Alright folks, time for another spoon full of hard dev truth. So grab a tissue, head over to your safe place, and let's get started...
In today's world of software development, there's an elephant in the room that we need to address: accessibility. It's 2025, folks, and if you're still not making your software accessible, let's call a spade a spade – you're just being lazy.
Picture this: You get up early, stumble your way out of the house into a Lyft. You travel 45 minutes (or more) to to the airport, then spend another hour getting through security. You finally collapse into a chair at your gate and you wait...and wait...and wait. Finally you get up and ask the person at the desk when your flight will begin boarding. But uh oh, they inform you the flight already left…you missed it because no one update the board you were watching, or announced the plane was boarding.
Frustrating, right? Well, that's exactly what you're doing to users when your software isn't accessible. You're essentially telling a significant portion of the population, "Sorry, this isn't for you."
Now, I know what you're thinking. "But accessibility is hard!" Is it, though? Let's get real for a second. We're living in an age where tools, libraries, and technologies for accessibility are practically falling into our laps – often for free! It's never been easier to build software that everyone can enjoy. So, what's your excuse?
Maybe you think accessibility isn't in demand. Newsflash: it is. In fact, accessible software has never been more sought after. People with accessibility needs aren't just sitting around waiting for you to throw them a bone – they're potential customers, users, and advocates for your product. By ignoring accessibility, you're not just being inconsiderate; you're leaving money on the table.
Perhaps you're assuming that people with accessibility needs aren't using your software, so you don't need to worry about it. Your wrong! Making software accessible is more than just making it readable by a screenreader. The need for accessibility goes way beyond permanent disabilities (though why you would need more of a reason than that is beyond me). Here are just a few examples:
- users who just had their eyes dilated by their ophthalmologist
- users in bright sunlight
- users with dyslexia
- users with ADHD
- user's who broke their arm
These are just a handful of examples of users with accessibility needs. So when you say no one with accessibility needs uses your software...I hope you realize how ridiculous you sound.
Let's consider another example, to really drive this nail home. Imagine you're late for an important meeting, stressed and in a hurry. You get to the front desk, and security holds out their hand expectantly, waiting for you to give them... something. But they don't say a word to inform you what they are expecting and won't let you inside until you comply with whatever that is. Frustrating, right? That's what using you inaccessible software feels like for many people, every single day.
So, developers, it's time to step up. Stop treating accessibility like it's optional. It's not a "nice to have" – it's a "need to have." It's not just about being inclusive (though that should be reason enough); it's about being a competent developer in the 21st century.
The next time you're tempted to skip over accessibility features, remember: you're not just inconveniencing users; you're potentially shutting them out entirely. And in a world where digital access is increasingly crucial, that's not just lazy – it's downright irresponsible.
Let's make 2025 the year we finally get serious about accessibility. After all, if you can figure out that new JavaScript framework, you can certainly figure out how to make your software usable for everyone. It's time to stop making excuses and start making progress.
Top comments (0)