Eric

https://social.ericwbailey.website/@eric

#accessibility / #a11y advocate and design systems wonk.

Website: https://ericwbailey.website/
Newsletter: https://ericwbailey.website/newsletter
Pronouns: https://ericwbailey.website/he-him-his/

Public Key

npub18vj5j3srdwcf6chq6akn29lky5y2e246f30zucdu50gwkxdkrwkqk4g4zy

NIP-05 Address

eric_at_social.ericwbailey.website@momostr.pink

Profile Code

nprofile1qqsrkf2fgcpkhvyavtsdwmf4zlmz2z9v42aych3wvx72858trxmphtqprpmhxue69uhhyetvv9ujumt0d4hhxarj9ecxjmntw5m9um

Publishing to

relay.momostr.pink

Author Public Key

npub18vj5j3srdwcf6chq6akn29lky5y2e246f30zucdu50gwkxdkrwkqk4g4zy

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Last Notes

2026-03-12 15:08:35 UTC

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I've used composite widgets to address related UI before, but they have pretty niche applications, plus potential confusion with operation.

2026-02-19 15:52:58 UTC

I wrote for @npub1qr3…plwl about the types of things automated accessibility checks can't detect when auditing and evaluating your design systems for accessibility.
#a11y https://zeroheight.com/blog/design-systems-cant-automate-away-all-of-your-accessibility-considerations/

2026-02-04 21:50:33 UTC

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_someone_ didn't actually read the post

2026-02-04 16:16:24 UTC

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I mean, why buy the cow 😅

2026-02-04 15:43:26 UTC

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Oh nooooooo

2026-02-04 15:07:33 UTC

I wrote about some nuance involved with annotating focus order, following a conversation with @npub123a…w2vq where we realized we'd both been running across the same well-intentioned behaviors. #a11y https://ericwbailey.website/published/you-probably-shouldnt-be-annotating-focus-order/

2026-01-28 15:49:30 UTC

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I would never.

2026-01-28 15:49:19 UTC

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Oop, thanks for the clarification! Will update and credit.

2026-01-28 15:25:58 UTC

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I am so sorry I cursed you with Knowledge™

2026-01-28 15:25:30 UTC

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Aw man, thanks for reading it!

2026-01-28 15:19:44 UTC

It is a lot more complicated to add keyboard shortcuts to your web app than you might initially think, featuring a big honkin' table. #a11ty https://ericwbailey.website/published/how-an-accessibility-designer-adds-keyboard-shortcuts-to-a-web-app/

2026-01-26 02:33:30 UTC

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Oh wow, thanks for that. And thank you for reading the article—it made my week! @npub16cx…2vq4

2026-01-16 16:26:29 UTC

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XML wasn’t it, but also sometimes I think the platform is too permissive 😬

2026-01-15 20:00:48 UTC

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I've gotta confess: I like the idea behind them, but am still pretty confounded by making web components 😅

2026-01-15 16:51:43 UTC

You can't nest interactive controls on the web, but you can fake it 'till you make it. @npub16cx…2vq4 let me ramble on about how to do exactly just that, because they're champs. #a11y https://piccalil.li/blog/accessible-faux-nested-interactive-controls/

2026-01-07 15:14:15 UTC

Mantis & Co. kindly asked me about my predictions for digital #a11y for 2026. I'm not very optimistic about it: https://mantisandco.com/resources/guides/future-of-accessibility/ericwbailey

2025-12-08 15:22:21 UTC

bog-standard, eh? where is this ISO-certified bog at?

2025-12-04 18:59:52 UTC

Apple could surprise remove Liquid Glass the same way it surprise added U2 to everyone's devices and I'd be first in line to call things even.

2025-11-20 22:47:28 UTC

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SORRY!

2025-11-12 19:26:34 UTC

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Hi, yup. It's building off of work my coworker did before they were laid off and didn't get a chance to act on. It is documentation that reinforces inclusive user testing we did, plus attempting to remove a huge compliance liability surface area.
@npub1he7…mmdk @npub1en7…r6n9 [@laura_carlson](https://mastodon.social/@laura_carlson )

2025-11-05 16:18:19 UTC

I partnered with Fable to evaluate their pay-per-project offering. Its an amazing way to get insights into how disabled people actually use your service, and what they think about it. https://ericwbailey.website/published/evaluating-fables-pay-per-project-offering/

2025-10-22 14:24:51 UTC

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Thanks for reading it! @npub1nj3…qjyh

2025-10-18 15:46:57 UTC

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Thanks for attending the talk, and for the kind words. It was really great to meet you in real life, too! 💜

2025-10-06 17:33:16 UTC

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I have a non-trivial amount of experience with browser focus rings not being sufficient during usability studies, so I'd beg to differ with that statement. It's less about absolutes and more about knowing the audience you serve and proactively providing what they need.

