It’s either something technical you’re supposed to care about… or something physical that doesn’t apply to you.
But accessibility isn’t just about rules or ramps.
It’s about people.
It’s about making sure the things we build online work for everyone – no matter their body, brain, situation, or device.
We always think it’s about “them”
When we talk about accessibility, we tend to think of permanent disabilities.
Blind users. Deaf users. Maybe someone who uses a screen reader.
That’s how most of us were taught to picture it: a small group of “others.”
But that’s not the full picture.
Let’s tell the truth: I’ve needed accessibility.
You’ve needed accessibility.
We all have.
The reality is, access needs show up all the time – for all of us.
We don’t talk about it that way, but we should.
There are permanent disabilities – like being deaf, blind, or having limited mobility.
But there are also temporary ones – like a broken wrist, or recovering from surgery.
And there are situational ones – like holding a baby, or being somewhere noisy, or trying to scroll with one hand and a sandwich in the other.
Image credit: Microsoft
Same barriers. Different context.
Think about this. If you’re deaf, you need captions on videos.
But if I’m lying in bed, trying to watch TikTok without waking my partner?
I need captions too.The barrier doesn’t change. Just the context.
And accessibility solves for the barrier.
The curb-cut effect
You’ve probably used a curb cut – maybe without even thinking about it.
They were originally designed for wheelchair users, so navigating the edge of a sidewalk wouldn’t be a battle.
But look at this image.
Seriously – look at it.
A parent pushing a stroller.
Someone with a wheelie suitcase.
Cyclists. Delivery drivers using dollies.
Even that kid with a skateboard, buying ice cream in the back.
Image credit: Sketchplanations
Same curb cut. Different needs.
That’s the curb-cut effect. Design something to remove a barrier, and you often help a lot more people than you expected.
But here’s the thing: that doesn’t make the original purpose less important.
It just shows how good design can ripple outward. When we prioritize inclusion, everybody wins.
And the web has digital curb cuts, too:
- Captions
- Big, tappable buttons
- Responsive layouts that reflow on small screens
- Clear headings and structure
- Color contrast that helps everyone see more clearly
None of these are “nice to have.”
They’re not extras or bonus features.
They’re just good design – the kind that works in more situations, for more people.
Accessibility is everywhere
Take a look at your desk.
That keyboard?
It has roots in the very first typewriter, built in the early 1800s by Pellegrino Turri – for a blind Contessa who wanted to write letters. He even invented carbon paper so the machine could leave a mark.
Your mouse?
Apple helped make it mainstream because they wanted people with disabilities to be able to use their new computers.
Audiobooks?
They date back to 1932, when vinyl records were used to make books accessible to blind readers – at just fifteen minutes per side.
And the TV remote?
Originally designed to help people with mobility impairments change the channel without getting up.
We now use all of these things without even thinking about where they came from.
That’s the curb-cut effect in action.
When we design for disability, we often create something better for everyone.
The big idea
Accessibility isn’t an edge case.
It’s not a niche concern.
It’s not just compliance, or legal coverage, or a checkbox on your to-do list.
It’s how we make the web actually work.
For people who are tired.
Distracted.
Injured.
Multitasking.
Neurodivergent.
Or just trying to scroll one-handed while holding a sandwich.
This guide isn’t going to throw WCAG at you and run.
We’re here to walk through it all – together – and show you how accessibility can be part of everything you build.
But before we go anywhere else, just remember this:
Accessibility isn’t about making things easier.
It’s about making things possible.
And that changes everything.