Himanshu Goel: Designing for Everyone

"We are not just making the web accessible for disabled people—we are making it accessible for our future selves."

In this compelling session, Himanshu Goel (Architect at SBS) demystifies the concept of accessibility in modern UI development. He argues that accessibility is not merely a legal requirement or a technical checklist, but a form of Digital Justice.

Using relatable pop-culture examples like Taare Zameen Par and Black, Himanshu illustrates distinct user challenges—from dyslexia to sensory impairments—and maps them to practical UI solutions like OpenDyslexic fonts and multi-sensory feedback. The talk provides a roadmap for Scrum teams to integrate accessibility tools like Lighthouse and Axe-core directly into their Definition of Done, ensuring products are usable by everyone, regardless of ability.

Key Takeaways

The 4 Reasons to Care: Digital Equality, Legal Requirements (Section 508, EAA 2025), Better Business Outcomes (SEO & Reach), and Good Design Principles.
Situational Disabilities: Accessibility isn't just for permanent disabilities; it helps "situational" users too, like new parents holding a baby or drivers in bright sunlight.
Developer Toolkit: Practical tools for your pipeline: Lighthouse for audits, Axe-core for automation, and semantic HTML for structure.
Common Pitfalls: Avoid "Click Here" links, auto-playing content, and relying solely on color for meaning.Ensure keyboard navigation is seamless.