Who Is Hernan Arber?
Hernan Arber is the AI Product Strategy Lead at UserWay. Hernan leads a multi-disciplinary team building cutting-edge AI tools for web accessibility. He is also a product and developer evangelist who recently led the charge in building UserWay's latest developer tool FixMyCode, the first coding assistant trained in digital accessibility and ADA compliance.
One in four adults in the U.S. live with a disability, and despite these numbers, the question of digital accessibility for those with disabilities is often ignored.
UserWay aims to set new standards by making the internet more accessible for everyone and helping organizations of all sizes meet the standards for website accessibility. By leveraging AI and connecting through a common cause, UserWay is successfully pushing the boundaries of the digital world.
We spoke to Hernan Arber, UserWay’s AI Product Strategy Lead, on achieving inclusivity, accessibility tips for website developers, and how accessibility solutions can change someone’s life.
How do you balance web accessibility in terms of meeting the needs of individuals with disabilities and maintaining a functional and visually appealing website?
Hernan Arber: Accessibility does not have to come at the expense of functionality and an aesthetically pleasing UI. Prioritizing web accessibility is not a counterbalance but one of the essential building blocks of a world-class user experience.
How does AI enhance UserWay's accessibility features and overall user experience for individuals with disabilities?
UserWay has long used AI in its web accessibility software. It’s a question of speed. By using AI and automation, we can accelerate the adoption of accessibility online. That’s because making manual fixes to code is time-consuming, and not all developers have the required training.
Our AI can pinpoint and fix non-accessible elements in website code during development by analyzing data sets and identifying patterns. Additionally, our AI-Powered Widget continuously detects accessibility issues on live websites. Since we have an install base of millions of websites our AI continuously improves to better cater to users with disabilities.
Can you tell us more about FixMyCode.ai and how it helps developers produce more inclusive and accessible end-user experiences?
FixMyCode.ai is a free AI coding assistant that empowers developers to code in an accessible way and learn about accessibility. This tool ensures developers can start with accessible code that integrates accessibility best practices, rather than fixing code later.
The tool can remediate inaccessible code that has previously been written. However, it can also be given a prompt, and from that, it can generate accessible code from scratch. It also educates developers on WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) standards and best practices for a more inclusive end-user experience.
UserWay also offers an AI-powered accessibility widget. How does it work, and what are its benefits to people with disabilities?
UserWay's AI-powered accessibility widget can be integrated into existing websites via a single line of code. The widget allows people with disabilities to access and navigate websites in a way that fits their individual needs.
You worked with big brands. How have UserWay’s accessibility solutions influenced and enhanced their digital experiences?
Big brands understand their social responsibility. As the market leader in web accessibility, we take pride in enabling millions of users to experience digital content.
Our comprehensive platform empowers customers to manage all their accessibility requirements seamlessly, further backing our commitment to making the web accessible for all.
Can you share an example where UserWay's accessibility solutions significantly impacted someone's life, empowering them to fully participate in online experiences?
One example of UserWay's impact I enjoyed hearing was the story of a woman named Sigal, who is blind from birth. She expressed feeling isolated online and unable to access the digital world that is often taken for granted by sighted users.
With UserWay's solutions, Sigal can now enjoy a vastly improved web browsing experience needed to live in the modern world. If more web owners introduced accessibility solutions, hopefully, one day 100% of the web will be accessible, rather than just 3% of all websites.
In terms of the four principles of accessibility (perceivable, operable, understandable, robust), which one do you think is the most critical for creating an accessible website?
All four principles of accessibility are crucial; neglecting one compromises the overall accessible experience.
However, the principle of being robust stands out, ensuring the product functions reliably without breaking down. Without robustness, all other aspects of accessibility become irrelevant.
Finally, what are your top five web accessibility tips for developers when building websites and applications?
My top five web accessibility tips for website development include:
- Use semantic HTML elements to represent content and structure accurately. This aids assistive technologies in understanding the context
- Provide alternative text for images to make them accessible to visually impaired users
- Ensure keyboard accessibility by testing and optimizing navigation using only the Tab key. This will ensure users who cannot use a mouse can navigate the site accessible
- Implement ARIA roles and attributes to enhance the user experience for people with disabilities using assistive technologies
- Regularly engage with accessibility experts and actual users for feedback and continuous improvement.
Keep up with UserWay on LinkedIn and read more interviews with industry leaders here!
Edited by Nikola Djuric
