In this episode of Beyond Barriers, Brian is joined by Michaël Vanderheyden, a seasoned accessibility specialist and internal champion, to explore what it takes to scale accessibility across global teams. Michaël shares his two-decade journey from building WCAG 1 compliant web apps in 2004 to leading accessibility initiatives inside one of Germany’s largest tech organizations.

Together, they dive into the evolution of accessibility, from retrofitting complex communication software to embedding accessibility into the development process from day one. Michaël discusses how to turn accessibility awareness into company wide practice, how to mentor developers and designers, and why accessibility and usability are inseparable. The conversation also covers the growing impact of the EU Accessibility Act, the challenges of legacy codebases, and how small, consistent improvements can transform both products and culture.

Tune in for an insightful discussion filled with practical advice, real world lessons, and inspiration for anyone working to make digital experiences more inclusive.

Watch Beyond Barriers on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WallyAX

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction to Accessibility Challenges(06:31) The Passion Behind Accessibility(12:22) Challenges in Scaling Accessibility Strategies(19:19) The Evolution of Accessibility Practices(24:26) Disruptions in the Accessibility Space(30:50) The Importance of Basic Accessibility Understanding

#BeyondBarriersPodcast #DigitalAccessibility #A11y #WCAG #AccessibilityStrategies #Inclusive

In this episode of Beyond Barriers, Brian sits down with front-end developer Michał Madejsk to explore how developers can shift their perspective on accessibility. Michał shares how a simple exercise of “closing his eyes” while navigating the web changed his approach, and why designing with accessibility in mind from the start is far easier than retrofitting later.

They discuss lessons from government projects, the importance of context and clear communication for users, and how leaders can align accessibility with business goals. The conversation also covers third-party accessibility tools, the widget vs. native solution debate, and how AI is reshaping accessibility implementation.

Watch Beyond Barriers on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WallyAX

Timestamps:
(00:00) Introduction
(01:14) Michał’s early perspective on accessibility
(03:25) The “close your eyes” moment that changed everything
(06:24) Startups, speed, and skipping accessibility
(07:47) Why decision-makers must be part of the conversation
(14:22) Lessons from government projects and user context
(17:45) The role of third-party accessibility tools
(20:35) Changing methods of digital interaction
(22:51) Balancing context, semantics, and usability
(27:55) Practical tools and first steps for developers
(33:02) The widget debate: quick fix vs. code remediation
(35:47) Why native accessibility improves UX and SEO
(38:34) Michał’s closing thoughts: accessibility as future-proofing

#BeyondBarriersPodcast #DigitalAccessibility #A11y #WCAG #InclusiveDesign #UX #FrontendDevelopment

In this episode of Beyond Barriers, Brian is joined by Alyssa Holland, a seasoned front-end developer and accessibility advocate, to dive into the realities of building accessible digital products. Alyssa shares her journey from discovering accessibility at a higher-ed company to becoming a subject-matter expert and course creator.

Together, they discuss the challenges of introducing accessibility into legacy codebases, educating teams, and getting stakeholder buy-in. Alyssa also highlights the importance of design systems, the ARIA Authoring Practices Guide, and how component libraries can make accessibility a default rather than an afterthought. The conversation explores how developers can "plant seeds" for change within their organizations, incremental strategies to improve existing apps, and exciting efforts like OpenUI that are raising the baseline for accessible development.

Tune in for an insightful and practical conversation that blends education, empathy, and hands-on strategies for creating inclusive experiences.

Watch Beyond Barriers on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WallyAX

Timestamps:(00:00) Introduction(01:10) Alyssa’s journey into accessibility(02:32) How company culture shaped her accessibility mindset(04:03) Learning React and accessible component patterns(07:05) Leveraging design systems for accessibility gains(09:42) Teaching others: Alyssa’s accessibility course(11:45) How she stays up to date with accessibility standards(12:58) Challenges with stakeholder buy-in and timelines(15:33) Incremental improvements in legacy codebases(18:10) Personal challenges balancing accessibility and deadlines(19:31) Educating teams and leading by example(21:33) Shifting the culture from design to development(26:24) Disruptions to watch: OpenUI and elevating the baseline(29:30) Alyssa’s next chapter and final thoughts

#BeyondBarriersPodcast #DigitalAccessibility #A11y #WCAG #AccessibilityStrategies #InclusiveDesign