I have seen it (too) many times – new page / feature is required and it needs to be done fast. So what to do? Well couldn’t we just use existing code / component, tweak it a bit and deploy?
Works great with tight budgets, works great with short deadlines. Can also work great in general.
If…
If the initial code / component was accessible, that is.
Otherwise – the more you re-use inaccessible code / components, the more accessibility debt you introduce to your website / product.
So make sure – I can not emphasize this enough – that the original code / component is accessible, tested and verified – before you re-use it in new contexts. And in case you are maybe forced to go against common sense and copy & paste it instead of import from central source, then beware even more. If you had one inaccessible component before you now have two and the more they differ, the more debt you have inherited.
So – accessibility from start, test early and do not forget about the neighboring code / components as well.
