As someone who navigates the world with a visual impairment, my radar is almost permanently tuned to find accessibility gaps. It’s a necessary survival skill, but it also means I sometimes get so caught up in looking for what's wrong that I miss the brilliance that’s right under my nose—or, in this case, literally clamped to my ears.
I'm talking about my trusty over-the-ear headphones. They've been my constant companions for what feels like a geological epoch. Through thousands of hours of podcasts, music, and audiobooks, my thumb has probably traced over a tiny bump on the left earcup a million times. I always wrote it off as a meaningless bit of plastic texture, a harmless artifact from the design mold. Just another random set of dots. Lots of products have them, and most of the time, they are definitely not Braille.
Then, the other day, during a quiet moment, I paused and really felt it. Dot 1, Dot 2, Dot 3. A perfect, unmistakable Braille "l". The realization hit me like a misplaced piece of furniture. For years, I'd been wearing this brilliantly simple accessibility feature without even acknowledging it was there! The irony was so thick you could spread it on toast. Here I am, a blogger who writes about accessibility, who works on accessibility, completely oblivious to a feature designed specifically for me on a device I use daily. It was a hilarious and humbling reminder that while I'm out scanning the world for failures, sometimes the victories are sitting right there, waiting to be noticed.
Beyond the Braille "L": Other Accessibility Superstars
This "aha!" moment sent me on a quest to notice other unsung heroes of built-in accessibility. And let me tell you, once you start looking, you see them everywhere! Here are just a few examples.
Remember that shampoo bottle with the raised "S" that I wrote about a while back? No more guessing games in the shower, blindly fumbling to distinguish between shampoo and conditioner. It's a simple, elegant solution that prevents daily frustration for countless individuals.
Think about the little raised dot on the number 5 key of phones with tactile buttons, or on some letters on the keyboard. It's not just for aesthetics; it's a tactile anchor that helps you orient your fingers without having to look, a massive benefit for touch typists and those with visual impairments.
Even something as seemingly mundane as the tactile bumps on sidewalk corners or on train platforms are accessibility wins! Many people think they're there to guide you across the street, but their primary job is even more critical: they're a warning sign. Those truncated domes under your feet or at the tip of your cane shout, "Stop! You've reached the edge of the sidewalk or platform and are about to put yourself in danger." It’s a deliberately designed feature that provides a crucial safety alert, preventing people from unknowingly stepping into the path of traffic, or falling on the tracks.
And what about the raised arrows on some medicine and vitamin bottles. They aren’t there for decoration, they help a person like me get the same information about how to align the cap to open that bottle.
These examples, big and small, demonstrate that accessibility doesn't always have to be a grand, revolutionary overhaul. Sometimes, it's about thoughtful, deliberate design choices that are seamlessly integrated into everyday products and environments, making life a little easier, a little more intuitive, and a lot more inclusive for everyone.
A Call to Action: Celebrate the Wins!
Yes, it's vital to continue advocating for a more accessible world and to highlight the areas where we fall short. But let's also make a conscious effort to notice and celebrate the accessibility wins. When you spot a clever design that makes a difference, share it! Tweet about it, post it on your blog, tell your friends. By acknowledging these successes, we not only show appreciation for the designers and manufacturers who prioritize inclusion, but we also inspire others to think more accessibly in their own work.
Let's make a habit of looking for those deliberate, often subtle, features that enhance our experience. Because sometimes, the most impactful changes are hiding in plain sight, waiting to be appreciated.
All views expressed in this post are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of my employer.
This post was written with the help of Google's Gemini, for better readability, clarity, and brevity.
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