Why Accessibility Matters for Everyone

Imagine playing a game, but each time you go to the next level, the screen gets blurrier, or trying to watch a funny video, but the sound is so quiet you miss the best parts. Pretty annoying, right?

That’s what some people deal with every day online—it’s like a game that’s harder to play or a video that’s tough to enjoy, just because of how it’s set up!

Now imagine if every game and website was made for everyone—no matter their age, tools, or abilities. That’s Accessibility (A11y, pronounced ally)!

The Ally Cats are on a mission to make sure everyone can enjoy the digital world. As you read, you’ll discover how they solve small problems that make a huge difference. Ready to join them and see how accessibility makes life better for all? Let’s go!

Meet the Ally Cats

The Meaning Behind Their Names

The Ally Cats are a team of friends with special talents that make the digital world easier for everyone. And their names? They give a hint about what each cat does!

Illustration of Perceivable Perci, a friendly cartoon cat with big eyes, brown fur, and glow.

Perci makes things Perceivable, helping everyone see or hear content. She makes sure pictures have descriptions, videos have captions, and colors are easy to read.

Illustration of Operable Ollie, a cartoon cat with gray fur, big eyes, brown hair, and glow.

Ollie keeps websites Operable, making sure they work with keyboards, mice, or even voices. Ollie ensures everyone can navigate websites smoothly.

Illustration of Understandable Una, a friendly cat with gray fur, amber eyes, and glow.

Una helps make content Understandable, keeping things simple so no one gets confused. He makes sure instructions are clear and buttons are easy to understand.

Illustration of Robust Raffi, a cartoon cat with orange fur, green eyes, and glow.

Raffi keeps things Robust, so websites work on any device, from new to old. Raffi’s job is to make the digital world strong and flexible.

Together, they follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)—a helpful guide that shows them how to make websites welcoming for all!

Why Focus on These Principles?

The Ally Cats work hard to make the digital world fun and easy for everyone by following the P.O.U.R. principles—Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust. These ideas help solve some of the biggest problems online, and the WebAIM 1 Million Report shows why they’re essential!

Each year, experts check one million websites, finding the same issues again and again. But most are easily fixed!

For instance, Perci helps with contrast, addressing poor color choices that make text hard to read. The report shows 86.1% of sites have this issue, yet it’s a simple fix! Ollie tackles Operable, ensuring sites work with keyboards; 60.1% have keyboard traps that block users who can’t use a mouse. Una makes sites Understandable by fixing unlabeled forms, which show up on 53.8% of sites. And Raffi keeps sites Robust, making them work on all devices.

The Ally Cats show that with small changes, the web can be accessible and enjoyable for all!