Why is accessibility relevant to me?
September 2, 2026
"My site is for people who can see. Why do I need to think about blind users?" – hypothetical client
As an accessibility professional, I've rarely heard this question raised openly, but I'd be very surprised if some weren't thinking it. You might have a site dedicated to photography you would like to display and potentially sell, or a site dedicated to users who enjoy film or video. Why bother with the experience of a blind user if they would have no reason to visit your site?
It's a fair question, even if it might not seem politically correct to ask it.
Imagine that photography site. The pages that show the photos aren't really the product. The photos are. Everything around them (navigation, categories, the checkout flow, a contact form, any shipping details) is separate from the actual product. It's the words on the page and the structure of the site, the things that someone needs to know to communicate their intentions to you. That person might have a disability that requires they use a screen reader to navigate the site, and if they're blocked, they simply can't do what everyone else on the page can.
If your site is accessible, anyone can use it independent of their abilities. A blind or low vision person won't have any problems using it, and neither will a person who can see perfectly well. There isn't really a tradeoff to do the right thing. It's really a win-win.
It's also worth noting that there is a spectrum of ability, and many people progress through it or in and out of it during their lives. An older person might find clear vision more and more compromised, until they get cataract surgery and can suddenly see more clearly again. A sighted user might see things well in their office, but not nearly as well on a smartphone in bright sunlight. Low contrast text can be a problem for anyone at some point in life, or even in a long day.
There are other win-wins for accessibility. Alt text on images exposes your site and products to web searches and improves indexing. It's what an automated voice assistant would read. A great example of a serendipitous win-win with accessibility in the built environment is curb cuts. These were invented to help wheelchair users navigate sidewalks, but they also help people with strollers or rolling suitcases. The panels that wheelchair users can press to open doors are also great if your hands are full of packages or groceries and you can open them with a touch of your elbow.
Accessibility just makes everything open to everyone, and that just seems like a better world to live in.