Defending digital accessibility

When accessibility comes up, the conversation often hits a "yes, but...". Two simple words that signal resistance. I don’t mind critical thinking – being French and all. But why do we need to work so hard at convincing people of something that important?

Take Artificial Intelligence, for example. It gets instant excitement, with everyone exploring possibilities and marvelling at the opportunities. Why don't we show the same enthusiasm for accessibility? The two topics don’t need to compete. They can work together and strengthen each other.

As tech professionals – whether designers, developers, or project managers – accessibility is our responsibility. It improves the quality of our products and services. Our work should meet the needs of all users.

While I’d love for empathy to be enough, I know it’s not always the case. Nora Goerne and I talked about this in our talk “Pushing for accessibility as UX designers” at Paris Web.

In this article, I offer various arguments for you to consider, with no specific ranking or order. This isn’t an exhaustive list, but it addresses some of the most common misconceptions about accessibility. You can pick the arguments that make the most sense for your situation and the people you're talking with. 

However, it’s important to approach some of these with care and avoid focusing solely on how accessibility benefits non-disabled people or its financial potential. This could overlook the core issue. Accessibility is fundamentally about justice and respecting the rights of Disabled people.

When you're told that Disabled people aren't part of the target audience

There are more Disabled people than we think

In 2023, 27% of the EU population over the age of 16 had some form of disability. According to Eurostat estimates, that equals to 101 million people or one in four people adults in the EU.

Most disabilities are invisible (or made invisible)

We often hear that 80% of disabilities are invisible, but that isn’t quite accurate. What we actually mean is that most disabilities are invisible. Some examples include:

• Epilepsy
• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
• Dys disorders (dyslexia, dyspraxia, etc.)
• Depression
• Schizophrenia
• Crohn’s disease
• Diabetes
• Endometriosis
• Hearing loss

Some Disabled people aren’t included in the statistics. For instance, in the UK, getting an autism diagnosis as an adult can take up to 1.5 years.

Choosing not to disclose

Some Disabled people also choose not to officially disclose their disability. In a recent survey of 3,000 job seekers with disabilities undertaken by accessible job board Evenbreak and YouGov, less than a quarter (23%) said they would disclose on application and 12% at the interview stage.

Anyone can be affected

Disability isn’t limited to permanent situations. It can also be temporary. For example:

• Bone fracture
• Reduced mobility after surgery
• Post-childbirth pain
• Cancer

No matter the cause or duration of a disability, adjustments may be needed by anyone, at any point in our lives. There is no “them” and “us”. We are all part of the same group.

When you’re told accessibility is expensive and needs to show returns

In a capitalist world, it’s common for someone managing a budget to ask if spending money on accessibility will pay off. While it’s worth questioning the ethics of comparing human rights with profit, you’ll still need to provide a solid answer. If return on investment (ROI) is how people are evaluated, it’s important to offer them strong arguments.

Digital accessibility rules in the UK

The UK no longer follows EU rules but has its own laws on accessibility. These include The Equality Act 2010 and The Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018. These laws ensure digital content, particularly in the public sector, is accessible to Disabled people.

The UK doesn’t automatically fine organisations for failing to meet accessibility standards. However, under the Equality Act 2010, organisations can face legal action for discrimination if their digital content creates barriers for Disabled people.

A stronger European legal framework

The Act mainly applies within the EU, but its impact is likely to spread worldwide, setting a global standard for accessibility. Organisations outside the EU that sell products or services there will need to follow the Union’s accessibility rules. This directive applies to companies that:

• Employ at least 10 people
• Have an annual turnover of more than €2 million

If a company does business in the EU but doesn’t meet accessibility standards, it can be fined in every EU country where it operates.

The Royal National Institute for the Blind vs BMI

High-profile legal cases in the UK highlight why digital accessibility matters. For example, the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) took action against BMI for having an inaccessible website. The RNIB argued this violated the Equality Act because BMI hadn’t made reasonable adjustments for visually impaired users.

Although the case was settled privately, BMI agreed to make major changes to its digital platforms. This shows the serious financial and reputational risks of ignoring accessibility.

The benefits of investing in accessibility

Accessibility isn’t just about avoiding legal trouble—it’s a smart business move. It can help companies:

• Stand out from competitors
• Reach new customers
• Attract diverse talent
• Build a stronger reputation
• Improve customer service
• Give their team a sense of purpose
• Improve teamwork

Proven business results

Research by Accenture found that companies investing in accessibility see clear benefits:

• Their sales grow 3 times faster
• Their profits grow 4 times faster

Accessibility isn’t just a legal requirement—it’s a powerful way to drive innovation, growth, and competitiveness.

