Web Accessibility: Beyond Compliance to Better Design
Accessibility isn't just a legal requirement — it's a design philosophy that makes products better for everyone.
Accessibility Benefits Everyone
The curb cut effect is the best metaphor for digital accessibility. Curb cuts were designed for wheelchair users, but they benefit everyone — parents with pushchairs, delivery workers with trolleys, travellers with luggage. Similarly, accessible digital design benefits all users, not just those with disabilities.
Captions help users in noisy environments. High contrast helps users in bright sunlight. Keyboard navigation helps power users who prefer efficiency over mouse-clicking. Clear language helps non-native speakers. Every accessibility improvement has a broader benefit.
Practical Accessibility Wins
Semantic HTML first. The single biggest accessibility improvement most websites can make is using proper HTML elements. Headings that use h1-h6 tags, lists that use ul/ol, buttons that are actual button elements. Screen readers understand semantic HTML natively — no ARIA attributes needed for basic structure.
Keyboard navigation. Every interactive element should be reachable and operable via keyboard. Tab through your entire site — can you access every feature? Are focus states visible? Can you dismiss modals with Escape? This single test catches a large percentage of accessibility issues.
Alt text with purpose. "Image of team" is useless alt text. "Three engineers collaborating at a whiteboard during a design sprint" provides context. Decorative images should have empty alt attributes. Informational images should describe what they communicate, not what they depict.
