Ensuring accessibility remains a central focus throughout a UX design review isn't just about checking boxes at the end. I proactively keep accessibility top of mind by having a detailed checklist(You can also get the widget from stark) readily available and consistently referencing the WCAG guidelines to ensure we're on the right track from the very beginning. At a Minimum, I Validate: 1. Colour contrast first: I validate against project compliance (A, AA, AAA) for universal readability. 2. Clear content : I ensure important information is jargon-free with helpful error messages. Inclusive design: I check touch targets and avoid relying solely on colour for crucial information.

During UX design reviews, accessibility becomes second nature by consistently using clear checklists aligned with standards like WCAG. Quickly testing designs with screen readers or keyboard-only navigation helps immediately spot issues. Inviting diverse perspectives or involving users with disabilities in brief tests highlights real-world barriers. Documenting any accessibility feedback transparently ensures the team stays accountable and committed to inclusivity.

Accessibility checklists + WCAG + Regular Checks. And you are good to go! Just always keep in mind accessibility as your goal

As a UX/UI Designer, I ensure accessibility remains central during UX design reviews by using accessibility checklists and WCAG guidelines as part of the review criteria. I evaluate color contrast, font legibility, keyboard navigability, and screen reader compatibility during walkthroughs. I also involve developers and testers to verify that ARIA labels, alt texts, and focus states are implemented correctly. Accessibility is not an afterthought—it’s an integral part of my design process. By creating inclusive experiences, I not only meet compliance standards but also build products that are usable by everyone, regardless of ability.

During a UX design review, I prioritize accessibility by following WCAG guidelines and using contrast checkers and screen readers to test usability. I also gather feedback from users with disabilities to ensure the design is truly inclusive.

Engaging stakeholders with a range of disabilities throughout the process is the best approach to ensuring accessibility. While of course you want to meet WCAG standards, that's only the bare minimum. The best accessibility is developed when there are disabled people on the review team, qualified disabled developers contributing throughout the project, and disabled people in leadership roles with decision making power. People with disabilities are 20% of society, but rarely are they 20% of a company or 20% of each team at every level of seniority. Addressing representation in the work place will help you improve product accessibility, and thus extend your product's marketability to that major chunk of the economy.

Accessibility is a continuous discipline and preferably a topic discussed ahead with all stakeholders. Specific to a particular design review, ensuring that all participants in the review are made aware of considerations made during design such as text equivalents for non text elements, contrast choices, font sizes, information hierarchy to align with landscapes and regions will go a long way in making sure accessibility stays top of mind. Referencing how this will affect the differently abled user and contribute to a better experience for all users will help highlight the value accessibility brings to the table.

To begin with — add the compliance standards to Acceptance criteria, Definitions of Done or other document or tool that defines, how you do your job. The developers must implement it too, so discuss it with the team, product manager and whomever you got to approve stuff, if you must. There are documents, plugins and a lot of different tools to help you. Hint: When you work on accessibility, make sure you communicate extra value from this extra effort too. This might be risk hedging (your product will not be sued), or human appeal, or something else, depending on your team. Hint 2: train empathy, this will help you to remember about accessibility better.

As a UX designer, I believe usability tests are only meaningful if accessibility is prioritized if everyone can’t use it, it’s not truly usable. A design that doesn’t serve all users equally fails its purpose. That’s why accessibility isn’t an afterthought; it’s a mindset that starts from day one.