Agile promises continuous improvement. But when it comes to accessibility, improvement often plateaus once initial barriers are addressed. How do we keep equity and inclusion alive, not just during sprints, but across quarters, product phases, and organizational shifts?
It starts with embedding accessibility not just in rituals, but in roadmaps.
What We Mean By “Accessibility Momentum”
Momentum here means keeping accessibility:
- Prioritized amid changing team goals
- Embedded in strategic planning, not just tactical fixes
- Supported with resources, feedback loops, and leadership backing
Accessibility isn’t a feature, it’s a value system. Roadmaps are the place to reinforce it.
Strategies to Keep Accessibility Moving Forward
Here’s how to turn good intentions into lasting impact:
1. Build Accessibility into OKRs and KPIs
- Link accessibility goals to business metrics (retention, NPS, inclusive design adoption)
- Use key results like “100% of new components meet WCAG 2.1 AA”
- Report progress publicly to foster accountability
2. Create Dedicated Accessibility Tracks
- Include accessibility work as its own swimlane or initiative
- Don’t bury inclusive work under “tech debt” or “nice to haves”
- Forecast impact and budget for inclusive upgrades ahead of time
3. Use Feature Flags for Inclusive Design Testing
- Roll out alt text enhancements, improved navigation, or keyboard tweaks behind flags
- Let users opt into inclusive prototypes and give feedback
- Track adoption and iterate just like with any other feature
4. Make Accessibility a Release Gate
- Treat accessibility bugs like functional blockers
- Define “done” as accessible for all personas
- Have accessibility testing in your definition of readiness
Building the Roadmap Itself Accessibly
Your roadmap should be inclusive too. Ask:
- Can stakeholders read it with assistive tech?
- Is it available in multiple formats (Kanban, spreadsheet, PDF)?
- Does it use high contrast, simple structure, and clear labels?
Tools like Product Board, Aha!, and Road munk offer accessibility options, choose one that aligns with your team’s needs.
Keep Communication Loops Open
Accessibility evolves. Your roadmap should, too.
- Run quarterly roadmap reviews with inclusion in mind
- Invite feedback from disabled users and advocates
- Celebrate accessibility milestones just like feature launches
Thought Starter
Ask your team: Are our long-term goals building something that welcomes every future user, or just the ones we already have?
Accessibility as Culture Change: How Agile Can Drive Systemic Inclusion We’ll explore how to make accessibility a cultural value across teams, not just a checklist.
Would you like a visual version of this roadmap strategy or a set of OKR templates to kick-start inclusive planning? We`d love to co-create it with you.
