Small wins, big impact: Accessible design isn’t all-or-nothing

Accessibility isn’t just a nice-to-have - it’s essential if you want your website to actually serve the people it’s meant for. And while the payoff is worth it when everyone can use what you’ve built, the task can feel daunting, especially for teams with limited time and resources. 

When I first logged into Silktide, I felt intimidated by how many checks there were to understand. A long list of accessibility issues stared back at me, and I remember thinking, “Where do I even start?” It felt like a huge mountain to climb, especially as I started digging into the WCAG 2.2 guidelines and the interpretations of each criteria.

What surprised me most was realising that accessibility isn’t always about following a strict set of rules. The “right” way often depends on what you’re building and who you’re building it for. It’s not about perfection - it’s about iterative progress. That shift in mindset made all the difference for me.

Instead of trying to tackle everything at once, I started with things I could easily understand and control - alt text, colour contrast, semantically correct use of headings and so on. It wasn’t perfect, but our Silktide score started to go up. Was I making ground-breaking changes? No. Was I making things a little bit better for our users with each fix? Absolutely.

Those small wins build momentum and confidence. They inevitably lead to bigger projects where more complex issues get solved. You get used to using tools to help you, and before you know it you’re recognising potential non-compliance without them.

Breaking down the barriers to action

Many teams are under-resourced and under-funded. But realistically, you don’t need a big budget or expensive tools. What you do need is a few hours a week, empathy and a willingness to learn. Free browser plugins like the Silktide accessibility checker, or the Colour contrast checker can help to point you in the right direction. 

Keep things simple. If you know anyone with access needs, ask them what single change would make the most difference to them. You might be surprised how much impact one adjustment, like clearer labels or improved focus states, can have. I’m a big advocate for using platforms like YouTube and TikTok to learn. People all over the world are sharing their expertise and lived experiences - it’s an incredible wealth of information at your fingertips.

What’s worked for me

One thing I quickly started to notice was that considering accessibility earlier in the process makes everything a lot easier. Over time, it’s completely shifted my approach to designing features and interactions. Catching non-compliance in the design and prototyping stages not only saves a lot of work down the line but spares your users from avoidable frustration. 

Creating a habit of regular testing has also been invaluable. I use Silktide as my main tool (though I don’t recommend relying solely on automated tools - but that’s a topic for another blog post). I dedicate one day per sprint to tackling outstanding checks, focusing on areas where I can make the most impact. I also export our scores so I can easily track where issues are recurring or being resolved. It’s a simple system, but it’s helped me stay consistent and measure progress over time.

Remember, even small changes can make a meaningful difference to users. If you can’t do it all, do something. However small it feels, it all adds up.