In today’s digital landscape, accessibility is not just an add-on; it’s a necessity. Reflecting on my personal experiences, I recall several times struggling to navigate websites that were visually cluttered and difficult to read. I often found myself emailing links to my desktop because the mobile versions were broken. I can only imagine the challenges others face with varying levels of accessibility.
Unfortunately, this is not hard to imagine. I recently read that 96.8% of all website homepages have some accessibility failures according to WCAG guidelines. Considering that 1 in every 4 adults in the US has some type of disability, this statistic is staggering. Yet, I have noticed that developers often do not prioritize accessibility in their products. I admit that I have been guilty of this as well. While working on some of my older projects, I was more focused on getting the site operational rather than ensuring it was user-friendly. Once I launched a project, I often moved on without taking the time to analyze and improve it.
Does this sound familiar? It reminds me of Test-Driven Development and the red-green-refactor approach. Perhaps this is why so many sites fail to be accessible; they wait until after developing a product to enhance its usability. As developers and designers, we influence the success of our products and solutions. We should prioritize accessibility from the outset, even before writing a single line of code.
In our journey towards creating inclusive digital experiences, it's essential to remember that progress is more important than perfection. By integrating accessibility into our development process from the beginning, we can gradually improve our products and make the digital world a more welcoming place for everyone, one step at a time. If we stay consistent with our conventions, I believe we can improve the experience for all users.
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