We recently connected with Brendan Gramer, UX Leader and President of Amazon People with Disabilities affinity group (AmazonPwD), to discuss how AmazonPwD has impacted inclusive design at Amazon.
Brendan, who’s been at Amazon for over a decade, recalled the original motivation behind creating AmazonPwD was based on two words; Belonging and Representation. Brendan stated that “AmazonPwD gives us the ability to have a voice at Amazon. One that will help us improve our workplace inclusivity and help us feel like we belong here.” The group’s foundation is in creating a psychologically safe space for people that may need different types of support in order to bring their ideas to life.
Too often we think we are done designing a product without asking if it is accessible. That’s what we are working to change...
Having that voice and a seat at the table allows Amazon to hear the voice of current and future customers that are living with a variety of disabilities. The group itself is an umbrella that encompasses many specific communities based on how members identify.
Under the Accessibility umbrella there is also a group called AUX, which Brendan works directly with. This is a community of designers from all areas of the company that come together and aid in the larger mission of designing more inclusive products and services for all Amazon customers.
Amazon’s Design Leadership team has made inclusive design a top priority and Brendan mentioned feeling “empowered to work together and innovate” with the support from leadership. When asked about how that process of collaboration has been managed, he discussed being brought in to consult on products through focus groups, beta testing, and all throughout the ideation process for a host of different projects. Of course, in true Amazonian fashion, the group has also been involved in the writing of ‘PRFAQs’ and other documents as well.
Aside from the work on making Amazon’s internal culture more inclusive and accessible, AmazonPwD has also partnered on a few notable customer-facing initiatives like Amazon’s talking lockers, and Alexa programs including captioning and Tap for Alexa.
You can hear more from Brendan directly here, and as we celebrate Global Accessibility Awareness Month (GAAM) remember that “designing together will always be better than being designed for.” - Brendan Gramer
