Digital Accessibility Experts

Hosted by Hassell Inclusion

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Oct 2026

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About the show

Whether you call it Inclusive Design or Digital Accessibility, whether you're an individual with a passion or an organisation wanting to know more, this podcast explores a range of topics on accessibility. Hosted by Jonathan Hassell, its aim is to share inspiration, expertise, and hints and tips to help speed you on your digital accessibility journey. For our most up-to-date insights, join us for our free monthly webinar - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/digital-accessibility-experts-live-registration-111949261254?aff=Podcast

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52 recent

October 14, 202653 min

All the questions you wanted to ask during GAAD – but didn’t get the chance

Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) sparks many important conversations about accessibility. But once the awareness day is over, the practical questions begin. Questions like: Where should we start? How do we get leadership to care? How do we secure budget? What should we focus on when resources are tight? How is AI changing accessibility? How do we hold suppliers accountable for accessibility? How do we challenge misconceptions about accessible design? In this special ‘Ask Us Anything’ session, Jonathan Hassell and consultants from Hassell Inclusion answer these questions submitted by attendees and share practical advice based on the challenges organisations are facing right now. As one attendee commented afterwards: “Hugely helpful thank you!”If you’re trying to make progress with accessibility in the reality of your organisation, we hope you’ll find the conversation useful. This audio was originally recorded as a webinar. You can access the video recording of the webinar, and its transcript here: https://hassellinclusion.com/webinars/all-the-questions-you-wanted-to-ask-during-gaad-but-didnt-get-the-chance/ Access it for free by registering on HiHub (https://www.hassellinclusion.com/webinars/) which will also give you access to recordings of all our past webinars, and keep you updated on upcoming webinars.

September 14, 202656 min

Accessible Events & Meetings

Making events and meetings accessible for all is something we’re asked about again and again. Whether it’s a team meeting, a webinar, a workshop in your offices, or a large conference, ensuring people with disabilities can fully participate isn’t optional. But, in practice, it’s not always clear what “accessible” really means – or where to start. In this session we explore how to make your in-person, hybrid and digital meetings and events accessible. We look at: Who needs accessible events, and what are the cost-benefits of meeting their needs? How to assess and choose accessible venues Making pre-event communications, presentations, and recordings accessible Ensuring inclusive interactions in meetings and events This audio was originally recorded as a webinar. You can access the video recording of the webinar, and its transcript, here: https://hassellinclusion.com/webinars/accessible-events-meetings/ Access it for free by registering on HiHub (https://www.hassellinclusion.com/webinars/) which will also give you access to recordings of all our past webinars, and keep you updated on upcoming webinars.

August 14, 202656 min

Help! Accessibility is going in the wrong direction where I work. What can I do about it?

In the current business climate, continuing accessibility progress can feel uncertain in many organisations. Budgets are tighter. Priorities are shifting. And, in some cases, the momentum that once existed around accessibility is starting to slow – or even move backwards. You might be seeing signs of this where you work: accessibility no longer feels like a priority to your leaders; they want it to be as cheap as possible; so responsibility sits with one person, without good tools or the support needed to make change happen. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. In this session, we explore the business reasons why this is happening. And, more importantly, the mindset change you need to make to help your stakeholders understand that accessibility can be part of the route to your organisation’s business goals, so its costs can result in the sort of Return on Investment that gains funding. We looked at how to turn around your stakeholders’ mindsets in 5 key areas: Stakeholders keep on changing their mind about accessibility, based on whether there’s any new legislation They think accessibility is now ‘done’ so we can focus on something else, rather than understanding work needs to continue They think it’s just about ‘compliance’, when that won’t give us much Return on Investment They want to do accessibility the cheapest way, buying the cheapest audits or tools, when that just makes my job harder They think I can do accessibility all on my own, when I need other people to get it into processes Here we give you practical, realistic ways to move forward – even when the environment around you feels challenging. This audio was originally recorded as a webinar. You can access the video recording of the webinar, and its transcript, here: https://hassellinclusion.com/webinars/help-accessibility-is-going-in-the-wrong-direction-where-i-work-what-can-i-do-about-it/ Access it for free by registering on HiHub (https://www.hassellinclusion.com/webinars/) which will also give you access to recordings of all our past webinars, and keep you updated on upcoming webinars.

