Role
Accessibility Advocate, ASSA ABLOY
Scope
Organization-wide Accessibility Strategy
Certification
CPACC (IAAP)
My Role
As a CPACC-certified Accessibility Advocate, in an organization with dozens of products, geographically dispersed teams, and different levels of accessibility maturity, I had to meet people where they were and guide them forward…
Step by step!
My work spanned strategy, education, culture-building, and hands-on execution:
Designing our accessibility strategy and roadmap
Creating centralized resources and support systems
Equipping teams with tools, training, and workflows
Leading assessments and offering strategic recommendations
Assessment
Understanding the Current Landscape
Before proposing any solution, I had to understand the real state of accessibility within the organization, not just what the documents or leaders said, but how people across disciplines experienced it on the ground.
The Survey
We designed and distributed a comprehensive survey to stakeholders across the organization, from designers and developers to product managers, QA, and leadership. The survey aimed to capture insights on:
The products different divisions were working on.
The level of familiarity with accessibility and relevant guidelines.
Who was responsible for accessibility in each division.
Current steps, if any, taken to ensure deliverables meet accessibility standards.
The priority placed on accessibility across divisions.
Challenges faced in integrating accessibility.
Specific resources and support needed from the organization to better integrate accessibility into workflows.
People were curious. They wanted to talk about accessibility. They just hadn’t been asked before!
Key Insights
There was no clear ownership of accessibility in most teams.
Teams had uneven levels of knowledge, some were unaware of basic standards.
Interest was high, but so was confusion and overwhelm.
Accessibility was often reactive: only considered when issues were reported externally.
People didn’t feel confident in how to start, or how to advocate for accessibility
The first thing we needed wasn’t just a checklist. We needed connection, clarity, and confidence.
Network
Creating the Digital Accessibility Network
Out of this need for connection came our first system:
The Digital Accessibility Network, a dedicated space for all things accessibility.
This wasn’t just a Slack channel. It was a cross-functional community hub:
A central library of best practices, templates, and learning tools
A Q&A and peer support space
A place to celebrate wins, ask hard questions, and share blockers
Building a Culture of Champions
We also, identified accessibility experts from the survey participants and invited them to become A11y champions within the network. These champions played a crucial role in supporting others, offering guidance, and fostering a culture of accessibility across divisions.
Training
Foundational Resources and Practical Support
We focused on providing foundational resources and practical support for everyone, regardless of their level of expertise in accessibility.
Learning Module
We created a recorded learning module that teams could take on their own schedule.
It included:
Introduction to Accessibility
Why Should We Care About Digital Accessibility? The business, ethical, and legal reasons behind accessibility.
POUR Principles
Overview of Accessibility Standards and Legislation: An introduction to standards like Section 508, ADA, EAA, and others.
How to Be Accessible: A step-by-step guide with resources and tools for each step, and defining the responsibilities of different team members at each step.
Simplifying WCAG 2.2 Success Criteria
To give teams a practical starting point, We simplified the WCAG 2.2 success criteria for Level A and Level AA and categorized them based on the POUR principles
Tools
Training People to Use the Tools
Once teams were equipped with knowledge, we gave them the means to put it into action:
Step-by-step guides to install and use Chrome accessibility extensions
Introduction to screen readers like NVDA and VoiceOver
How to test products using only a keyboard
Color contrast analysis
Focus order and tab logic
Audits
Conducting Accessibility Assessments
In addition to equipping teams with tools and training, I played a hands-on role in helping them improve their products through accessibility assessments.
For each product assessed, I created a detailed report that outlined accessibility issues, explained their impact, and offered practical solutions aligned with WCAG 2.2 standards.
But I didn’t just hand over the reports and walk away. I held working sessions with each team to walk through the findings, answer questions, and guide them through remediation. We reviewed issue severity, discussed feasible fixes within their technical and design constraints, and often paired the changes with ongoing sprint work to ensure accessibility was integrated, not bolted on.
Reflections & Takeaways
What I Took Away!
Accessibility Is a Continuous Commitment
Building accessibility into an organization isn’t something you do once and mark as complete. It’s a continuous process of raising awareness, shifting mindsets, and making inclusion part of everyday decision-making. Awareness isn’t a milestone; it’s a muscle that needs regular strengthening.
People Just Need to Know Where to Start
Throughout this journey, one of the biggest lessons I learned is that most people want to do the right thing, they just need clarity on how to start. Abstract standards and technical checklists aren’t enough. What really helps is providing real-world examples, showing teams how accessibility applies to their work in context, and giving them a concrete first step.
Confidence Grows When Progress Is Visible
I saw how powerful it can be to celebrate small wins. Recognizing progress, even if it's just adding alt text or fixing a focus state, builds confidence and reinforces that accessibility isn’t about perfection; it’s about progress.