2025-10-06 14:46:37 UTC

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Some default browsers don't have WCAG-conformant focus ring styles. It's a lot better than it used to be, but something to be aware of.

2025-10-06 14:45:32 UTC

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As far as I'm concerned currentColor is a magical gift 😀

2025-09-30 14:46:09 UTC

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name another trade profession where you can command a six figure salary to build such brittle infrastructure

2025-09-18 15:05:49 UTC

Focus rings! Plural! I wrote for @npub16cx…2vq4 about how to create a branded double ring focus effect that is dynamically generated based on the interactive element's text color. https://piccalil.li/blog/taking-a-shot-at-the-double-focus-ring-problem-using-modern-css/

2025-09-07 17:17:33 UTC

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That's a helluva list to be included on, wow. And yes! Getting published on ALA was a huge deal for me too.
Also, congrats on the re-launch, it looks great! Also subscribed to your RSS feed 😀 @npub1uxl…5rn7 @npub1zpy…je3a @npub1sac…kcpe

2025-08-27 22:19:05 UTC

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I do think more of the web's infrastructure should be community owned. For my sins, I also owe a lot to the GitHub platform, and it would be irresponsible to ignore the sheer amount of infrastructure at play. @npub1fh7…ee83

2025-08-27 15:55:24 UTC

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Plus one. Doomerism thinking won't help, and only hurts.

2025-08-27 15:33:37 UTC

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Someone started a discussion here: https://github.com/orgs/community/discussions/171322
I'm of the school of thought that a groundswell is the only thing at this point that will move the needle, and I feel that's something the Fedi could help with.

2025-08-27 14:16:42 UTC

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It's one of X's LLM getting added to GitHub-flavored Copilot.

2025-08-27 13:48:59 UTC

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And while you're here: It might be good to read my buddy @npub157j…wkg4's post. https://blog.edwardloveall.com/lets-make-sure-github-doesnt-become-the-only-option

2025-08-06 17:52:57 UTC

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fuck yes I would 💜

2025-07-31 14:09:56 UTC

I wrote about inclusive personas, their pitfalls, and the need to critique the larger systems that compel their use. https://ericwbailey.website/published/on-inclusive-personas-and-inclusive-user-research/

2025-07-23 23:30:40 UTC

DISCORBS WAS RIGHT THERE, COME ON
https://cdn.masto.host/socialericwbaileywebsite/media_attachments/files/114/905/148/898/276/331/original/5c45bfb3c6718803.png

2025-07-19 23:13:47 UTC

https://cdn.masto.host/socialericwbaileywebsite/media_attachments/files/114/882/431/514/901/361/original/b2fdc33f30328390.png

2025-07-15 15:22:38 UTC

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Thanks for diligently curating such a great resource!

2025-07-15 14:28:29 UTC

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Featuring content by David Kennedy, [@laura_carlson](https://mastodon.social/@laura_carlson ), @npub1vxz…gc5c, @npub1yyd…d3ge, @npub1a80…vkfq, @npub1l3c…kj65, @npub1lzq…qpx3, @npub16cx…2vq4, and @npub19xz…pzaf.

2025-07-15 14:24:13 UTC

Newsletters! I love 'em. Here's some that I look forward to reading every week, an idea shamelessly stolen from @npub1an7…3w7j. https://ericwbailey.website/published/newsletters-that-regularly-hit-my-inbox-these-days/

2025-07-10 15:40:23 UTC

These HTML support tables by @tetralogical.com are very, very good. https://tetralogical.com/blog/2025/07/10/html-support/

2025-07-02 15:50:54 UTC

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I was crying the entire time I was proof-listening to it.

