If you have been involved with website design and development for any period, you will remember the shift from desktop websites to mobile first websites. I remember it being a daunting shift in the way design and development was approached. No longer could you create a web page knowing most users would be on 800x600 or 1024x768 screen, you had to learn how to make the site work on mobile screens of much smaller sizes with people needing to press buttons with their fingers.
It was exciting, but also challenging as new ways to design and build were needed. We needed to learn new technology and methods of delivering the best experience to website users. I look back now, and creating mobile first website is the new standard and dare I suggest easy to achieve.
Today, I link to an article from 2017 looking at the challenge of Accessibility First. We are 5 years on, and I haven't seen a significant shift towards Accessibility First. There are many more drivers to embra ce Accessibility First compared to when the article was posted. Accessibility implementation like Alt Text for images increases search engine rankings and makes the content more usable by AI, in addition to ensuring your website visitors can access the site. In addition, legislation is being brought in, like the European Accessibility Act which will drive businesses to make their websites, products, and services accessible.
In the US, there is a rise in the number of businesses being sued for not providing accessible websites. This has historicsally been targeted as large businesses, but there are more small businesses being sued. A recent example is a Small Business in Maine Pulled into Website Accessibility Lawsuit - Equal Entry.
If you aren't already designing and developing with accessibility in mind, you will be left behind. Advance your career or business by ensuring the websites you develop are accessible - it really is good business sense.
Looking for more resources to support your accessibility journey, check out Where do I start with Accessibility?
“By choosing a typeface that we feel the average user could read we’d be consciously alienating a section of our users. Instead, by selecting a typeface which is workable for those who struggle to read, we arrive at a choice that works for everyone. This is efficient and effective inclusive design.”
unknownx500
