What is accessibility?

Accessibility is the practice of designing and building digital products-like websites, apps, and software-so that everyone, including people with disabilities, can use them easily. It means removing barriers that might stop someone with visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive challenges from accessing information or functionality.

Let's break it down

Think of accessibility as four main pillars:

  • Perceivable: Content must be presented in ways people can see or hear (e.g., alt text for images, captions for videos).
  • Operable: Users must be able to navigate and interact using keyboards, voice, or other assistive tools.
  • Understandable: Information and controls should be clear and predictable (simple language, consistent navigation).
  • Robust: The product should work with current and future assistive technologies (clean code, standard HTML).

Why does it matter?

Accessibility matters because it ensures equal access to information and services for all users, which is a basic human right. It also helps businesses avoid legal penalties, reaches a larger audience, improves overall user experience, and boosts brand reputation.

Where is it used?

Accessibility is applied everywhere digital content exists: websites, mobile apps, e‑learning platforms, PDFs, video streaming services, hardware interfaces (like ATMs or kiosks), and even emerging tech such as VR/AR experiences.

Good things about it

  • Expands your market by reaching users with disabilities.
  • Often improves SEO because search engines favor well‑structured, descriptive content.
  • Leads to cleaner, more maintainable code.
  • Enhances usability for all users, not just those with impairments.
  • Demonstrates social responsibility and can protect against lawsuits.

Not-so-good things

  • Initial implementation can require extra time, resources, and expertise.
  • Legacy systems may need significant redesign to become accessible.
  • Ongoing maintenance is needed to keep accessibility up‑to‑date with new standards.
  • Misunderstanding guidelines can result in “checkbox” compliance that doesn’t truly help users.
  • Some developers may view it as an added complexity rather than a core design principle.