Andrew Hick
@andrewhick.bsky.social
540 followers 320 following 54 posts
Accessibility and test person at Government Digital Service, AndrewHick.com. Bath UK, he/him, opinions my own. Profile picture: white beardy man smiling. Banner: colour chart with "blue" and "sky" colours prominent.
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Reposted by Andrew Hick
contentdesign.london
It's only 4 weeks until the first Access:Given, a one-day digital accessibility conference in Newcastle Upon Tyne.

We're excited to be supporting this event and its female founders.

There are only a few tickets left - you can find out more information on the website:
buff.ly/plgNx4u
Access:Given | Digital Accessibility Conference in Newcastle Upon Tyne
Join us on 10th September 2025 for Access:Given, a one day digital accessibility conference in Newcastle Upon Tyne.
buff.ly
Reposted by Andrew Hick
craigabbott.co.uk
We need a new term for “best practice”. It feels optional. Like “what you’ve done is fine, but here’s how others do it.”

In reality, when we say best practice, we mean “this is a definite accessibility barrier, we just can’t log it as a failure in the scope of this standard.”

#accessibility #a11y
Reposted by Andrew Hick
gilestur.bsky.social
every team should have a little bit of internet to call their own, where they can publish texts, images, ideas, experiments, etc

it doesn't sound like a lot to ask.

but in most organisations, it's very hard to make happen.
andrewhick.bsky.social
Thanks so much Adrian, all great points. I'll have another look at the wording soon and I didn't know Audio Description was in doubt. Also wondering, given the nuances of WCAG, if some sort of general caveat at the start might be useful.
andrewhick.bsky.social
Introducing WCAG for humans: the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines manually summarised on one page in 7 practical themes: AndrewHick.com/humans ♿️ Feedback welcome! Many thanks to Martin Glancy for reviewing the draft and @tempertemper.bsky.social for the initial inspiration. #accessibility #wcag
Colourful stripes
Reposted by Andrew Hick
craigabbott.co.uk
What’s one thing you wish was more widely known about digital accessibility?

I’ll go first.

I wish more developers knew how to check elements for accessible names, roles and values.

#accessibility #a11y
Reposted by Andrew Hick
annaecook.com
A thing I wrote and I want to share again:

Don’t stop being creative because of some silly narrative about being replaceable. Create because you exist, share as an act of humanity, and create because you can. Selfishly, I want to see what you make.

That will always matter. It is the best of life.
andrewhick.bsky.social
There's no "why" in AI. It's getting better at reading an image to predict its alt text - but can't yet know why the image is there. Is this cat here for comedy, or is the bed for sale?

Check your auto generated alt text before publishing! (That's my #AI hot take quota for this year) #accessibility
Black fluffy cat amusingly spreadeagled on its back in the middle of a bed
Reposted by Andrew Hick
beeps.gay
Sky says trans rights
Photo of the sky above a hill in silhouette, a gradient from dark blue to light blue to white (or light grey) to pinkish-orange
andrewhick.bsky.social
Thanks so much! I might have to trademark WunCAGround 😁
andrewhick.bsky.social
Enjoy colours and accessible design? Here’s a mosaic of 262 curated colours inspired by art, nature, travel and culture. They’re in rough rainbow order, and text is black or white depending on which has the best contrast. AndrewHick.com/colour 🌈 #colour #color #noAI
262 colour blobs in mainly concentric circles, from red at the top and clockwise in rainbow order. Greys are in the middle. Full description on AndrewHick.com/colour
Reposted by Andrew Hick
shihabsjoi.bsky.social
If you had to change your bio to a song lyric what would it be?

I'm torn between

"I'm a humble guy with healthy desire" (pixies)

Or

"I'm not a prophet or a stone age man just a mortal with potential of a superman" (Bowie)

Let's hear yours x
andrewhick.bsky.social
Maybe "raised on a diet of broken biscuits" (Pulp) 🍪
andrewhick.bsky.social
A lot of good points. I understand IAAP are looking into recent feedback but agree that the current requirements for gaining credits seem unnecessarily strict.
Reposted by Andrew Hick
beeps.gay
★ New blog post: The (not quite new) GOV.UK brand

The refreshed GOV.UK logo and brand design has launched today. Here's some background on it, from my perspective working on it.

https://beeps.website/blog/2025-06-25-the-not-quite-new-govuk-brand/
The (not quite new) GOV.UK brand
A little behind the scenes from a gear in the machine.
beeps.website
andrewhick.bsky.social
Nice post from @tempertemper.bsky.social about Focus Priming - clicking a webpage to continue tabbing or reading from that point - which there was previously no word for. www.tempertemper.net/blog/focus-p... ⏭️ #accessibility #testing
Reposted by Andrew Hick
calumryan.com
Work in UK government and interested in accessibility?

The next cross-government Accessibility Quarterly meet up is on Thursday 1 May from 1pm to 3:30pm. Register in advance using your government email address events.teams.microsoft.com/event/410025...
Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams
Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams
events.teams.microsoft.com
Reposted by Andrew Hick
accessibleweb.bsky.social
Making things digitally accessible isn't extra work, it is just part of the work. That is all.

#Accessibility #AccessibilityRegulations #A11y
andrewhick.bsky.social
A nice, balanced guide on using technologies such as AI responsibly in the world of accessibility
businessdisability.bsky.social
Businesses often ask what they should do with new technologies. Are they beneficial or detrimental to #DisabilityInclusion?
Explore our free resource to learn how businesses can harness innovation while ensuring disability inclusion is at the forefront.
ow.ly/OXKh50V61Ry

#BDFTechTaskforce
2 colleagues work in a booth in an office. On the wall behind them is a sign that reads 'Quiet zone'. The Business Disability Forum 'Changing the image of disability' is in the lower right corner of the image.
andrewhick.bsky.social
New blog from Kelly Clarkson and Samantha Merrett asking accessibility people about the most common misconceptions, issues and tools we come across.

Quick, early checks for common issues can easily eliminate a wide range of barriers.

accessibility.blog.gov.uk/2025/02/28/u... #accessibility #a11y
Unlocking Accessibility: Key misconceptions, common issues, and tools used by Accessibility Specialists
We asked accessibility specialists about what are the key misconceptions and common issues they encounter in accessibility, and what tools they use during audits.
accessibility.blog.gov.uk
Reposted by Andrew Hick
deque.com
"The question we should be asking is how non-disabled people can advocate with—not for—disabled people.” - @sfdirewolf.bsky.social #axecon
Alice Wong presenting virtually at axe-con