When you’re told accessibility is ugly

I’ve noticed that some designers feel frustrated by accessibility. It’s often seen as a technical limitation rather than an opportunity. Some mix up artistic creativity with UX design. But accessibility doesn’t stifle creativity—it’s about making things clear. This concern often comes from thinking about accessibility through screen readers only.

Screen readers are vital for many people, but accessibility is much more than that. It covers a wide range of practices and tools to make digital experiences work for everyone.

Accessibility inspires universal solutions

Some features that were originally created for accessibility actually benefit everyone.

Texting

Text messaging was developed in 1992 to help Deaf and hard-of-hearing people use mobile phones. Today, 76% of people in the UK send text messages daily.

Subtitles

Originally designed for Deaf and hard-of-hearing users, subtitles and captions are now widely used in noisy places or to learn new languages.

Accessibility complements user experience

Colour contrast

Text needs enough contrast with its background to be readable. This rule has always been important, even in print. It’s essential for people with visual impairments but useful for everyone.

Keyboard navigation

We can also think of keyboard navigation as an essential part of accessibility. This benefits:

• People with a motor impairment, like a broken wrist
• People whose mouse has stopped working
• People who prefer using the keyboard

Error correction

Many accessibility standards also make things easier for everyone. For example, the WCAG success criterion 3.3.1 focuses on error identification. It requires that if an input error is automatically detected, it’s clearly marked and explained to the user. This kind of feature benefits everyone, not just Disabled users.

The benefits of plain language

To make text accessible for people with cognitive disabilities, we use:

• Plain language
• Readable fonts
• Short text blocks
• Left-aligned text

What’s essential for someone with a cognitive disability often makes things easier for everyone else too.

Why alt-text matters

Alt-text allows screen reader users to access image descriptions. But its value goes beyond that.

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If an image fails to load, alt-text provides a backup, helping anyone understand the page—especially when the image conveys critical information.

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When you’re told accessibility is too complicated and best left to experts

Accessibility isn’t reserved for experts. It’s a shared responsibility that touches every aspect of digital creation, from content to technology. It can be simple to integrate into our daily work, as long as we understand that it applies to all areas.

Accessibility is a team effort

In our professions, every role has an impact on the accessibility of the final product. You don’t need to master everything at once—just start somewhere within your scope. Here are some examples:

• UX: Include Disabled people in User Research.
• UI: Ensure sufficient colour contrast.
• Dev: Integrate alt-text for images.
• Test: Check the annotations coded by developers.
• PM: Consider the audit in project planning.
• HR: Schedule regular training for teams.
• Coms & marketing: Write accessible posts on social media.
• Legal: Raise awareness of legal developments within teams.

Using digital tools responsibly

Even if you don’t work directly in a product team, you can contribute to accessibility through the tools you use.

Organising virtual meetings

When organising a meeting, choose a platform that offers captions and transcripts, so Deaf and hard-of-hearing participants can fully engage. It only takes a moment to check if these features are available.

Writing documents

Use built-in features like bullet points, headings, block quotes, columns, and alignments in office software. These help prevent common accessibility errors in documents.

If you’re a teacher, some of your students may rely on screen readers. Automating this process saves you scrambling for solutions later.

Writing text messages and using emojis

Emojis are everywhere, but use them sparingly. If you’re texting someone who uses a screen reader or CarPlay, here’s what they might hear:

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"This smiling face with hearts is smiling face with hearts a smiling face with hearts really smiling face with hearts annoying smiling face with hearts text"

Accessibility is also about inclusion

Accessibility isn’t just about technical best practices—it’s also about attitude, especially towards colleagues with disabilities. For instance, spelling mistakes are common among people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or reading difficulties. If you can, offer to proofread or correct content, but do so without judgement, especially for informal communication.

By showing kindness, you create a space where everyone can thrive.

Download the game

If you enjoyed this article, it’ll soon be available as a card game. You can join the waitlist until it's ready. It'll be useful to:

• raise awareness within your team
• convince your company or clients to invest in accessibility
• help your students understand its importance

Looking for tailored support?

I can also run this workshop or give a talk to deepen your team’s knowledge. Feel free to get in touch to plan a session, either in person or remotely.