HCD Manchester: How can we create truly inclusive digital products and services?

At least one billion people – 15% of the world’s population – have a recognised disability. Yet in the top one million websites’ home pages, 97% were detected to have accessibility issues. This is a damning statistic and highlights that accessibility can no longer be treated as an afterthought in our industry.

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With accessible services now shifting to the forefront and the conversation growing louder – accessibility is crucial to get right and far bigger than solely thinking about colour contrast or screen readers. How might we ensure our peers and clients are being inclusive at every step of the way – from the point of identifying human needs, researching with ‘all’ types of people to creating working solutions that can be accessed and used by all?

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Join us at Human-Centred Design Manchester to explore the topic of inclusive design within product and service design.

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We have curated a panel of experts to discuss and debate questions like:

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• What is preventing us from making products and services accessible?
• How well do we feel the product and service industry is doing?
• Are we doing enough to educate creators and decision-makers?
• How do make it simpler to make inclusive services and products?
• How do we assess and measure accessibility in service ecosystems?

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Come along with your questions and views ready to take part in a lively Q&A and a networking social hosted at Code.

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The panel

• Leilah Birchall – Front End Engineer at Code
• Alex Clapperton – Software Engineer at Cinch
• Gareth Ford Williams – Accessibility Consultant
• Rosa Soares – Digital Inclusion and Engagement Officer at Citizens Advice Manchester
• Emma Andrews – Manchester Deaf Centre
• Simon Hurst – Lead User Researcher at the Department for Education

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Agenda

18.15 – Arrive, network, drinks and nibbles
18.40 – Intro
18.45 – Lightning talk – James Bateson, Front End Engineer at Code
19.00 – Q&A Panel Discussion & debate
20.00 – Networking
20.15 – Leave

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Directions

You know where Fred Aldous is on the corner of Stevenson Square? You’re best to start there. Head around the Sevendale House building, past Soup Kitchen onto Spear Street. About halfway down the street, you’ll find a large, locked gate – that’s us!

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What’s HCD Manchester?

Human-centred design Manchester is a community of multi-disciplined designers, developers, business owners, product owners and startup entrepreneurs that believe in tackling challenges with a human-centred approach.

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Our group aims to grow and develop a community that values the ‘human-centred design’ ethos. We want to foster innovation within businesses to create products and services that users need and more importantly desire.

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We organise regular Meetups, events, workshops and socials for anyone interested in learning and sharing new skills.

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Who should come? Anyone that has an interest in people and solving their needs.