By Mia Mingus
Accessibility is the most important aspect of web design. Without accessibility, the internet would be a nightmare to navigate and use. Accessibility, in general, is very important, especially when designing. In this article the writer talks about “access Intimacy”, referring to a feeling of comfort and understanding when someone's access needs are recognized and met by another person. It's not necessarily about political awareness or intellectual understanding of disability, but about a deep, often unspoken, recognition of what someone needs to feel at ease in their body and environment.
This form of intimacy is not one that I really ever thought about. So, it was interesting to read about how this person has developed to define this gaping hole in their relationships. It sounds like if access intimacy is done right; it's unnoticeable. A person's accessibility needs, whether physical, emotional, or mental, are met effortlessly and without friction or communication. I associate this notion with the design principle “good design goes unnoticed”. I thought about this principle a lot when reading “Web Design for Neurodiversity: Creating a more inclusive web”. A lot of the design suggestions to assist neurodiverse people are attributes that make looking at a web page more enjoyable for neurotypical people as well. Most people don't even think twice about typography, hierarchy, or color schemes, and that’s a good thing because we, designers, want people to be able to focus on the content rather than the design of a new article or blog post.