Instead of stressing about A/B testing shades of blue, prioritse fixing accessibility.
Authentic conversations so far...
This is an archive of the email messages I sent to my daily mailing list since March 12th, 2024. Enjoy!
Wrap up for the product owner's guide to accessibility debt and the past 20 emails.
The BS Meeting Signs: Loudest voices win
Jun 25th, 2025
How can you stop the loudest voices from drowning out accessibility experts in a meeting?
Does accessibility drive profit or is it purely a cost?
Jun 24th, 2025
Drop the separate "accessibility ROI" argument and fold it into broader UX improvements where the business case is clearer.
Noticing faster
Jun 23rd, 2025
Build accessibility checks into every sprint to stop the spread of inaccessible product features.
Access Denied #51: Customer satisfaction
Jun 22nd, 2025
In Issue 51 of Access Denied, Gary thinks testimonials that keep interrupting users with screen readers adds to the customer satisfaction.
Live regions are unpredictable
Jun 21st, 2025
ARIA live regions have timing issues we can't control and are inconsistent across browsers and assistive technologies.
Real talk: We have no bandwidth
Jun 20th, 2025
The whole "we'll get to accessibility later" mentality is nonsense.
Wrap up for building team accountability when considering accessibility debt.
If you need to have small talk in a meeting, keep it small and move on to the agenda.
Unsung heroes
Jun 17th, 2025
The real heroes of web accessibility are those who build inclusively from day one, not those who create problems then profit from the fix.
No keyboard left behind
Jun 16th, 2025
Why keyboard accessibility matters and who relies on a keyboard, plus 5 practical tips to get it right.
Access Denied #50: Keyboard mode
Jun 15th, 2025
In Issue 50 of Access Denied, Gary wants to add a keyboard-mode toggle to solve keyboard navigation.
The Web Almanac
Jun 14th, 2025
The Web Almanac is an annual state of the web, including a fascinating chapter on web accessibility.
Real talk: Pixel perfect
Jun 13th, 2025
Pixel-perfect UIs don't guarantee accessible or even usable web products.
Just in time accessibility training is about fixing real issues in real time.
The BS Meetings Signs: Rehashing the same conversations
Jun 11th, 2025
Rehashing the same topics in a meeting is a time waster.
The fundamentals don't change
Jun 10th, 2025
Instead of memorising, focus on understanding the principles behind accessibility guidelines.
Responsive design and accessibility
Jun 9th, 2025
What is responsive design, mobile-first and what do they have to do with accessibility?
Access Denied #49: We're mobile friendly!
Jun 8th, 2025
In Issue 49 of Access Denied, Gary disregards responsive design in accessibility.
Avoid ARIA labels
Jun 7th, 2025
Avoid aria-label because it does not work with automated in-browser translations.
Real talk: Web apps don't need semantics
Jun 6th, 2025
Web apps and single page apps still rely on HTML and they still need to be accessible.
Without regular accessibility audits, your accessibility debt will skyrocket.
The BS Meeting Signs: Coming unprepared
Jun 4th, 2025
People who don't review the materials will derail a meeting with basic questions that have been answered already.
Accessible components alone aren't enough
Jun 3rd, 2025
Accessible framework components don't guarantee an accessible product.
Practical semantic HTML
Jun 2nd, 2025
Introducing a new free email course on practical semantic HTML.
Access Denied #48: Frameworks
Jun 1st, 2025
In Issue 48 of Access Denied, Gary thinks web frameworks can take care of accessibility out of the box.
Game of patience
May 31st, 2025
It takes patience to work with developers, designers and product owners in web accessibility.
Real talk: Frameworks as HTML
May 30th, 2025
Developers use frameworks as an excuse not to bother with semantic HTML, but that introduces loads of accessibility issues into products.
Including accessibility into the definition of done will create accountability and all but eliminate issues in the future.
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I send out short emails like these 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.