I’ve been advocating for accessibility (a11y) since 2003, when I was a QA tester. And since then, I’ve carried my skills forward in the roles I’ve had, teams I’ve worked with, and communities I’ve fostered.
Designing and implementing accessibility isn’t always easy, but it’s like solving a puzzle. With designers and engineers, I frame accessibility around how it’s not a burden, but a challenge. How might we provide accessible equivalents without impacting the broader user experience?
In addition to designing things with accessibility in mind, I’ve also:
- Created strategies for including accessibility into products
- Created a curriculum and program for an enterprise design org to level up accessibility in our design process
- Facilitated several accessible design workshops
- Hosted Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) events
- Created a Skillshare class on accessibility
I hope by making accessibility less daunting, more people can make it part of their design and implementation process.
Interpreting and implementing accessibility standards
I’m often the go-to accessibility expert in my organizations, advocating for accessibility across product teams. I enjoy working closely with designers, engineers, and PMs to create pragmatic, accessible solutions.
My experience spans both tactical details and high-level strategies, and I tailor my approach depending on the role.
Product designer approach
As a designer, I start by identifying the user’s goals and outlining high-level accessibility needs. I collaborate with designers to develop guidelines that clarify accessible interactions, helping them understand the interaction model. Then, I scour the WCAG documentation to find the essentials for engineers. I love digging into this because it’s like solving a mystery or complex puzzle.
Once I identify what’s needed, I’ll collaborate with engineering. We’ll discuss the feasibility of implementation, risks, and mitigation strategies. For tricky elements, we might have a pairing session where we code and test solutions until we get things accessible.
DesignOps manager approach
In a DesignOps role, I gauge team capabilities and understand organizational goals. I often develop a learning program to bring teams up to speed, drawing from my experience teaching accessibility. This might involve creating original content or using existing resources.
To scale efforts, I establish accessibility champions within teams to mentor peers. And I put a heavy focus on embedding accessibility into our processes to make it second nature.
Accessibility subject matter expert (SME)
As an accessibility SME, I often feel like the “accessibility whisperer”—adapting my approach to each person’s knowledge level. My goal is to demystify accessibility standards, helping teams prioritize and implement accessible solutions without feeling overwhelmed, enabling steady progress.
Some highlights from my accessibility work
I’m happy to provide more in-depth examples. In the meantime, here are some highlights.
A review from my Skillshare class
Amazing! I work as a front end developer and I’m positively sure I’ll use knowledge gained in practise at work. It’s just a very good course, engaging, helping to understand and sympathise with people who rely on assistive technologies. In addition, Michelle has a very pleasant voice which makes the class all the more enjoyable.
A GAAD webinar I hosted in 2024
A lightning talk on Accessible Design
I gave this 10-minute lightning talk as part of a Triangle UXPA event. So many people focus on checking boxes on a list, but truly accessible experiences keep humans in mind. ❤️