Building Accessible UIs: Lessons from the Trenches
Accessibility isn't an afterthought — it's a design constraint that makes everything better. Here are the practical lessons I've learned.
When I started taking accessibility seriously, I expected it to slow me down. Instead, it fundamentally improved how I think about user interfaces. Designing for constraints forces clarity, and that clarity benefits every user.
Start with Semantics
The single biggest win is using the right HTML elements. A button should be a <button>, not a styled <div> with an onClick handler. Navigation should use <nav>. This alone solves a surprising number of accessibility issues.
Keyboard Navigation Matters
Every interactive element should be reachable and operable via keyboard. Tab order should be logical. Focus styles should be visible. These aren't edge cases — they're fundamental to usability.