How do you collaborate with developers and designers on documentation accessibility?

Documentation accessibility is a crucial aspect of product management, especially when working with developers and designers. It ensures that your product is understandable, usable, and inclusive for a diverse range of users. In this article, we will explore some tips and best practices for collaborating with developers and designers on documentation accessibility.

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1 Define your goals and standards

Before you start creating or updating your documentation, you need to have a clear vision of what you want to achieve and how you will measure it. What are the main objectives and outcomes of your documentation? Who are your target audiences and what are their needs and preferences? What are the accessibility guidelines and requirements that you need to follow? Having a shared understanding of these questions will help you align your efforts and expectations with your developers and designers.

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2 Involve your users and stakeholders

One of the best ways to ensure that your documentation is accessible and user-friendly is to involve your users and stakeholders in the process. You can conduct user research, testing, and feedback sessions to gather insights and suggestions from your potential and existing customers, as well as from your internal teams and partners. This will help you identify the pain points, gaps, and opportunities in your documentation, as well as the best practices and solutions that work for your users.

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3 Use accessible tools and formats

The tools and formats that you use to create and deliver your documentation can have a significant impact on its accessibility and usability. You should choose tools and formats that support accessibility features, such as headings, lists, tables, images, captions, alt text, links, and keyboard navigation. You should also consider the compatibility and responsiveness of your documentation across different devices, browsers, and screen sizes. Additionally, you should provide multiple formats and options for your users, such as PDF, HTML, video, audio, and text-to-speech.

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4 Write clear and concise content

The content of your documentation is the core of your communication with your users. You should write clear and concise content that is easy to read, understand, and follow. You should use simple and consistent language, avoid jargon and acronyms, and explain technical terms and concepts. You should also use short and structured sentences, paragraphs, and sections, and use headings, subheadings, and bullet points to organize your content. Furthermore, you should use examples, screenshots, diagrams, and other visual aids to illustrate your points and instructions.

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5 Review and test your documentation

The final step of creating accessible documentation is to review and test it before you publish or distribute it. You should check your documentation for spelling, grammar, and formatting errors, as well as for accuracy, completeness, and relevance. You should also test your documentation for accessibility, usability, and functionality, using various tools, methods, and scenarios. You should involve your developers and designers in the review and testing process, as well as your users and stakeholders, if possible.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How do you collaborate with developers and designers on documentation accessibility?

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5

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1 Define your goals and standards

2 Involve your users and stakeholders

3 Use accessible tools and formats

4 Write clear and concise content

5 Review and test your documentation

6 Here’s what else to consider

Product Management

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How do you collaborate with developers and designers on documentation accessibility?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Define your goals and standards

2 Involve your users and stakeholders

3 Use accessible tools and formats

4 Write clear and concise content

5 Review and test your documentation

6 Here’s what else to consider

Product Management

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