Fact! Accessibility is everyone’s responsibility.

I’ve always known this. Yet, in previous roles, when discussing accessibility, I often felt pressured to know everything, especially from a UX and content design perspective.

It’s silly, right? But is anyone really an expert in every aspect of accessible design? I don’t know, maybe, but I doubt it.

Gradually, over time, I’ve realised that while I should have an understanding of accessible design, I do not need to be an expert in everything. What matters most when designing for accessibility is collaboration.

Many companies might assume that accessibility is just a checkbox exercise or that it’s the responsibility of a single person. But it’s not. Accessibility is a shared commitment. And it’s everyone’s responsibility. From content designers to UX designers to developers, we all play a role in making sure that the products, experiences and services we build are inclusive.

Why accessibility matters

Accessibility matters because everyone benefits from the products and services we build, regardless of ability. But we have a tendency to forget this, and when accessibility is neglected, we unintentionally exclude people with disabilities, limiting their access to information, our services, and opportunities.

The World Health Organization estimates that over 1 billion people live with some form of disability. So, if we ignore accessibility, we’re excluding a large number of people from experiencing what we’ve built.

But here’s the thing: accessibility doesn’t just benefit those with permanent disabilities. It also supports people facing temporary or situational limitations, like someone recovering from an injury or trying to use a phone in direct sunlight, something which we can all relate to.

The pressure to know it all

While I may not get it right all the time, I’ve always seen the importance of accessibility. As a content designer, I try to write simple, accessible content so that it’s clear and inclusive. This is actually harder than it sounds, as you need to balance accessibility with brand voice and user expectations, and that takes skill.

As I took on more senior roles, I would try to bring an element of accessibility into the design conversations. And if I didn’t know something, I would talk to an expert or someone who did know.

However, I always got the feeling from higher up that I had to be the expert in accessibility for content, UX and development. Now, that’s a lot of pressure to put on one person. Don’t get me wrong, it’s valuable to have an understanding of accessibility across these disciplines. But no one person needs to carry that burden alone, do they?

In reality, the best accessible products aren’t created by one expert; they’re built by teams working together.

Shared responsibility. Unique perspectives

In product design or UX, or whatever you want to call it, each role brings a different perspective to accessibility. For example;

• Content Designers
  They research, write and design language that is clear, concise, and understandable for all users, including those who rely on assistive technology.
• UX Designers
  They focus on usability, ensuring that navigation and user flows are intuitive. They consider cognitive load, keyboard navigation, and colour contrast to create an experience that works for everyone.
• Developers
  They implement the technical foundations that make accessibility possible, from semantic HTML to ARIA attributes and keyboard navigation. They ensure compatibility with screen readers and other assistive technologies.

Here, you see that all three disciplines will work together, contributing their expertise to create a more inclusive experience, service or product.

Conversations challenging assumptions

One of the key aspects of building accessible products is allowing for open conversations, conversations that challenge assumptions. When teams work in silos, accessibility often becomes an afterthought. But when designers, developers, and writers ask questions, test early, and consider diverse user needs, accessibility naturally becomes a core part of the process rather than a last-minute fix.

Common misconceptions about accessibility

Because I’m curious to understand accessibility better, I’ve worked to learn more about accessibility. Not to say that I know everything, but to allow me to have better conversations when developing a user experience. Along my learning journey, I’ve encountered some common misconceptions:

• “Accessibility only benefits a small group of users.”
  In reality, accessibility improves usability for everyone, including ageing populations and users in challenging environments.
• “Accessibility is too expensive or time-consuming.”
  While retrofitting a product for accessibility can be costly, incorporating accessibility from the beginning is far more efficient and cost-effective.
• “Accessible design limits creativity.”
  On the contrary, inclusive design often leads to innovative solutions that enhance the overall user experience.

When we address these misconceptions, teams can approach accessibility with a more informed and open mindset.

Accessibility benefits everyone

We need to stop thinking that accessibility is just about compliance or serving users with disabilities. Accessibility benefits everyone. Here are a few examples;

• Closed captions help people who are deaf or hard of hearing and assist anyone watching videos in a noisy environment.
• High-contrast designs improve readability for users with visual impairments and help anyone using a screen in bright sunlight.

When we design with accessibility in mind, we create better experiences for everyone because accessible websites;

• load faster,
• work better on various devices,
• and even improve SEO rankings.

So, accessibility is not the responsibility of a single person, and it’s not a checkbox exercise. Accessibility is not a burden, and it isn’t hard. What it is, is an opportunity to create a better world for everyone. Accessibility drives innovation, improves usability, and ensures that our digital experiences are welcoming to all.

Accessibility is a collective effort. As content, UX, and developers, accessibility is a part of our role. When we work together, we challenge assumptions and commit to inclusive design; we build products that are not just functional but truly welcoming to all users.

Enjoyed this?

Check out my other articles on design.

• How content designers are shaping AI
• The evolution of content roles
• Has ROI killed UX?
• Why content design belongs with product and design

I hope you enjoyed this article, and if it helped, feel free to leave a clap or two, or why not drop a comment. You can connect with me on LinkedIn and Medium.

Accessibility. It’s a shared responsibility. was originally published in UX Planet on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.