Sage: Championing Accessibility for Everyone

At Sage, accessibility isn't just a buzzword; it's a fundamental principle woven into the fabric of our product development and company culture. From content design to software engineering and user research, our people are actively working to ensure our products are usable and beneficial for all. This commitment is amplified by our dedicated Accessibility Champions Network, a group of passionate individuals striving to make a tangible difference.

Hear from some of the changemakers behind the mission.

Accessibility: An Everyday Endeavour

For Mollie Turner, Content Designer at Sage, accessibility is ingrained in her daily workflow. "As a content designer, accessibility is something that I'm always thinking about all the way through the design process," she explains. This includes everything from initial ideas to final testing. The core of her approach is empathy: "The main thing is to always try and put yourself in the user's shoes and think about what different users might need to complete the tasks that you want them to complete." This could involve for example considering how an experience will differ for users when using a keyboard instead of a mouse.

Damien Robson, Frontend Software Engineer at Sage shares that the accessibility team leverages a robust set of tools and development environments to streamline accessible development. “We utilise Axe dev tools in the browser and integrate Axe into our pipelines” he explains. “Furthermore, a combination of manual and automated tests ensures that every change maintains the accessible nature of our components.”

The Personal Drive Behind Promoting Accessibility

The drive to promote accessibility often stems from deeply personal experiences. For Jen Locke, UX Research Team Lead at Sage, her role as a researcher has illuminated the diverse challenges users face. "Speaking to lots of users on a regular basis and understanding the challenges that they face when they're running their businesses really opened my eyes to the wide range of accessibility needs that people have," she shares.

On a personal level, Damien Robson’s youngest daughter, who navigates life with neurological challenges, has been a profound inspiration. "I wanted to be part of a movement that made the web and other areas of life more accessible, more straightforward for her to use," Damien states, highlighting the powerful personal connection many of our people have to this as well.

Debunking Accessibility Misconceptions

Mollie Turner addresses common misconceptions about accessibility. The most prevalent one, she notes, is that "accessibility is only for people with permanent disabilities." She emphasises that “accessibility benefits everyone, not just those with visual or hearing impairments or wheelchair users. If a website is designed accessibly, it's easier for anyone to understand and complete tasks, even if they're quickly scanning, are new users, or are reading in a second language.” She offers a relatable example: "If you've ever watched a video on your phone with subtitles on because it's noisy around you, you've benefited from the accessibility source."

Damien Robson highlights another frequently encountered common misconception which is that accessibility is "expensive and hard to do." He strongly refutes this, stating, "It really isn't, especially if you've got a great team behind you. When accessibility is considered from the outset of a project, it's actually quite straightforward and saves time in the long run.”

Jen Locke goes on to share another crucial misunderstanding: that a particular access need is static. She explains, “For many conditions and disabilities, needs can fluctuate daily. If you have a particular invisible disability, you might have some symptoms one day and it might be really difficult to do a task and then the next day you feel much better," she explains. Recognising this variability is key to truly effective accessible design.

The Power of the Accessibility Champions Network

Our Accessibility Champions Network plays a pivotal role in embedding accessibility throughout the organisation. For Damien Robson, being an accessibility champion means he can effectively guide colleagues to the resources they need when a specialist isn't available. "Being embedded on a team as well means that I get to sort of sit at the front lines and make sure that things that go out the door are accessible," he says.

Jen Locke values the network as an opportunity for professional growth. "Being involved with the Accessibility Champions Network has been a really good opportunity to learn and to grow as a practitioner to understand more about the technical side of accessibility," she shares. This involvement has deepened her understanding of users and the challenges they face, which is invaluable for a researcher.

Mollie Turner initially joined the network to expand her knowledge of web accessibility. Through the network, she's “gained access to the accessibility team and a wealth of resources”, equipping her with a strong understanding of accessibility basics. This enables her to integrate accessibility into every project and advocate for its importance to colleagues in other roles.

Our dedication to accessibility, driven by committed individuals and supported by initiatives like the Accessibility Champions Network, demonstrates our holistic approach to creating inclusive products that truly serve everyone.