Why Are Accessible Websites so Hard to Build?

Building accessible websites shouldn't be this difficult, yet many companies struggle. Why? While we learn HTML and strive for semantic correctness, true accessibility often remains elusive. The Domino's pizza lawsuit highlights the significant legal ramifications of website inaccessibility. A CNBC report revealed a staggering 58% increase in lawsuits related to inaccessible websites in a single year, exceeding 2,200 cases.

Website accessibility isn't just a design or engineering concern; it's a major legal liability. While increased litigation may encourage better practices, making inaccessible websites illegal might be the only way to fully address the issue.

However, it's crucial to avoid assuming malicious intent. Many developers may simply lack awareness of accessibility problems. The challenge isn't a lack of resources or expertise, but rather the invisible nature of accessibility issues.

Unlike JavaScript errors (which cause immediate breakage) or CSS bugs (which create visual discrepancies), accessibility problems can silently degrade a website's usability without any obvious warning. This invisibility is the core problem. The solution lies in making these issues visible.

Imagine if our text editors integrated accessibility checks, flagging potential problems directly within the development environment. This could provide immediate feedback, linking to relevant solutions, and fostering a proactive approach to accessibility.

While tools like Lighthouse and browser extensions exist, integrating accessibility checks into our daily workflow is essential. This approach ensures that accessibility (and performance, another often-overlooked area) becomes a non-negotiable part of the development process, encouraging developers to learn and address these critical aspects of front-end development.

The above is the detailed content of Why Are Accessible Websites so Hard to Build?. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!