Myths and Misconceptions
about Accessibility
Introduction:
Discussions about web accessibility can sometimes make people uneasy, and they may come with a list of objections, many of which are actually common myths. This section looks at a few of those misconceptions and offers practical responses. Understanding how to address these concerns is important for supporting ongoing efforts to create more accessible websites.
After completing this section, you should be able to:
Identify common myths and objections related to accessibility.
Evaluate and respond effectively to negative myths and objections.
Provide evidence and examples that debunk myths and highlight the importance of accessibility.
In This Section:
Myth: Accessibility Benefits Only a Small Minority
Myth: Accessibility Is a Short-Term Project
Myth: Accessibility Should Be the Last Step
Myth: Accessibility Is Hard and Expensive
Myth: Accessibility Is Ugly
Myth: Accessibility Benefits Only a Small Minority
On this page:
Truth: Accessibility Benefits a Wide Variety of People
Anyone Can Acquire a Disability
Disabilities Are a Sizeable Minority
Truth: Accessibility Benefits a Wide Variety of People
Designing with accessibility in mind benefits more than just people with disabilities. The same principles make websites easier to use on mobile devices, across different browsers and computers, and on older technology. Accessible sites are easier for search engines to index, improving discoverability for everyone. They also support people who are aging and may experience changes in vision, hearing, mobility, or cognition.
a smiling older man sitting on a park bench, using his smartphone
Anyone Can Acquire a Disability
Anyone can acquire a disability at any point in life. As people age, many experience declines in vision, hearing, mobility, or cognitive abilities, making accessibility increasingly important.
Disabilities Are a Sizeable Minority
Accessibility affects a significant portion of the population. Around 20 percent of people have a disability at any given time, and some of these affect the ability to use the internet. Accessibility is not optional; it is essential. Without it, people with disabilities may be unable to use websites, which can have a serious impact on their lives.
Myth: Accessibility Is a Short-Term Project
On this page:
Truth: Accessibility Is an Ongoing Requirement
Embed Accessibility into the Process
Company Culture and Leadership Matter
Commit Resources and Roles
Hire People with Disabilities
Truth: Accessibility Is an Ongoing Requirement
Accessibility is not going away. There will always be people with disabilities, because it is a normal part of the human experience. Future medical or social advances may reduce some disabilities, but there will never be none. People may acquire temporary or permanent disabilities due to injury, illness, or other circumstances.
Accessibility is like security or privacy. It is an ongoing requirement that must be addressed at all stages of development and QA.
Embed Accessibility into the Process
Accessibility should be considered from start to finish, including:
Business and design requirements
QA requirements and test cases
Training for new employees
Ongoing professional development
Tools to detect accessibility issues
Company Culture and Leadership Matter
Strong leadership and a clear vision are essential. Explicit support from executives helps set accessibility expectations across the company. Without leadership, efforts tend to be uneven, and incomplete approaches produce incomplete results.
Commit Resources and Roles
A successful accessibility program needs dedicated staff with authority to ensure results. It can help to have separate roles for managing the accessibility program and providing technical expertise. This allows managers to focus on coordination and strategy while technical experts handle implementation and compliance.
Hire People with Disabilities
Including colleagues with disabilities brings accessibility into daily practice and makes its importance tangible. Hiring inclusively requires effort and awareness of systemic barriers. While challenges may exist, the benefits of diverse abilities and perspectives are significant, making inclusive hiring a long-term advantage for the organization.
Myth: Accessibility Should Be the Last Step
On this page:
Truth: Designing for Accessibility Is Much Easier than Retrofitting for Accessibility
Truth: Designing for Accessibility Is Much Easier than Retrofitting for Accessibility
Steep, unusable wheelchair ramp added as an afterthought to a building entrance with steps.
Accessibility is often one of the last things organizations plan for in web projects. Some assume it is simple enough to add at the end, but this approach creates several problems.
Poor user experience: Adding accessibility after a design is finished usually results in a product that is technically functional, but not truly usable. Achieving a good user experience at this stage often requires starting over.
Difficult retrofitting: Retrofitting accessibility is like adding wiring or plumbing to a finished building. It can be done, but it is time-consuming, frustrating, and rarely seamless.
Risk of skipping accessibility: If the work is too difficult, organizations may release a site that is inaccessible, prioritizing business goals over accessibility and leaving users with disabilities at a disadvantage.
Self-perpetuating cycle: Without considering accessibility from the concept stage, high-quality accessible designs are nearly impossible. Retrofits are constrained by the original design.
Exposes neglect: Failing to plan for accessibility, even unintentionally, signals that the needs of people with disabilities are not a priority.
Legal risk: Consistently producing inaccessible designs can put an organization at risk of violating accessibility laws.
Designing for accessibility from the start requires some extra planning, but it saves time, reduces frustration, and results in a better product for everyone.
Myth: Accessibility Is Hard and Expensive
On this page:
Truth: Accessibility Costs Are Reasonable Compared with Alternatives
Maintaining an Accessible System Is Cost Effective
Lawsuits Are Expensive
Negative Publicity Is Costly
Truth: Accessibility Costs Are Reasonable Compared with Alternatives
Maintaining an Accessible System Is Cost Effective
Creating an accessible system does cost money, but failing to do so can be far more expensive. Retroactively fixing accessibility problems on an existing site can be costly and time-consuming, sometimes requiring a complete redesign.
Starting with accessibility in mind allows it to be incorporated at every stage of the process, making it more efficient over time. While planning and adding accessible features during design, development, and testing take time and money, these costs are generally lower than the expense of retrofitting or defending a legal claim.
Lawsuits Are Expensive
Avoiding accessibility can lead to costly legal action. Lawsuits may result in fines, damages, and legal fees, even if they do not go to court.
Negative Publicity Is Costly
Failing to meet the needs of people with disabilities can harm a company’s reputation, especially if the company resists accessibility efforts. Negative publicity can spread quickly and undermine other positive initiatives.
Myth: Accessibility Is Ugly
On this page:
Truth: Accessible Websites Can Be Beautiful
A Comparison: Creativity in Prosthetics
Most Accessibility Features Are Invisible
Truth: Accessible Websites Can Be Beautiful
The idea that accessible designs must be ugly is a myth. Poor designs for people with disabilities exist, but that reflects a lack of creativity, not a requirement of accessibility. Accessible designs can be just as beautiful or just as plain as any other design.
A Comparison: Creativity in Prosthetics
Aimee Mullins, a double leg amputee, chose to make her prosthetic legs an outlet for creative expression. She has functional everyday legs, athletic “blade” legs for running, taller prosthetic legs, and intricately carved artistic legs. All are fully functional and some are stunningly beautiful.
The takeaway is simple: Accessibility doesn’t limit creativity. You can make designs that are both functional and beautiful if you choose to.
Aimee Mullins running a race, wearing her blade running legs. On the right are pictured her carved wooden legs separately
Most Accessibility Features Are Invisible
The goal of universal design is to create a single design that works for as many people as possible. One of the benefits of web accessibility is that many features do not change the visible design. A site can look beautiful while still being accessible.
Some examples of invisible accessibility features include alt text for images, underlying code that defines the reading order, and keyboard navigation support. Features like captions or audio descriptions are only used by those who need them and do not affect other users. ARIA markup and language settings are also invisible but improve the experience for assistive technologies.
Cognitive Disabilities
Designing for cognitive disabilities may require visible changes. Content often needs to be simplified, and complex text may need to be replaced with images, videos, audio, or interactive elements. But even small changes, such as using clear language, explaining acronyms, and avoiding idioms, can make a course or website easier to understand without disrupting the overall design.