Designing for Everyone: Building Inclusive Digital Experiences

About this episode

This episode explores digital accessibility and inclusive design in technology, featuring insights from Jessica McCall of Esri’s accessibility team.

Behind every screen is a design decision and behind every decision is a responsibility: to make technology usable for everyone. In this episode of Geographical Thinking, Michelle Brake sits down with Jessica McCall from Esri’s accessibility team to explore what digital accessibility really means and why it matters. From screen readers and keyboard navigation to colour contrast and cognitive load, we dive into practical strategies for inclusive design and how to apply them in GIS and mapping technologies. Jessica shares best practices, testing methods, and resources for developers, designers, and anyone passionate about creating tech that works for all. Plus, we look ahead to the future of accessibility, including the role of AI and innovations shaping spatial data experiences.

People in this episode

Host: Michelle Brake

Guest: Jessica McCall

Topics covered

• digital accessibility
• inclusive design
• GIS
• mapping technologies
• screen readers
• AI innovations

Keywords

• accessibility
• inclusive design
• screen readers
• keyboard navigation
• colour contrast
• cognitive load
• GIS
• mapping

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Esri, Esri’s accessibility team

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