Accessibility Isn't a Feature, It's a Mindset (and Good Design)
As someone who has taught multiple leaders and engineering teams about web accessibility, I frequently encounter and correct some common misconceptions. Understanding accessibility correctly is crucial not just for compliance, but for building better, more usable products for everyone.
Here are a few key points to remember:
- Accessibility is a goal achieved through practice and mindset, not just an added feature. It's not a checkbox to tick off at the end of a project. It requires ongoing consideration throughout the design and development process. Teams need to think accessibly.
- Accessible applications aren't designed only for disabilities; they're designed for everyone. Features that help users with specific disabilities often improve the experience for all users in various situations (e.g., high contrast text is easier to read in bright sunlight, clear navigation helps everyone find information faster, keyboard navigation benefits power users). Good accessibility is good usability.
- You don't have to reinvent the wheel – leverage existing tools. Browsers and devices already have robust accessibility features built-in. Using standard HTML elements correctly (semantic HTML), following established patterns, and perhaps replacing overly complex custom widgets with simpler, standard alternatives gets you easily 80% of the way there. Focus on using the platform's tools as designed.
When teams are armed with knowledge about accessibility principles and how to apply them in their specific roles (design, development, QA, content), they naturally make better choices. This leads to more robust, maintainable, and ultimately more usable products in the long run. Embracing accessibility isn't just about compliance; it's about fundamentally improving the quality and reach of your digital products.