Presentation: Are design systems the key to sustained web accessibility?

A swirling pastel galaxy on a dark blue background is accompanied by white text which proclaims: Sustained web accessibility

Does having an accessible design system translate to having accessible digital products? Or is it that organizations which can afford a design system simply have more resources to invest in web accessibility?

Let’s find out!

This presentation covers several topics, but the highlights are:

  • Net-new research on the accessibility of design systems and websites built by organizations known for their design system accessibility
  • Info on what design systems are, can do, and can become
  • How to build up a great design system team

90 minute version

This presentation was first given at the John Slatin AccessU conference, on May 15, 2024.

It was a bit scattered, but based on audience reviews it was insightful nonetheless!

Google slides: 90 minute version

The HTML version of this presentation will render with the fonts available on your device. That means the font may be different from the Google Slides version.

HTML slides: 90 minute version


45 minute version

This presentation was most recently given at the University of Guelph’s 2024 accessibility conference: Building Knowledge, Breaking Barriers, on May 30, 2024.

This version is a bit better organized, but cuts out some of the nuance and depth, in favour of a quicker runtime.

Microsoft PowerPoint: sustained web accessibility

The PDF version of this presentation is likely less accessible than the PowerPoint version, since this was originally created as a slide deck.

PDF: sustained web accessibility