Welcome to another episode of Beyond Barriers, where we dive into the world of accessibility with industry leaders and advocates, exploring both their successes and the challenges they’ve faced along the way. Today’s guest is Daniela Lopez from AKQA, a passionate accessibility advocate whose journey is shaped by personal experience, dedication, and the mission to create an inclusive digital world. In this conversation, Daniela shares her path into accessibility, the importance of empathy in design, and her unique approach to scaling accessibility in organizations. Whether you’re new to accessibility or a seasoned professional, this article promises valuable insights on building inclusivity into digital experiences.
Path to Accessibility
How did you first become interested in accessibility?
Daniela:
I’m originally from Mexico City, and I moved to Australia for university back in 2007. After some years, my journey into accessibility was a bit accidental. My first job was in advertising and media, but I switched to a project manager role in a digital agency. Until then, I didn’t even know accessibility was a thing. It wasn’t until 2015 that I was introduced to it, and I was just fascinated.
I started learning on my own—reading, asking questions, trying to understand WCAG guidelines. Over time, I became an advocate, largely influenced by my mom, who always fought for equality and equity. I realized accessibility was an extension of that.
Brian:
It’s amazing how those initial experiences open doors. Often, it’s that first exposure that makes the journey unforgettable, especially in a field as impactful as accessibility.
How has your personal experience shaped your advocacy?
Daniela:
My advocacy strengthened after I was diagnosed with ADHD. Before that, I considered myself an ally, but now I realize I’m part of the neurodiverse, or as I like to call it, the “neuro-spicy” community. The pandemic, in particular, brought this to light—my husband noticed my hyper-focus in work mode, and I got formally diagnosed. This journey has only deepened my passion for accessibility and inclusivity.
How does advocacy for equality play a role in your work today?
Daniela:
I’ve always had a strong sense of social justice. I speak up for others, and I’ve even gotten in trouble for it in previous roles. But if fighting for equality gets me in trouble, then so be it—feel free to fire me. Thankfully, no one has, but the principle stands.
It’s about creating a culture where people feel it’s okay to speak up. When people see someone stand up, it creates a ripple effect. I think that’s where real change starts.
Tackling Ignorance with Empathy and Education
How do you address the lack of awareness around accessibility?
Daniela:
I think there’s still a lot of ignorance and lack of education. We’ve started demanding empathy from our leaders, and that’s a good change, but it wasn’t always like this. The ruthless business-savvy mindset used to be the model, and that contributed to a lack of accessibility.
Nowadays, though, we expect our leaders to have emotional intelligence. Empathy is becoming a core skill, which helps drive accessibility. But there’s still a lot of old-school thinking to overcome.
How do you create a culture that values accessibility?
Daniela:
I don’t talk about accessibility as a disability issue; I frame it as a vulnerability issue. Anyone can be vulnerable at any time. The spectrum of accessibility—permanent, temporary, situational—applies to everyone.
This approach helps people see accessibility as something that benefits 100% of the population, not just a specific group.
From Lawsuits to Innovation
How has accessibility awareness evolved over the years?
Daniela:
Awareness has definitely grown, largely because of lawsuits. At the end of the day, money talks. I wish it weren’t true, but when companies see the financial risk, they start to pay attention. Successful lawsuits and government mandates, like Australia’s WCAG compliance requirements for government sites, have also made a difference.
Now, companies realize accessibility helps everyone, and they’re more open to listening about its benefits. They’re seeing it’s not just for compliance—it’s a better user experience for everyone.
Have you found effective ways to measure the benefits of accessibility?
Daniela:
Quantifying accessibility is a challenge. We’re still working on correlating it to metrics, but we see soft benefits, like easier navigation and better understanding of products. Research shows a high percentage of users with accessibility needs will leave a website if it’s not accessible, so companies lose out.
It’s hard to directly connect that to accessibility metrics, but understanding these impacts helps justify the investment.
Overcoming WCAG’s Accessibility Challenges
What are some challenges in implementing accessibility at scale?
Daniela:
One ironic barrier is that WCAG guidelines themselves are hard to understand—they’re often vague and open to interpretation. The other challenge is that meeting WCAG compliance doesn’t always mean a site is truly accessible.
A good example is alternative text for images. Just adding alt text checks the box, but if it doesn’t convey the right message, it’s not truly accessible. Accessibility isn’t just about ticking boxes; it’s about user experience.
Using AI to Simplify Accessibility
Do you think AI will help or hinder accessibility?
Daniela:
AI can make testing and implementing accessibility easier, which is exciting. But it’s essential not to lose the human element. AI can’t replace the insights we gain from real users with disabilities. Nothing substitutes a blind user actually trying your solution and telling you what works and what doesn’t.
AI will be helpful, but it’s vital to keep accessibility as a human-centered effort.
Celebrating Success
What are some of the successes you’re most proud of?
Daniela:
My biggest wins have been in the education space. I created a training module focused on empathy in accessibility, rather than just compliance. I showed developers how screen readers work, and the impact it has had was incredible.
In one session, a developer told me they didn’t realize how important this was until they saw it in action. That kind of empathy training has helped make accessibility a team responsibility, not just the developer’s job.
What are your thoughts on building accessibility into the team dynamic?
Daniela:
Accessibility is a team sport. It’s not just for developers; designers, project managers, content writers—everyone plays a part. We can make a site compliant, but if the content isn’t accessible, we fail. I emphasize the importance of each role in making accessibility work.
It’s about showing people how these tools work and making accessibility real. Once they understand why it matters, they approach it with a whole new mindset.
Social Disruptions and the Rise of Advocacy
What social trends are driving change in accessibility?
Daniela:
We’re seeing more advocacy on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, where influencers in the disability space educate others. People are embracing their vulnerabilities, and there’s been a shift in how we view neurodiversity, which is fantastic.
COVID also accelerated this change by normalizing remote work, opening up opportunities for people who couldn’t easily access traditional workplaces. This social disruption is powerful.
Closing Thoughts
As we wrap up, what final thoughts do you have about accessibility?
Daniela:
At the end of the day, accessibility is about people. It’s easy to get lost in the technical aspects or compliance checklists, but if we lose the human element, we lose what accessibility is truly about. Everyone can be vulnerable at some point, and by building accessibility into our work, we make a positive impact on everyone’s lives.
