Welcome to another episode of Beyond Barriers, a podcast that brings together accessibility leaders, innovators, and advocates to share their journeys. Hosted by Wally’s co-founder Brian Gavin, this episode features a conversation with Seema Shariat, a front-end engineer, accessibility leader, and three-time cancer survivor who brings unique insights into the accessibility space. Her experiences, both personal and professional, have shaped her mission to create a more inclusive digital world.
You can listen to the audio or read the transcript below.
Seema’s journey into accessibility began through her work as a front-end engineer when she encountered a VPAT request in a small startup. From there, she delved into WCAG standards, learning line by line, and later joined a FinTech company where she implemented these standards. However, her most transformative learning came from a mentor who was a leader in accessibility, teaching her how to apply accessibility principles in practice. Since then, Seema has built her career on educating teams and companies on accessibility, helping bridge the knowledge gap in this often-overlooked area of tech.
Seema Shariat: “I’ve experienced temporary disabilities from chemotherapy, so I understand how frustrating it can be to use assistive technology on inaccessible sites. For some, these challenges are daily struggles. My passion for accessibility drives me to make the online world more inclusive.”
Awareness and Education in Accessibility
In her work, Seema sees a widespread lack of accessibility education. Many developers, designers, and content creators have never been formally taught accessibility standards. She believes it’s not for lack of empathy but rather a gap in education, as accessibility is rarely included in standard curricula for developers.
Seema advocates for practical training and mentorship within companies to normalize accessibility as part of the process, rather than as a compliance checkbox. She regularly shares her learnings, challenges, and successes with colleagues to foster a supportive environment for tackling accessibility.
Seema Shariat: “Most people approach accessibility from a place of empathy. They want to make things better, but without exposure or guidance, they just don’t know where to start. Education and awareness are key.”
Brian Gavin: “You’re right. If accessibility was integrated from the onboarding process at a company, like part of the handbook, it would really be transformative for a lot of teams.”
The Costs and Challenges of Retrofitting Accessibility
Seema explains that the cost of addressing accessibility after development can be enormous. Retrofitting a project to be accessible is time-intensive and costly, and often leads teams to treat accessibility as a “painful” afterthought. She’s worked on retrofitting projects in the past, which she sees as both a learning experience and a cautionary tale for other developers.
Seema Shariat: “We shouldn’t have to think of accessibility as something ‘extra’ or ‘painful’ to address. It should just be. Accessibility is about creating a better world for everyone, and it should be a foundational part of development.”
Brian Gavin: “Organizations often realize too late that accessibility is essential. Adding it at the end is more costly and inefficient than building it in from the start.”
Embracing AI for Accessibility: Opportunities and Risks
Seema is optimistic about the potential of AI in accessibility. With the right intent and understanding, AI could help bridge many gaps, but without these, it risks leaving some users behind. Automated accessibility tools currently cover only about 57% of issues, meaning manual audits are essential. She’s excited about advancements in AI but emphasizes that the human touch will always be necessary.
Seema Shariat: “Automation is promising if done right, but we’ll still need human oversight. AI will only be as good as the knowledge and intent of the people programming it. And as for overlays, they’re often a superficial fix—every website should be accessible by design.”
Personal Challenges and the Power of Learning
Seema’s journey has included many challenges, from self-teaching accessibility principles to working around the limitations of automated tools. But each challenge has driven her passion and commitment to ongoing learning. She’s currently pursuing a certification as a Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC), seeing it as a step toward even more impact in the accessibility field.
Seema Shariat: “I don’t consider myself an accessibility ‘expert’—there’s always something new to learn. I’m motivated by the challenges and by the opportunity to help others, whether they’re new to accessibility or have been in the field for years.”
Brian Gavin: “The humility you bring to this field is inspiring. The goal is always to improve, and your passion for continuous learning is clear.”
The Path Forward: Integrating Accessibility as Standard
Seema envisions a future where accessibility is embedded within all digital products from the beginning, making labels like “accessible design” unnecessary. She believes that with the right intent, awareness, and knowledge, companies can build experiences that work for everyone, regardless of their abilities. For her, the mission is about creating an inclusive world, one project at a time.
Brian Gavin: “We can’t thank you enough, Seema. Your insights, experience, and the genuine empathy you bring to this work are truly inspiring. It’s clear that accessibility is not just part of your job but part of who you are.”