July 14, 2026Episode 4856 min

Document Accessibility in 2026

Building on our 2025 webinar, Creating Accessible Documents, this session moves the conversation forward. In 2026, evolving legislation, growing scrutiny, and rising expectations mean organisations must think more strategically about their documents and alternative formats. It’s no longer just about fixing PDFs. It’s about governance, legal risk, user experience – and increasingly, the intelligent use of AI. In this webinar, we explore: How AI can support document testing and help users interact more effectively with content What new and evolving standards and legislation mean for your documents Why documents matter in the user journey, and how to ensure they support, rather than block, accessibility How to choose the right format, when PDFs are appropriate, and when another format is the better option You’ll also see recent legal challenges involving inaccessible documents, a practical case study on reducing reliance on PDFs and a clear, guide to improving document accessibility across your organisation. This audio was originally recorded as a webinar. You can access the video recording of the webinar, and its transcript, here:https://www.hassellinclusion.com/webinars/document-accessibility-in-2026/ Access it for free by registering on HiHub (https://www.hassellinclusion.com/webinars/) which will also give you access to recordings of all our past webinars, and keep you updated on upcoming webinars.

June 14, 2026Episode 4755 min

What you need to know about Accessibility Trends in 2026

Each year, digital accessibility evolves – new technologies emerge, regulations shift, and organisations adapt to rising expectations from customers, employees, and stakeholders. 2025 was no different, with accessibility continuing to move higher up the business agenda, alongside debates on the role of AI, the impact of new devices, and the importance of embedding accessibility into product delivery processes to make it more affordable. So what does all this mean for 2026? What changes should you expect in the year ahead, and how can your organisation prepare to respond? In this webinar, our CEO Jonathan Hassell looked back at what we learned in 2025 and shared his perspectives on the key accessibility trends he sees as shaping 2026; all from the perspective of the opportunities and threats for companies delivering websites, apps, SaaS, self-service terminals, kiosks and ATMs.It’s essential viewing if you want to stay ahead of the curve, and understand how the direction of accessibility in 2026 will impact your organisation. This audio was originally recorded as a webinar. You can access the video recording of the webinar, and its transcript, here:https://www.hassellinclusion.com/webinars/what-you-need-to-know-about-accessibility-trends-in-2026/ Access it for free by registering on HiHub (https://www.hassellinclusion.com/webinars/) which will also give you access to recordings of all our past webinars, and keep you updated on upcoming webinars.

May 14, 2026Episode 4656 min

Accessible by Design: Building Better from the Start

Too often, accessibility is treated as something to be delivered in code or fixed during testing. But by then, it’s usually too late, too costly, and too inefficient to deliver well. True accessibility begins much earlier – in the tools we use in design, how we choose components, and how inclusive practices are embedded across the entire delivery pipeline. In this webinar, we explore how organisations can make accessibility part of their digital delivery process, with a focus on efficiency, scalability, and long-term impact. Our experts share practical approaches, tools, and frameworks that help teams bake accessibility into every stage, from requirements to design, through coding, testing and launch.This webinar recording will tell you: How design systems and component libraries can drive consistency and reduce accessibility issues The tools that help automate accessibility assessments in Figma How embedding accessibility decision logs in Confluence can align teams and document their progress/li> The role of AI in accessibility testing – what it can (and can’t) do, and why manual testing remains essential Whether you’re a designer, developer, tester, or product owner, this session will show you how embedding accessibility upfront makes delivery more efficient and cost-effective – while building better, more inclusive experiences for everyone. This audio was originally recorded as a webinar. You can access the video recording of the webinar and its transcript here: https://www.hassellinclusion.com/webinars/accessible-by-design-building-better-from-the-start/ Access it for free by registering on HiHub (https://www.hassellinclusion.com/webinars/) which will also give you access to recordings of all our past webinars, and keep you updated on upcoming webinars.

April 14, 2026Episode 4554 min

What you need to know about the links between AI and Accessibility for 2026

In the year since our last webinar on AI & accessibility a lot has changed. AI technologies and tools are constantly developing, regulations for greater transparency and inclusion in how AIs are trained have arrived, every brand wants to get their content in AI summaries, and people are asking if making web content more accessible will help. This webinar recording will tell you what you need to know in advance of 2026: Tips for using AI to deliver content accessibility – the prompts you need to ensure accuracy and purpose in AI alt-text and audio description How content accessibility can help get your brand into AI search results The growing prevalence and impact of agentic AI on accessibility Why ensuring AI is inclusive is key to delivering accessible experiences for everyone, and staying on the right side of AI legislation This audio was originally recorded as a webinar. You can access the video recording of the webinar and its transcript here: https://www.hassellinclusion.com/webinars/how-to-craft-a-strategic-accessibility-plan-that-gets-funded/ Access it for free by registering on HiHub (https://www.hassellinclusion.com/webinars/) which will also give you access to recordings of all our past webinars, and keep you updated on upcoming webinars.

