When accessibility comes up, the conversation often hits a "yes, but…". Two small words that signal resistance. It's not that critical thinking bothers me — I'm French, after all. But why do we have to work so hard to convince people about something this important?
Take artificial intelligence. It gets instant excitement: everyone explores the possibilities and marvels at the opportunities. Why don't we show the same enthusiasm for accessibility?
AI can genuinely help in some disability situations — Paul Seta explained as much when I interviewed him. But it has its limits too:
- The content it produces isn't reliable, because large language models (LLMs) are mainly trained on non-compliant data.
- Since AI arrived, the accessibility error rate has been climbing (+10.1% in a year).
- And we shouldn't confuse access to a tool with mastery of a subject. Without accessibility knowledge, there's no way to tell whether the generated content actually meets the standards.
Accessibility is part of our responsibility as people who build digital services — just like security and quality. Those services should respect our diversity and our needs. And while I'd love empathy to be enough, I know it isn't always.
In this article, I offer a set of arguments to consider, in no particular order or ranking. It isn't exhaustive, but it answers most of the common misconceptions. Pick the ones that fit your context and the people you're talking to.
One word of caution: some of these arguments need handling with care, so they don't end up reinforcing ableist ideas. Accessibility isn't only about its benefits for non-disabled people, or about its profitability. Above all, it's a matter of justice and human rights for Disabled people.
A note for readers outside France: I write from a French, European perspective. The laws, figures and examples below vary from one country to another — do check what applies where you are.
When you're told "our users aren't Disabled"
We underestimate the number of Disabled people
Accessibility isn't a niche market. Around 87 million people in the European Union have some of disability — roughly one in four adults.
Most disabilities are invisible (or made invisible)
Most disabilities are invisible. Some examples:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Endometriosis
But let's not forget: without a diagnosis, there are no statistics. And some groups are diagnosed far less often — women, for instance, tend to mask their difficulties, which the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust describes as the single biggest factor behind their under-diagnosis.
At work, disability isn't always disclosed
In France, one in five disabled managers has no RQTH — the official "recognised disabled worker" status — often because they don't see the point. People also fear a change in how their managers treat them, and the administrative hassle.
Temporary situations count too
Disability isn't only permanent (ADHD, amputation, blindness, deafness, and so on). Over a lifetime, anyone can need an adjustment — an injury, surgery, a difficult birth, burn-out.
When you're told accessibility is expensive
In a capitalist society, it's normal for someone managing a budget to ask whether investing in accessibility will pay off. You can question the ethics of weighing human rights against return on investment (ROI), but you'll still need to give that person an answer. If they're judged on financial metrics, you'll need convincing arguments.
Don't underestimate the risks
Since June 2025, companies covered by the European Accessibility Act (EAA) face, if they're non-compliant:
- withdrawal of the service
- corrections to make immediately
- financial penalties
The directive applies to companies that employ at least 10 people, or have a turnover of more than €2 million, across banking, transport, electronic communications, technology products, e-commerce and entertainment media.
The penalties can be high
Under the EAA, an inaccessible private site can face penalty payments (astreintes) of up to €300,000. For more, I recommend Temesis's regularly updated summary of France's digital accessibility regulations.
Carrefour France was found liable in 2026 over the accessibility of its website and app: a court gave it six months to comply, with a penalty of €500 for each day of delay.
Ignoring the problem can be costly for the public
For an inaccessible public site, the penalty can reach €50,000, renewable after six months. The French State itself was found liable in 2024 over the inaccessibility of Pronote, the school-management platform used across the country.
Accessibility can deliver measurable ROI
Investing in accessibility has its upsides too. After redesigning its site to be accessible, the British insurer Legal & General reported:
- up to 50% more traffic,
- 66% lower maintenance costs,
- twice as many quotes in three months,
- full ROI within a year.
Accessibility strengthens quality and brand image
It helps you:
- improve the quality of your service
- stand out from competitors
- strengthen your reputation
Accessibility also improves team productivity
It helps you:
- give work a sense of purpose
- improve collaboration
- recruit diverse talent
When you're told accessibility ruins design
Among my designer colleagues, I sometimes sense frustration about accessibility. Seen as a technical constraint rather than an opportunity, it gets confused with artistic ambition versus experience design. Yet by putting clarity first, accessibility should never hold creativity back. I've also noticed this worry often comes from associating accessibility with screen readers alone.
Screen readers are essential for many people, but accessibility goes far beyond them. It covers a wide range of practices and tools that make digital experiences accessible.
It's not just about screen readers
It also means keyboard navigation, which helps when:
- you have reduced mobility or an injury,
- you've forgotten your mouse,
- your hands are full.
Contrast is essential
Check your colour combinations with the right tools.
Black on white, for example, is more legible than beige on white.
Good contrast keeps your content readable — especially for people with low vision.
Accessibility is enhanced UX
Apply the input-assistance guidance set out in the standards.
For example: guide people clearly so they can spot and fix an error in a form.
A well-built form is easier for everyone to complete.
Alt text is for everyone
Describe your images when they carry important information that isn't given elsewhere.
Describe your logo properly, for instance, and a screen reader user knows which site they're on.
And if the image fails to load, that description is there for everyone — with or without a screen reader.
Accessibility also improves your content
Take the time to annotate your mock-ups so you catch accessibility issues early.
Annotating heading levels, for example, can make you realise the text should be structured differently in the first place.
Well-structured content is clearer and easier to follow for all users.
Accessibility creates new uses
Many innovations were designed for disability before being adopted more widely — the "curb-cut effect":
- audiobooks (blindness),
- sunglasses (visual impairment),
- typewriters (blindness),
- texting (deafness).
When you're told it's too complicated and best left to experts
Accessibility isn't reserved for experts. It's a shared responsibility that runs through every part of digital work, from content to development. There are even things you can do without being a tech specialist.
Accessibility is also in the small details
Go easy on emojis in your content (texts, emails, websites). Here's how a text might sound when read aloud by VoiceOver:
"This red heart is red heart a red heart text red heart annoying."
Without emoji overload, your content is easier to understand for everyone, including screen reader users.
You can act on social media too
Describe your images, in the alt text or in the post itself. If you're sharing details of a gig, the date and venue shouldn't live only inside the image — otherwise screen reader users can't reach them.
Organise meetings everyone can join
Ask your participants which platform suits them best. Does it offer good-quality captions and a transcript, for instance? That lets Deaf and hard-of-hearing people, or people who find it hard to concentrate, take part on their own terms.
Good layout is already accessibility
Rather than formatting your text by hand, use the built-in features:
- headings
- lists
- block quotes
Your content will be better structured and easier to scan for everyone.
You don't need to be an expert to act
Every role can contribute:
- Legal → keep up with the regulations
- HR → train staff
- PM → prioritise accessibility
- UX → test with the people concerned
- UI → design legible interfaces
- Dev → use the right markup
- Audit → check compliance
Download the game
If you enjoyed this article, it also exists as a card game — currently in French only. There are two formats:
- A simple, print-at-home version to get started: 30 cards to print and cut out, plus a facilitation guide for a one-hour, in-person workshop (PDF and Word).
- A ready-to-run version on FigJam: 38 cards plus the guide, for groups of up to 20, in person or remotely — reusable as often as you like, with updates over time.
If you'd like an English edition, join the waitlist and I'll let you know when it's ready.