility, Front-End, UX, and leadership

origin

Let's create an accessible high traffic website while adhering to brand standards and simplify a complex navigation.

Timeline

  1. Accessibility Strategy and Front-End Development

    Led strategy and collaborated with cross-functional partners at Addis Enterprises to design and implement accessibility-first solutions, ensuring compliance with WCAG standards while optimizing user experience.

  2. Advocated for Accessibility Across Development Teams

    Effectively communicated the importance of inclusive design through strategic workshops and hands-on guidance, fostering a culture of accessibility in all development processes.

  3. Led End-to-End Accessibility and UX Design Initiatives

    Directed the design and development of accessible experiences, overseeing production workflows from ideation to successful launch, and ensuring seamless integration of accessibility features.
preview of the final/current Flint Bishop International Airport website
Journey

Prompt

Designing a High-Traffic Airport Website with Accessibility and Customer Engagement at Its Core

Create an inclusive, high-performing website for a major airport that ensures seamless navigation, efficient operation, and a superior user experience for all travelers, regardless of ability.

Strategy

Accessibility Leadership

Spearheaded accessibility strategy to meet and exceed WCAG 2.1 standards, ensuring the website is fully navigable via keyboard, screen readers, and other assistive technologies.

People-First Navigation

Designed an intuitive navigation system to cater to diverse user needs, including travelers with disabilities and audiences of all types.

Performance Optimization

Focused on creating a fast-loading, scalable interface to handle high traffic volumes, ensuring reliability during peak travel times.

Testing and Validation

Conducted iterative usability and accessibility testing, incorporating insights to refine the experience and prioritize inclusive design solutions.

In addition to crafting seamless cross-browser experiences, I focused on ensuring these sites adhered to accessibility best practices, enhancing discoverability, user retention, and expanding potential audience reach. As an advocate for accessibility and inclusive design, I consistently championed the importance of creating usable and inclusive digital experiences at Addis Enterprises. To further this mission, I presented at conferences across Michigan, sharing expertise and promoting a vision of Universal Design and Accessibility that prioritizes equitable access for all users.

Challenges

  1. Advocated for Accessibility Across Stakeholders

    Promoted recognition and inclusion of users of all abilities by educating developers and stakeholders on WCAG standards, fostering a shared commitment to accessible design principles.

  2. Led Accessibility Strategy for Seamless User Interactions

    Designed and implemented a comprehensive accessibility strategy, ensuring key interactions—such as navigation—met WCAG compliance and provided an equitable experience for all users.

  3. Presented Accessibility Insights to Drive Stakeholder Engagement

    Delivered impactful presentations on accessibility standards and their real-world applications, inspiring collaboration among developers and stakeholders to prioritize inclusive design.

Response

  1. Aligned Development Goals with Stakeholder Vision

    Successfully led the development team to prioritize maximum accessibility while adhering to the client and leadership's broader vision, ensuring inclusive design remained at the forefront.

  2. Designed Keyboard and Screen-Reader Friendly Navigation

    Spearheaded the implementation of navigation systems that complied with WCAG 2.0 menu/menuitem guidelines, enabling seamless interaction for users relying on assistive technologies.

  3. Championing Accessibility-Driven Development

    Guided the team through a comprehensive strategy to deliver a highly accessible web experience, balancing technical excellence with user-centric accessibility solutions.
preview of the FNT airport multi-tiered navigation
Moral

Solution

Screen-recorded video of the Bishop International Airport website working with keyboard controls and a screen-reader.
Notice the use of various keyboard keys as well as ARIA labels, descriptions, and more to make the menu accessible and operable.

Note: the website has changed since I left the organization

Growth

While presenting on the importance of accessibility across the state, I embraced the opportunity to effectively address and overcome reluctance within the organization, honing my communication and advocacy skills in the process.

Impact

Overcoming reluctance toward accessibility, driven by concerns over cost, taught me how to lead with inspiration rather than fear or force of post-mortem litigation. By highlighting the mutual benefits of inclusive design, I effectively communicated and implemented a strategy I helped shape, fostering alignment and lasting impact.