Accessibility Skill

Core Principles

1. Accessibility Is a Human Right

Digital accessibility is not a compliance checkbox — it's about ensuring everyone can use the web regardless of ability. Approximately 15% of the world's population experiences some form of disability. Building accessible products is the ethical choice, not just a legal requirement.

2. Start Early, Not as an Audit

Accessibility must be considered from the first wireframe, not discovered in a last-minute audit before launch. Retrofitting accessibility costs significantly more than building it in from the start. Include a11y in design critiques, sprint planning, and definition of done.

3. Nothing About Us Without Us

Design with, not for, people with disabilities. Test with real users who rely on assistive technologies. Automated tools catch only 30-40% of accessibility issues — human testing catches the rest. Include disabled people in your user research and usability testing.

4. Accessibility Improves UX for Everyone

Curb cuts benefit everyone, not just wheelchair users. Captions help people in noisy environments. High contrast helps on sunny days. Keyboard navigation helps power users. Accessibility features often become mainstream UX improvements.

5. Progress Over Perfection

Level AAA compliance is aspirational and not always achievable. Level AA is the practical target for most products. Don't let perfect be the enemy of good — ship AA-compliant work and document remaining issues for future iterations.