Making IT Good for Society The Power of the Testers SIGiST Conference Summer 2016: workshop write up

The background Throughout the day we heard various stories and examples of how inaccessible software has a massive impact on the everyday lives of users with disabilities; and by that we mean both the people who use, or are affected by, the service. From doctors, to hill farmers, to manual workers expecting a weekly wage payment – we are all affected in different ways by technology and the service it provides or enables. This falls directly into the BCS Capability Challenge – helping those in information and technology build a digital world for real people. We want to make a difference by working together to stimulate thinking, debate and action. “Ask not what BCS can do for you but what together, as BCS members, we can do to Make IT Good for Society” www.bcs.org/goodforsociety The Power of the Testers: Workshop write up

The discussion We posed two questions: What can the software testing community do to have the biggest impact on digital accessibility? What can this community do to bring that about? The Power of the Testers: Workshop write up

This is what we learned The Power of the Testers: Workshop write up

Influence White paper Help enforce DDA compliance Influence Decision Makers Help enforce DDA compliance BCS Code of Conduct Legislation not being implemented e.g. you can’t ignore legislation in other professions The Power of the Testers: Workshop write up

Awareness Resources People need to know & understand Raise Awareness Awards for accessible websites Children & schools – talk to kids, excite them about the diversity so the generation becomes aware The Power of the Testers: Workshop write up

Young people Get more kids with disability into testing e.g. TV Raman Go into schools and explain Schools & education Curriculum – does GCSE or A-level curriculum include testing? University projects – provide training material in software testing Get testing & accessibility into younger levels in schools The Power of the Testers: Workshop write up

Development teams & testers Compassion – if your how would you feel if friends/family had a disability and ad to use this software? Perform usability testing earlier in the development cycle, not at the end Teams should…, we should…. Inform the BAs/product owners about importance of usability so it’s planned in earlier Advocate & educate at design & architecture stages – testers get involved earlier Experience life as a blind person to give meaning to everyday issues Accessibility shouldn’t be a non-functional requirement. It should: Be part of base product Be part of functional requirements Not be extra effort or budget Be included as standard in test plan Be signed off by wider users Include accessibility at strategy level Online video to show developers Bring your daughter to work day = future engineer; bring your granny to work day = current system user Call in a 3rd party/specialist earlier if needed, not at go-live The Power of the Testers: Workshop write up

So what next? You can Come on the journey with us and keep going with this topic… Use this workshop as a basis for change, start something new, do something differently… Contribute to the challenge thinking Run your own BCS voices event (coming in the autumn) Talk to us capability@bcs.uk Visit www.bcs.org/goodforsociety We will Review the notes and consider what BCS HQ might introduce, lead on as part of the Capability challenge Use your inputs to feed into the challenge Keep you informed via the website Support you and promote the Making IT Good for Society initiatives you might launch The Power of the Testers: Workshop write up