The Cinderella problem
Hearing from the ugly sisters is never a problem — loud, brash, and quick to share their views.
On the other hand, creating an opportunity for everyone who wants to contribute, it’s intentional.
It’s not hard but it does require you to think about it.
For example, at Ignite Cardiff the rules are such that they support the speaker:
5-minute slots — no need to worry about how long your talk should be for.
Slides change every 15 seconds — no one is labouring the point.
The slide deck is a simple template — all you have to do is concentrate on what you have to say.
At a time when we are shying away from telling people what to do, it’s worth remembering that it’s not who makes the rules that are important, it’s the intention behind them that matters.
If the story of Cinderella teaches us anything, it is that inclusive design is not about a retrofit.
