The mantra “progress over perfection” is often uttered in the context of accessibility and inclusion. While this sentiment encourages movement and action, I feel the better approach is to strive for “progress towards perfection.”
That one-word change is about two things:
1. “Progress over perfection” implies that any progress is good progress; if progress stops, as long as any progress has been made, that’s OK.
2. “Progress towards perfection” never loses sight of the goal that full equity is where we want to be.
Accessibility is a program, not a project. No one’s accessibility will ever be perfect, and “progress towards perfection” better reflects that.
What does progress towards perfection look like?
More Than Crumbs: People with disabilities are entitled to more than just crumbs—they deserve the whole cake that everyone else gets. Accessibility isn’t a “nice to have”; it’s a fundamental civil right. Striving for perfection increases the chance of obtaining equal access to opportunities and experiences for all.
Iterative Enhancement: Constantly review and improve accessibility features. Small, incremental changes add up to significant progress. Ensuring accessibility is considered in all future products and services helps keep accessibility debt from accumulating.
Holistic Approach: Consider all aspects of accessibility—physical, digital, and cultural.
Community Engagement: Listen to and collaborate with people with disabilities, not just their families, caregivers, or social workers. The insights achieved through lived experience are invaluable to all journeys towards equity for any underrepresented community.By embracing “progress towards perfection,” we challenge ourselves and our organizations to never stop improving. This mindset drives innovation, fosters true inclusion, and ensures no one is excluded.
Alt: progress over perfection is not enough. Progress towards perfection should be the goal.