The hidden benefits of Accessibility
We share a lot of found things around the office—videos, memes, quotes — all fair game. So when this YouTube short came across one of our Teams’ threads it captured my attention. First, because the subject’s voice just doesn’t sound real. Second, and more importantly, it was about how an accessible feature many take for granted helped him live his dream.
Watch the video then come back. I’ll wait.
Not just table stakes.
While we do a lot of accessible work on websites and other digital experiences, it’s easy to think about accessibility as only about allowing more people access to information. That it’s about the bigger picture, the greater good, and the larger audience. All true, but it’s so much more.
The reach of text-to-speech
While typical people use text-to-speech to read text messages while driving or announce appointments—make no mistake, text-to-speech is very much an accessibility feature that is far more beneficial than just saving time on the commute. It can enable things that were previously not possible.
In the video, we learn that text-to-speech was the linchpin to pursuing a career path he would not have been able to do due to his loss of sight. It’s clear that he has the talent and skill to do that career, but without text-to-speech, either he’d need another person to help him or never achieve that goal at all.
This video perfectly showcases an accessible feature that typical folks take for granted — but one that can not only enhance someone’s life, but make their dreams possible.
