When accessibility isn’t easy: Website features that need extra love

Not all parts of a website are equally straightforward when it comes to accessibility. Some features — especially custom interactions like maps, filters, calendars, and sliders — pose significant challenges that can slow down a project if they’re not identified early.

In this session, we’ll explore real-world examples of features and design patterns that often require additional attention to meet accessibility standards. We’ll talk about:

• Navigation pitfalls like complex menus and inconsistent focus states
• Interactive elements like custom filters, search results, and social sharing tools
• Complex visual content such as maps, timelines, sliders, and calendars
• Content-specific challenges, like ensuring iconography is accessible

You’ll leave with a better understanding of:

• How to spot accessibility red flags early — even if you’re not a developer
• Why certain features are harder to make accessible, and what questions to ask your team
• Practical strategies for planning, testing, and building solutions collaboratively

This talk will equip you with tools to anticipate accessibility challenges, and give you some examples of best practices for solving them.

Presenters

• Suzanne Dergacheva — Evolving Web
• Jesse Dyck — Evolving Web