Post #3524616

Accessibility, for me, is being appreciative of what's already been done, being grateful to those who worked hard on it, but also pushing for more. I always want more, because whenever I'm stopped by a barrier, I want to find a way around it. Wouldn't you? Let's imagine a fully able-bodied person wants to take a short walk from their apartment to their favorite cafe. But on this particular day, these invisible walls keep popping up in their path. They can't push past, but they watch as everyone else walks on the same path without issue. At first, wouldn't they be a little scared, sad and confused? Then anger might set in, and at that point, the gears start turning. Maybe the walls won't pop up if they take another route or maybe if they just cross over to the other side of the street. But all the while, they see people moving right on through the same part of the sidewalk where they can't as if there's nothing to stop them. Really try to put yourself in that person's shoes. That's what accessibility is, it's tearing down those barriers to give equal access to everyone no matter what their disabilities may be. Doing accessibility work takes drive, patience and perseverance, and most of all, commitment. On this day, I don't give a damn about market share, bottom dollar, or any other corporate concerns. I'm a user, and there are plenty of products and websites that are inaccessible to me, and companies breaking the law by not fixing them. That's what I care about right now. Accessibility work is ongoing. It should never be for only one product your team or organization builds. If you take up the mantle, it should be a from now on kind of thing. I'm tired of seeing accessibility related regressions never get fixed. That is all. #blind #accessibility #gaad