Most of us are ready to give it everything we've got. We're brimming with ideas and we always come up with ways to improve. Our enthusiasm is what drives us to make products that are not only visually appealing but also inclusive. Products that can be used by everyone, regardless of their abilities.
And then we hit a dead end. Someone else tells us accessibility is not part of our job. We shouldn't rock the boat. We should just go with the flow and follow the script. This discouragement often comes from higher-ups or colleagues who view accessibility as an unnecessary complication. They may argue that it's too time-consuming, expensive or simply not worth it.
This can be demoralising. It can make us question everything. We think, maybe we shouldn't rock the boat.
So that's what we do. And a lot of the times, this is where the story ends.
But sometimes. Sometimes it isn't. Sometimes we push back against the resistance. We gather evidence on the importance of accessibility, showcase successful case studies and prove how inclusive design benefits everyone.
We become advocates. We educate teams and stakeholders about the legal, ethical and business advantages of accessible websites. We gradually shift the culture towards embracing accessibility as an integral part of web development.
So if you feel like you have to make some waves, by all means...
Rock that boat!