2025-07-02 15:50:23 UTC

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I left the errata off because it felt a little more like doxxing/punching down to me.
@npub1223…k4ld

2025-07-02 15:49:48 UTC

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muahahahaha

2025-06-30 18:56:18 UTC

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I am so very sorry.

2025-06-30 14:44:25 UTC

I've referenced it enough that now it's all I can hear when I read it. Now you have to hear it too 🙉 https://ericwbailey.website/published/you-must-listen-to-rfc-2119/

2025-06-25 17:56:49 UTC

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Thanks for reading it!

2025-06-25 14:08:02 UTC

I wrote about why I'm tired of reading about takes on quality. https://ericwbailey.website/published/quality-is-a-trap/

2025-06-18 18:32:49 UTC

I think my favorite thing with LLM-forward browser concepts I've seen is a way to make information retrieval not only slower, but also potentially inaccurate.

2025-06-17 16:28:38 UTC

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plead the fifth 😶

2025-06-17 14:44:16 UTC

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Thanks, Nic! And while I have ya, hate/loved your latest "You're not a front-end developer until you've..." post 😀

2025-06-16 19:16:56 UTC

ARIA! It exists and on a long enough timeline you'll need to use it. Here's how to get into the right headspace to do so! #a11y https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2025/06/what-i-wish-someone-told-me-aria/

2025-06-10 17:08:27 UTC

A good reminder that people don’t sue when an experience isn’t WCAG conformant, they sue when they have access issues. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/consumer-affairs/chase-ordered-pay-150-neurodivergent-customer-app-dark/

2025-06-03 15:04:03 UTC

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you know about the Norway bug, right? 😅

2025-06-03 14:59:08 UTC

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same

2025-06-03 14:54:03 UTC

"well, someone has to write the non-deterministic Markdown table formatter," is up there on the list of incredibly cursed things I've had to type

2025-06-02 15:10:23 UTC

"Many of these features are in what you might call the “infrastructure stage”: they’re well-defined and ready to use in theory, but screen reader and browser support remains uneven." https://webaim.org/blog/up-and-coming-aria/

2025-05-29 15:56:23 UTC

fellas, have you ever accidentally fallen into the pure, platonic realm of idealistic hyperobject avatars and felt a sense of cosmic insignificance due to the failure of your fleeting corporeal form?

2025-05-22 17:54:41 UTC

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Nice! Mine just arrived in the mail too 🙌

2025-05-22 14:06:55 UTC

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Aw, nice! Hoping mine shows soon. @npub1rah…qf2c

2025-05-20 21:08:58 UTC

*slaps the accessibility tree*
"What’s it going to take to get you in this composite widget today?"

2025-05-15 14:14:37 UTC

I wrote about an alternate idea for organizing design systems. https://ericwbailey.website/published/organizing-a-design-system-via-folksonomy/

2025-05-12 14:32:17 UTC

"It performed exactly as I'd expect a Large Language Model to perform when asking it about accessibility, producing a lot of generalised information that is potentially useful, but falling short when asked to be specific or confronted with nuanced problems." https://www.craigabbott.co.uk/blog/deque-axe-assistant-first-impressions/

2025-05-10 20:16:31 UTC

why produce alien concept art when the Damascus goat exists

2025-05-08 14:19:38 UTC

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There's a particular sub-breed of that type of guy who really sets me off. It's the guy who then turns around and makes huge promises about how a glorified autocomplete can somehow magically fix all our energy and climate woes if we really believe.

2025-05-07 21:13:29 UTC

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gross!

2025-05-07 20:36:37 UTC

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It looks like they took the demo site down, but it had:
- A complete lack of headings
- Non-semantic links and buttons
- aria-label mis-applied on divs and spans
- Color contrast violations
Dreamweaver produced better code.

2025-05-07 20:33:08 UTC

Practice exclusion, incur legal liability, and prevent yourself from doing business in the EU from the jump! All possible via Figma Sites!

2025-04-30 21:55:54 UTC

subpixel antialiasing, like subtext, is for cowards

2025-04-30 14:26:45 UTC

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love me some definitions that don't even have the courage to be fully recursive

2025-04-29 14:57:59 UTC

I guess technically speaking FTP is a cloud service

2025-04-25 19:19:47 UTC

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wanna start a business?

