Kelly, Test Engineer
Why is accessibility so important?
For me, accessibility isn't really a technical specialism so much as a question of who gets to use the thing we've built, and who quietly gets shut out. The web was meant to be for everyone, and I think we owe people more than a half-effort on that. If something I've tested means one more person can read a page, fill in a form, or get through their day without hitting a wall, that's the part of the job that matters most.
Kelly's credentials
I've spent the best part of five years working in digital accessibility. A lot of that time has gone into WCAG itself: contributing to the guidelines, picking apart success criteria, and helping teams work out what conformance actually looks like once you get past the checklist.
I have ADHD, which means I spend a fair amount of my day fighting digital products that weren't built with brains like mine in mind — pages that bury the important thing under twelve other things, forms that lose your data the moment you pause, walls of unstructured text, motion and pop-ups that yank your attention the second you've found it.
What does 'accessibility' mean to Kelly?
Accessibility, for me, isn't only about the categories of disability people tend to picture first. It's about everyone who's ever bounced off a website not because they didn't want to use it, but because it quietly demanded a way of processing information they don't have.
Get accessibility right and you end up with products that work with how people actually are, rather than how it would be convenient for them to be — and that's the bit I care about most.
Alice, Software Engineer
Why is accessibility so important?
For me, digital accessibility isn’t just a professional goal, it’s also very much personal. Having dyslexia, I experienced first hand the transformative power of assistive technology during my time at university, where tools like Sonocent (now Genio), provided through the DSA were absolutely essential to my learning success. Coming full circle to champion these same values now makes my work incredibly meaningful.
Alice's credentials
This lived experience is what inspired me to focus my master's dissertation on digital accessibility. Through my research, I wanted to understand not just the technical side of inclusion, but how it impacts real users. It allowed me to help introduce meaningful accessibility changes across the apps at my last place of work, ensuring that digital spaces are built to work for everyone.
What does 'accessibility' mean to Alice?
Ultimately, I believe that technology is only as good as its accessibility, and I am deeply passionate about removing barriers so that every user can participate with confidence. I’m incredibly proud to bring this passion to the team at Genio, where we truly care about building trust and connection through inclusive design.
Mala, Head of Engineering
Why is accessibility so important?
Accessibility is important to me because technology should feel intuitive and approachable for everyone, regardless of age, experience, or ability. Small design decisions can make a huge difference in whether someone feels confident using a product or completely shut out by it.
As a Gen Xer, I grew up before technology became part of everyday life and only started using it heavily in adulthood. Because of that, I’m often the person helping older friends and family navigate apps, websites, and devices. Seeing where they struggle makes it really clear how frustrating and excluding poor user experiences can be.
Steven, Staff Engineer
Why is accessibility so important?
Accessibility is important to me because I have benefitted massively thanks to the internet and the content on it. I wouldn't have the job and life I have now without it. I believe everybody should have the same access to those opportunities regardless of ability or status.
Steven's credentials
I'm a software engineer who got into accessibility off the back of a Tom Scott video talking about sign language. I ended up going down the accessibility rabbit hole learning about how different people use their devices in different ways and how technology can help connect people who would otherwise find it difficult to communicate.
When I joined Genio I started putting what I'd learned into practice and pushed for our software to get audited by a third party. I have learned so much from just seeing what we got wrong and fixing those issues.
Rach, Software Engineer
Why is accessibility so important?
Having navigated my own education with undiagnosed dyslexia and ADHD, I know how careless design builds invisible walls. People are rarely excluded on purpose; they are excluded by a lack of intentional planning and review throughout a product lifespan.
What 'accessibility' means to Rach
I believe that equity should be a foundational feature of both the world around us and the educational platforms we build at Genio. As a software engineer, technology is simply the space where I can effect the biggest change.
My goal, and that of our accessibility working group, is to help us move past compliance and build a web that is intentionally inclusive, guaranteeing that every student has the tools they need to fully participate in their education.
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