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Accessibility isn't about disabilities

1 minute read

If you've never had a headache so bad you needed bigger text or you've never watched a video on mute in a waiting room, of course you're going to think accessibility is about disabilities.

But accessibility isn't about disabilities. It never was.

This idea that it's a niche concern for a minority of "people with disabilities" is one of the most damaging myths in design history.

To be honest, I have no idea if subtitles weren't built for the deaf. But I know it would have taken me longer than it did to learn English. And right now that's how I can listen to the news in Dutch, by following along with the written words.

Accessibility is just good design and it shows empathy.

You may not be a person with disabilities. You may not have broken your wrist yet and maybe you haven't hit 50 to need glasses. But temporary ability is the default.

We just don't like admitting it.

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Did you enjoy this bite-sized message?

I send out short emails like this every day to help you gain a fresh perspective on accessibility and understand it without the jargon, so you can build more robust products that everyone can use, including people with disabilities.

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