Googler Nicola Yap explains why tech designers should think of accessibility features as customization that benefits everyone. An earlier version of this article appeared on the Keyword blog.
As a technical writer at Google Cloud who has worked in this industry for over 20 years, technology has had a huge impact on my life. It led me to a job I love and keeps me connected to coworkers, friends, and family scattered around the world.
But it also helps me accomplish everyday tasks in ways many people don’t realize. I have aniridia, a rare eye condition in which the eyes are underdeveloped. Among other things, I am sensitive to light, have 20/200 vision that can’t be corrected with lenses or surgery, and my eyes twitch involuntarily.
Most people don’t realize the extent of my disability because I’m truemoney database largely independent. The challenges I regularly face are little things that most people take for granted. For example, I don’t have eye contact, which means I often miss nonverbal cues. And for me, crossing the street is like a real-world game of “Frogger.” Reading menus and shopping can be tricky. Navigating airports.
But I’ve used technology to create my own set of “life hacks.” I adjust the magnification of my view of a Google Doc during a meeting, which doesn’t change anyone else’s view. I zoom in on instructors during virtual dance classes. I regularly use keyboard shortcuts and predefined text snippets to work more productively. I do a lot of planning before trips and save key navigation information on Google Maps. I take photos of menus and labels so I can read them more closely on my phone.
Everyone benefits from disability-friendly design. But technologies that help mitigate the kinds of challenges I face don't just benefit me. They benefit everyone.
Accessibility features like dark mode, assistant, and live captions benefit everyone and improve their individual experiences when using certain products. They can also help people with permanent, situational, or temporary disabilities.
The positive effect of disability-friendly design on the broader population is known as the curb cut effect. A curb cut is a ramp built into a sidewalk that slopes down toward a street. Its primary purpose is to provide wheelchair access, but a curb cut helps many other people, including people who ride bikes, skateboards, or scooters, people who push strollers or pull wheeled luggage, and people who walk with canes or crutches. So while it was created to help people with disabilities, it actually helps many others.