SBarnes Designs, LLC

07/25/2026

Over the last few weeks I have been tweaking my home office.

And I gotta say...

I really freaking love it. It has become a sanctuary where I not only come to work, but also come to relax. I have floor pillows propped up against the blue wall, which is where I go to relax or get lost in a book. I only sit at my desk when I am ready to do actual work.

All the plants and art in here mske me happy and surround me with memories of people I love.

If you could create your dream or ideal home office, what would it look or feel like?

07/20/2026

For whatever reason, the Principles of Universal Design for Learning keeps kicking my ass.

I get the three all discombobulated in my noggin.

So I am taking a break from my practice tests to review and study the material and all the links for additional learning that are recommended in the Book of Knowledge.

T-11 days to test day.

07/17/2026

International Association of Accessibility Professionals: IAAP member?

Check.

CPACC exam scheduled?

Check.

Let the freak out and intense studying/knowledge testing begin.

It's one thing to be sure of what I know in the real life applications of barrier-free design and digital accessibility. It's another to test for it based on scenarios and obscure information that may or may not have been relevant to my work over the past several years.

07/13/2026

"We don't need to worry about website accessibility right now. No one has ever complained."

I hear this a lot from well-meaning business owners, and it makes total sense. If your customer service inbox is empty, it is completely natural to assume your website is working perfectly for everyone.

But the reality of how we interact with the web is this: people rarely stop to file a formal complaint when a website doesn't work for them. They just leave.

Think about walking up to a physical store with a heavy, jammed front door. Most people wouldn't take the time to find the manager's number and report the door. They would just turn around and go to the shop down the street and then grumble to their friends about it for days.

The exact same thing happens online. If someone using a screen reader (software that reads out what is on a screen for people who are blind or have low vision) cannot figure out what a button does because it is missing a text label or can't buy a product because the ecommerce site doesn't explain what is in the images, they don't email you to let you know. They simply close the tab and take their business elsewhere.

If you didn't know this yesterday, that is completely okay! You aren't ignoring your audience; you just haven't been shown how these invisible barriers impact real people.

The shift happens when we move from being bystanders waiting for a complaint, to being architects of a better experience. We can choose to build digital spaces where information and products are open to everyone from the very start.

Your quick action step for today: Pick the most important page on your website, like your contact form or shop page. Try moving through it using only the "Tab" key on your keyboard instead of your mouse. It is a simple, eye-opening way to see how easily someone might get stuck at the front door.

Let me know what you find in the comments.

07/06/2026

AI generated your content... but can real people actually use it? 💻🧐

There is so much noise right now about artificial intelligence being a shortcut to a perfect digital presence. "Hit generate, throw up the layouts, and let automation handle the rest."

I hate to break it to ya, but it doesn't work that way.

Artificial intelligence is a mirror of its training data. When an AI model observes millions of websites where headings are skipped, focus orders are nonsensical, and navigation traps are everywhere, it assumes that sequence is correct. It doesn’t just copy the aesthetic; it automates the exclusion.

Technology can be an incredible ally in breaking down walls, but it handles the pixels, YOU have to handle the purpose.

In my latest post, I’m digging into the truths about AI's blind spots and why keeping a "human-in-the-loop" approach is the only way to protect your audience, your conversions, and your brand's integrity.

Head on over to the resource center and read the latest article.

07/03/2026

It's been an amazing and busy week setting up my downstairs office and new recording "studio" area. It will be a work in progress for a while probably, but that's okay.

Because I am the one doing the work. And it feels amazing.

I am following my own advice and removing as many barriers to my success as I can.

Once my recording area is set up, what kind of course do you think I should test it out with, first?

Basic Barrier-free Design Essentials?

Or

Website basics for small business owners trying to do it themselves?

06/26/2026

If you've ever caught yourself thinking...

"I know accessibility matters...

I have heard of barrier-free design...

I just don't know where to start."

You're exactly who I built this cohort for.

This isn't four weeks of lectures or information overload.

It's four weeks of learning how to build barrier-free habits into your website, content, and digital workflow, one step at a time.

We'll meet live on Zoom, work through real examples, answer questions as they come up, and help each other make progress.

There are only 10 seats because I want everyone to have the chance to participate, ask questions, and leave feeling confident - not overwhelmed.

If you're ready to stop wondering where to begin and start creating more inclusive digital experiences, I'd love to have you join us.

🗓 Starts July 8

Details and enrollment are in the link in my profile.

06/25/2026

Join Shawna Barnes for Website & SEO Essentials, the next workshop in the Digital Growth Navigator Series, and learn how to make sure your business can actually be found online.

🗓 Tuesday, June 30
⏰ 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
📍 Ashland Area Enterprise Center
422 3rd St. West, Ashland, WI

In this two-part session, you'll learn the fundamentals of Search Engine Optimization (SEO), discover what your customers are searching for online, and identify ways to improve your website and Google Business Profile to attract more customers.

Please note: This series is designed for those who already have an operational website and/or experience using digital marketing tools for their small business.

🔗 Register today: https://wwbic.com/trainings

06/25/2026

Pre-Orders for the epub/digital version of "Barrier-Free Web Design" are LIIIIIIIVE!!!!

Paperback coming the end of July ❤️

Over a billion people worldwide live with a disability — and most websites make their experience harder than it needs to be. Not because owners don't care. Because no one showed them where to start. is a plain-language guide for small business owners, entrepreneurs, and creatives who want ...