Beyond Barriers – An Accessibility Podcast

In this episode of Beyond Barriers, Jonathon Taylor shares his experience as an accessibility trainer. We touch upon the Shift Left Approach, the ambiguity that exists in WCAG conformance, solving for accessibility at the authorship level and at the user level, the possibility of universal solutions for all accessibility needs, and AI producing accessible code from the get-go. Jonathon also takes us through the different types of accessibility training—end-to-end training, self-guided approaches, collaborative and instructor-led training—and what the pros and cons of each of them are. He also gives his perspective on measuring the impacts of training, scaling, and concluding them. Watch Beyond Barriers on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WallyAX Timestamp: (1:20) : Journey Into Accessibility (2:24) : Life as an Accessibility Trainer (5:34) : Empowering those who are unaware of accessibility (7:10) : Shift Left Approach (9:00) : Types of Accessibility Training (18:26) : Ambiguity in WCAG conformance (22:08) : Universal Solution for all accessibility needs (28:02) : Using AI to produce accessible code (31:25) : Upgrade skill-set to suit a larger audience #AccessibilityMatters #DigitalAccessibility #A11Y #AccessibilityTraining #DisabilityInclusion #AccessibleTechnology

In this episode of Beyond Barriers, Nitika talks about accessibility incorporation in content. Be it interacting with end-users, writing Alt-Text, balancing the brand guidelines, or working with the design and development teams to ensure accessible experiences. She talks in specific about how she often uses resultant numbers like improved retention rate and bounce rate to convince people on the importance of accessibility—win-win for the company as well as the end-users. Watch Beyond Barriers on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WallyAX Timestamp: (00:00) : Introduction and Overview (03:10) : The Importance of Accessibility in Content and Design (08:12) : Balancing Accessibility with Brand Guidelines (11:20) : Measuring the Impact of Accessibility on User Engagement (24:29) : Accessibility as a Disruptor in the Industry (26:18) : The Role of Audits in Driving Accessibility (29:13) : Closing Thoughts #AccessibilityMatters #DigitalAccessibility #A11Y #AssistiveTechnology #CrossFunctionalTeams #DisabilityInclusion #AccessibleTechnology

In this episode of Beyond Barriers, Alex talks about how she creates user-centric designs every day. She touches upon designing for all user groups, finding the right user groups for testing, prioritizing accessibility when in competing priorities, and the eventual benefits of an accessible product. The conversation also explores the evolving role of accessibility in the public and private sectors, the importance of continuous learning, and the future of accessibility in the context of AI and machine learning. Alex also expresses a passion for physical product design and smart city technologies, drawing inspiration from Japan's public infrastructure. Watch Beyond Barriers on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WallyAX Timestamp: (00:00) : Journey into Accessibility: Challenges and Successes (07:21) : The Evolving Role of Accessibility (26:03) : Passion for Physical Product Design and Smart City Technologies #AccessibilityMatters #DigitalAccessibility #A11Y #AccessibleTechnology #InclusiveDesign #DisabilityInclusion #AccessibleDesign

In this episode of Beyond Barriers, Emily talks about how smartphones have accelerated the adoption of accessibility to support user preferences, program management at the enterprise level, how accessibility should be backward integrated and maintainable, how AI needs to be trained on disabilities, the lack of data for AI, and whether AI will take over the jobs of accessibility experts. Throughout the podcast, she shares real-life stories of how accessibility has been adopted over the years, including the many features that started out as accessibility features. We bet you haven't heard this anywhere else!  Watch Beyond Barriers on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WallyAX Timestamp: (00:00) : Introduction and Background (02:04) : Becoming an Accessibility Leader (06:10) : The Impact of Technology on Accessibility (09:08) : Compliance vs. Usability (10:31) : Training and Education in Accessibility (11:36) : The Holistic Approach to Accessibility (23:47) : Building a Multidisciplinary Accessibility Team (29:04) : The Role of AI in Accessibility (34:24) : Challenges and Opportunities of AI in Accessibility (36:26) : The Future of Accessibility and AI #AccessibilityMatters #DigitalAccessibility #A11Y #AssistiveTechnology #CrossFunctionalTeams #DisabilityInclusion #AccessibleTechnology

In this episode of Beyond Barriers, Shannon talks about having an accessibility strategy that follows the product lifecycle, the need for a cross-functional team that understands accessibility, the need for executive support to prioritize accessibility, and how not all accessibility can be achieved in the first release. She also expresses that she'll never compromise on testing her product without people with disabilities reviewing it. Finally, she also expresses her concern about products that are automated with AI without a human component involved in the process. Watch Beyond Barriers on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WallyAX Timestamp: (00:00) : Introduction to Accessibility and Guest Background (02:54) : Falling in Love with Accessibility (08:57) : The Role of Cross-Functional Teams (14:20) : Leadership Buy-In and Challenges (19:30) : The Impact of AI on Accessibility (25:15) : Passion for Promoting Accessibility#AccessibilityMatters #DigitalAccessibility #A11y #AssistiveTechnology #CrossFunctionalTeams #DisabilityInclusion #AccessibleTechnology #HumanCenteredAI

Stephanie is the Executive Director of National Disability Center for Student Success. In this episode of Beyond Barriers, Stephanie dives into the challenges of creating truly inclusive environments. She discusses gaps in accessibility training, cultural barriers, the need for deeper understanding of disability and ableism. Stephanie highlights issues like inaccessible assessments, limited support for employees with disabilities, and the importance of designing technology, such as AI, with inclusivity in mind. This conversation redefines accessibility as more than compliance—it's about fostering genuine inclusion for all.

Manny is the Senior UX Designer at IBM iX. In this episode of Beyond Barriers, Manny talks about integrating accessibility into the design process, the evolution of accessibility in web development, the challenges of implementing accessibility in projects, He also emphasizes the importance of framing accessibility issues in a way that resonates with business stakeholders. Along with discussing the future of accessibility, he speaks about the impact of AI in color contrast algorithms.

Amber is a Digital Resources Specialist with Instructional Resources Service at UW-Stout. In this episode of Beyond Barriers, Amber talks about the shift to digital-only textbooks, the challenges of implementing and scaling accessibility programs, and the need for a more proactive approach to accommodations. She talks about the importance of day one accessibility, and how she has applied accessibility to various projects.

Giorgio is the Vice President and Head of Engineering at Opaque Systems. In this episode of Beyond Barriers, Giorgio talks about the need for investment in accessibility and the lack of representation of people with disabilities in organizations. He also talks about a few success stories from his career, while sharing his thoughts on the biggest disruptions in accessibility.

Daniela is a senior digital experience strategist at AKQA. In this episode of Beyond Barriers, Daniela talks about the importance of empathy and inclusivity, the challenges of scaling accessibility programs, and the need for accessibility understanding and education. She also highlights the impact of social disruption, the role of AI in making accessibility more accessible, and the importance of maintaining the human element in accessibility efforts.