The other day, I joined a zoom meeting a bit late. I just heard:
You seem a bit flushed!
And then everyone burst out laughing.
Everyone, but me.
Apparently, I caught just the tail-end of a joke. The punchline. It wasn't funny at all. Not the joke - the joke was alright, as I later found out. But the punchline by itself was pointless.
The joke wasn't funny because of the punchline. It was funny because of everything that had built up to that punchline.
All jokes, aside, is it not the same with web accessibility? Everyone wants to get to the end of the rainbow and get the pot of gold, but the path we take to get there is just as important, if not more so.
Accessibility isn't a one-and-done checklist. It's an ongoing process of listening, learning and iterating. Every contrast tweak, code refactor and alt text revision is a step along that path to the pot of gold at the end.
And that path is filled with obstacles. But instead of letting them become thorns in your side, try to embrace them as opportunities to grow. Grappling with a thorny accessibility issue today helps build the skills to avoid it tomorrow.
Yes, the destination of an accessible web is noble. But the path we take to get there matters a whole lot more. It's a journey of empathy, problem-solving and continuous improvement. By valuing the process as much as the end result, we'll be better equipped to create inclusive experiences.
After all, accessibility is a marathon, not a sprint, so we might as well enjoy the ride.
And if you're wondering what the joke in my meeting was, I asked them afterwards.
What did one toilet say to the other?
You appear a bit flushed.
I mean...I've heard better jokes, but I still snickered when I heard it.