2025-04-25 18:40:39 UTC

hey so when you run a queue-based system that uses a letter prefix for appointments maybe don’t use the letter Q if you also announce said appointments over a PA

2025-04-24 23:41:06 UTC

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This is perfect, I love it!

2025-04-24 17:52:50 UTC

I need to know the term for when higher up pressure to use a feature or process forces someone to adopt things that are actively harmful to the outcomes they are trying to achieve.

2025-04-21 15:55:52 UTC

*tattered trenchcoat flapping in a hot, dusty wind*
"This world is broken, shattered into a million pieces. It's time to…"
*unslings trombone*
"…Pick it up, pick it up, pick it up."

2025-04-18 21:57:58 UTC

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Gmail's UI is so godawful that I literally pay rent on a browser extension to fix it.

2025-04-17 14:14:40 UTC

if I read the phrase, "yassified to protect her anonymity" you have to as well

2025-04-16 15:32:54 UTC

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*48 hours later* "Good! You?"

2025-04-16 14:29:30 UTC

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let's double click on that and circle back on it next quarter, big guy

2025-04-16 14:23:56 UTC

anyone who writes like they're emailing someone in Slack is a cop

2025-04-14 21:21:01 UTC

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oh nooooooooo

2025-04-14 20:32:38 UTC

Setting aside the environmental damage and IP theft, I think the thing that bothers me the most about this "generate AI art of yourself as an action figure in a blister pack" trend is that it further normalizes tech workers as interchangeable commodities.

2025-04-13 15:07:18 UTC

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😬

2025-04-11 13:15:36 UTC

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"Font sizes!" *gestures vaguely*

2025-04-11 12:52:49 UTC

It is 9+ years later and we are still cleaning up after the damage the Document Outline Algorithm caused, which never existed, nor will it ever exist. https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/blog/h1-element-styles/

2025-04-10 20:21:11 UTC

EPD? hell yeah I’m into
Error
Prone
Deeply backwards way to make things

2025-04-09 18:19:41 UTC

kicked out of the dentist office for calling them outie mouth bones

2025-04-08 15:37:47 UTC

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I didn't rate anything, and just got whatever it served me up next.
Personally, I enjoyed the genre variety in that I'll usually not venture out of my comfort zone. This was a nice way to avoid that.

2025-04-08 14:35:10 UTC

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I started when I went remote for Covid quarantine.
It's 5 years later. Covid is still here and I'm still working remote. This service has been a through line for the duration, and I'm legit feeling emotional about it ending.
I didn't know what I'd expect when I started, but I sure did not expect the world to be in this sorry state. Oh well.

2025-04-08 14:33:22 UTC

I just finished the last of the 1001 albums this site generated for me. It's a great service, and worth checking out. https://1001albumsgenerator.com/

2025-04-07 15:58:50 UTC

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brb, taking out a small business loan 😈

2025-04-07 15:23:53 UTC

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Ha!

2025-04-07 14:26:16 UTC

I wrote about what you get when you take someone up on their offer to guest post for your personal blog. https://ericwbailey.website/published/article-pitch-for-your-consideration/

2025-03-18 14:46:17 UTC

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As many as you want, I guess? The rules are made up and the points don't matter. @npub1x5j…h42c @npub13wl…sa6r @npub1tkt…rygn @npub19ra…a2wv @npub1szd…5a79

2025-03-18 14:19:18 UTC

Hey @npub1he7…mmdk, @npub1x5j…h42c, @npub13wl…sa6r, @npub1tkt…rygn, @npub19ra…a2wv, @npub1szd…5a79: You're it!
https://ericwbailey.website/published/tag-youre-it/

2025-03-01 17:45:36 UTC

when life gives you lemons, why not buy a copy of Xenogears Perfect Works—an art book you’ve coveted since you were a dirtbag teen—about a RPG where you use giant mechs to attack and dethrone god

2025-02-27 16:43:25 UTC

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Thanks for attending it 💜

2025-02-26 15:27:15 UTC

I'll be delivering my talk on digital accessibility and harm reduction tomorrow at 9 AM ET for @npub1ece…xse6's axe-con. It's free to attend with an email login.
This one is from the heart, and I'm simultaneously excited and terrified to share it with y'all.
https://www.deque.com/axe-con/sessions/it-is-designed-to-break-your-heart-cultivating-a-harm-reduction-mindset-as-an-accessibility-practitioner/