Signal #001 – What never gets said never gets built
Signal to notice
Notice whether digital accessibility is ever mentioned when work is planned or discussed. When something is never named, it remains invisible by default. When was the last time accessibility appeared in a digital conversation?
What this signal reveals
Planning conversations move fast. Priorities are set. Risks are weighed. Timelines are negotiated. Decisions are made based on what feels urgent, familiar, or proven. In those moments, attention naturally goes to what has caused problems before and what might slow things down now. Accessibility often does not enter these discussions at all. Not because it was rejected or deprioritized, but because it was never considered. When something is never named, it has no way to influence direction. It cannot shape scope, ownership, or expectations. Decisions move forward without it, and the absence goes unnoticed. This is how accessibility barriers are created without intent. When teams rely on habit and precedent, they assume existing approaches work for everyone. Accessibility remains outside the conversation, and therefore outside responsibility. Until it is named, it stays invisible, even as its impact grows.
Accessibility is not recognized as a leadership or organizational concern and is absent from digital decision-making.
What this usually indicates
- Accessibility is not considered in digital decisions
- Planning relies on habit, precedent, or speed
- Responsibility for accessibility is undefined or nonexistent
Related signals you may notice
- Accessibility is rarely discussed or acknowledged
- Digital tools contain significant, unintentional barriers
- Employees adapt quietly rather than expecting change
What to pay attention to next
Whether accessibility is named at all when digital work is being planned or discussed.
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About Denis Boudreau
Denis Boudreau is a consultant, trainer, and speaker specializing in digital accessibility and disability inclusion. He works with organizational leaders who want to equip their teams with the skills to create accessible websites and digital products – so no one is left behind. A Certified Professional in Web Accessibility (CPWA), Denis has trained thousands of web professionals over the past 20+ years and delivered hundreds of workshops in both English and French. He has helped leading brands like Netflix, Salesforce, and Victoria’s Secret embed accessibility into their digital strategies, empowering them to meet legal obligations, improve user experience, and connect with more people, more effectively.