March 14, 2026Episode 4457 min

How to Craft a Strategic Accessibility Plan That Gets Funded

What’s your game-plan for digital accessibility for 2026? If your ambition’s bigger than your budget, you’re not alone. Many teams struggle to turn good intentions into funded actions, and with new regulations and rising expectations, it’s more important than ever to work to maximise your budget, and spend it in the right places. This webinar will equip you to speak the language of leadership to shape a strategy that unlocks investment for accessibility initiatives that deliver real impact – our Chief Product Office, Peter Bricknell covered: How to align accessibility with your organisation’s strategic priorities – positioning your plan as essential, not optional Making the business case for accessibility – showing how inclusive design drives competitive advantage and customer trust Identifying high-visibility wins – actions that will deliver measurable results and make accessibility tangible Building a standards-driven roadmap – leveraging ISO 30071-1, the European Accessibility Act, and frameworks from Canada and France to craft a world-class strategy. If your goal is to move from good intentions to real impact in 2026, this is a great place to start – it will help you develop a plan that aligns with your organisations values, unlocks funding, and achieves results. This audio was originally recorded as a webinar. You can access the video recording of the webinar, and its transcript, here: https://www.hassellinclusion.com/webinars/how-to-craft-a-strategic-accessibility-plan-that-gets-funded/ Access it for free by registering on HiHub (https://www.hassellinclusion.com/webinars/) which will also give you access to recordings of all our past webinars, and keep you updated on upcoming webinars.

February 14, 2026Episode 4359 min

Now we’re past the EAA Deadline – What should you do now?

The EAA’s June 2025 deadline wasn’t the end of the accessibility work organisations need to do. It wasn’t even the beginning of that end. But it was maybe the end of the beginning for many companies. If you’re a company who hasn’t reached the compliance level, what can you do to avoid panicking and encourage the official Monitoring Organisations from each EU Member State (or disability organisations using the same legislation to bring lawsuits, like is happening already in France) to look at other companies to fine before they focus their fines on you? If you’re a company who’ve reached the necessary level of compliance, what should you do now to ensure you remain compliant, and actually win more business because of the accessibility you’ve achieved? In this webinar we guided companies through the steps they need to put in place to minimise their risks and maximise their opportunities from the EAA. This audio was originally recorded as a webinar. You can access the video recording of the webinar, and its transcript, here: https://www.hassellinclusion.com/webinars/now-were-past-the-eaa-deadline-what-should-you-do-now/ Access it for free by registering on HiHub (https://www.hassellinclusion.com/webinars/) which will also give you access to recordings of all our past webinars, and keep you updated on upcoming webinars.

January 14, 2026Episode 4257 min

Everything you wanted to know about Accessibility. Live Q&A with Jonathan Hassell

Every year we invite you to ask our CEO Jonathan Hassell to answer your accessibility questions. With 25 years of experience in accessibility, at technical and strategic levels, Jonathan can answer almost anything accessibility related.Whether you’re leading digital, designing experiences, running research, or driving inclusion, there are great, practical insights here in his answers to the trickiest questions from our webinar community: Best practices when asking customers about their access needs or vulnerability How to approach create alt-text for complex charts you didn’t create Where to start when accessibility isn’t your full-time role What aspects of accessibility it’s best to focus on when building your career in accessibility How to identify small, high-impact fixes to prove the value of accessibility Handling conflicts between accessibility and other business priorities (like the accessibility of banner adverts or legal language) Is AI the answer to all accessibility problems? – What it’s good at, and what it isn’t How to deal with vendors who have no roadmap to making the tool you want to procure accessible What’s the best/cheapest way to maintain the accessibility of a website? This audio was originally recorded as a webinar. You can access the video recording of the webinar, and its transcript, here: https://www.hassellinclusion.com/webinars/accessibility-in-marketing-the-opportunities-and-3-key-challenges/ Access it for free by registering on HiHub (https://www.hassellinclusion.com/webinars/) which will also give you access to recordings of all our past webinars, and keep you updated on upcoming webinars.