React and Framework Bloat
Several users expressed frustration with React and modern web frameworks in general, citing bloat and performance issues.
- vivzkestrel: "Unpopular opinion: React is an abomination. The websites made with react are an abomination. They are bloated as hell and the performance goes down the drain with every single one of them... we need a "No More React" day where everyone across the world gets up and picks as different framework even if means temporary losses in productivity. After all, the long term gains from lower bandwidth and data transfer and optimized load times far far outweigh the short term losses"
- skgough echoes this sentiment, noting that using native HTML elements leads to better composability and consistency compared to relying on React component libraries: "React projects often mix several component libraries together to make a comprehensive UI... When you use HTML primitives like inputs with associated labels, the new popover API, dialogs, details + summary elements, their behaviors are all made by the browser vendor and are designed to compose with each other."
The "Worth" of Accessibility: Morality vs. Business
A central theme revolves around the motivations for prioritizing accessibility, contrasting ethical obligations with the perceived financial costs and benefits. Some believe accessibility should be pursued regardless of immediate profit, while others acknowledge the harsh realities of business where accessibility is often seen as a begrudging concession.
- energywut expresses disappointment with the "it's just not worth it" attitude: "To me that's equivalent to saying, 'we know our system has bugs, but we only want our blind users to experience them'. It's just... such a downer of a way to look at the world."
- burningChrome notes the legal ramifications are forcing companies to take accessibility more seriously: "... now we're tasked with fixing them or else deal with the legal ramifications... I feel like the trend is finally starting to turn and companies are taking accessibility a lot more seriously now."
- However, typewithrhythm counters that the argument for accessibility is often artificially constructed: "it's still not worth it from a revenue or user acquisition perspective, it's just a risk from a potentially fickle government body."
- TeMPOraL argues that accessibility is often directly opposed to business interests: "Accessibility is actually opposite to what the business wants, and the combined cultural and (occasionally) legal backing it has is our last line of defense of user autonomy."
- TeMPOraL elaborates that accessibility enables users to bypass monetization strategies: "The same things that let the disabled people participate, also help regular users escape the very traps and tricks businesses on-line use to make money... Accessibility is the only thing that prevents the web from becoming Flash again, entirely unparseable through automated means."
- hiAndrewQuinn suggests a compatibility layer approach, where specialized accessibility software enhances existing programs, rather than imposing the cost of full accessibility on all developers: "There are a plethora of benefits to this model, not least that you aren't imposing a heavy tax on everyone else for a really small customer base."
- askew questions this perspective: "Seeing your disabled customers as a burden. One day you might encounter barriers when it comes to computing."
- hiAndrewQuinn clarifies: "Disabled potential customers, for one. Disabled people aren't dumb, and they don't pay for things they can't actually use... I genuinely think the compatibility layer approach is the much better option here."
The Importance of Education and Proactive Design
Several commenters highlight the need for better education around accessibility and integrating it into the development process from the start.
- ethin, who is disabled, emphasizes that accessibility is too often an afterthought: "Companies and individuals don't think about accessibility when designing software. It's from my experience always something that's bolted on after the fact (which only makes adding it in an order of magnitude more difficult)."
- ethin also criticizes the lack of education on accessibility: "Our education system doesn't teach people about this, in practically any capacity... An accessible world is better for everyone in pretty much every way."
- ChrisMarshallNY stresses the importance of developing the habit of writing accessible software: "In my experience, developing the habit of writing accessible software, substantially reduces the friction (and cost) involved in adding it."
- ChrisMarshallNY also warns against unrealistic planning: "In my experience, a realistic plan can save huge amounts of cost; in far more areas than just accessibility. Also in my experience: realistic plans are unicorns."
The Current State of Web Accessibility and Loss of Hope
One user expressed disillusionment with the progress of web accessibility, painting a bleak picture of its current state and the challenges faced by disabled individuals.
- lynx97, who is blind, shares a disheartening personal experience: "After that, web accessibility started to get worse and worse. These days, most of the modern web is inaccessible to people like me, only a handful of selected applications/sites do work, and the coridor is progressively getting more narrow... The digital divide is here, and nobody is really talking about it anymore, because, frankly, those 'in the know' have basically given up. Its a sad story. Capitalism is simply not willing to care for small minorities. Its a fact... which took me over 20 years to fully accept."
- lynx97 also pushed back on the idea of separate "ghetto systems": "Those have been tried decades ago... the translation layers you talk about are never going to be sufficient. You're just moving the problem."
The "Curb Cut Effect" and Universal Benefit
Some contributors pointed out the "curb cut effect," where accessibility improvements benefit everyone, not just those with disabilities. However, others argued that business incentives often work against this principle on the web.
- cyberlimerence: "A web version of curb cut effect, if you will. We all benefit from digital (and physical) accessibility."
- holowoodman: "When most or all of us benefit from "accessibility", then it isn't really accessibility. It is fixing a broken UI, period. Designers need to be shamed for not even providing a good enough UI for the average person, let alone disabled people."
- panstromek highlighted that what helps one group of people may conflict with another eg. tactile paving making it more difficult for wheelchair users
- TeMPOraL counters that businesses benefit from inaccessibility, monetizing attention through friction: "Your typical website is a maze the user is supposed to get a little lost in... Cutting curbs just tells them where to go and lets them do it with less effort, so they cut through the maze faster, and business loses money." However, panstromek challenges this claim, mentioning that removing friction increases revenue.