Welcome to another episode of Beyond Barriers, where we sit down with industry leaders to explore the critical role of accessibility in today’s digital landscape. In this article, you’ll hear from Hector Minto, a leading accessibility evangelist at Microsoft, as he shares his personal journey, beginning in the world of assistive technology, and his mission to drive accessibility at scale.
Hector brings a wealth of experience, delving into the nuances between assistive technology and accessibility infrastructure, and revealing Microsoft’s approach to supporting both. Together, we discuss the evolving needs of the accessibility community, the challenges of creating consistent experiences across diverse platforms, and the exciting potential of AI to transform accessibility.
Expect insights into the importance of being deliberate and brave in advocating for accessibility within your organization, along with practical advice on aligning teams to bridge the gaps that often separate assistive tech from digital inclusivity. Whether you’re an accessibility professional or a leader looking to make a difference, this article offers both inspiration and actionable steps for creating a more accessible digital world.
From Page Turners to Accessibility Leadership
How did you get into accessibility and the journey so far?
Hector:
"I started back in the 90s, really in the assistive technology space. I’m always trying to help people see the difference between assistive technology—the tools people use daily—and accessibility, the structural support of accessible infrastructure.
I actually fell into it in the 90s, working with the first page turners, helping people with physical disabilities turn their pages in newspapers. Think of it as a big vacuum pump and a car aerial swinging the physical pages. I was driving around meeting people with spinal cord injuries, ALS, helping them read, which I see as my first entrée into accessibility—people accessing the news.
Now, the modern equivalent is what you’re doing, helping us all access the digital world. Over time, it became a career of just larger companies, bigger impact. I joined Microsoft seven years ago because it felt like the perfect time for large-scale tech companies to support accessibility."
Assistive Tech vs. Accessibility Infrastructure
Would you have gone back to study the page flipper to keep the simplicity of what needs to happen on the digital side?
Hector:
Absolutely. I always say the page turner was the platform. We think about operating systems now, but the vacuum pump and car aerial—that was the operating system. The input method was the switch.
I’d meet someone who would blow through a straw, blink an eye, or tap a head switch. My job as an assistive technologist was getting the input method right for someone, which guaranteed access. Newspapers and books are consistent, so that allowed us to focus on the input. Today, if someone needs to access a PC, and they’re a switch user, they still need the right switch. Some things haven’t changed, but the delivery method has evolved massively."
Creating Consistent Digital Accessibility
The digital landscape now is like what you’re saying—you have a preferred browser for accessing digital content. How do you see Microsoft’s role in creating that consistency?
Hector:
"Right. The newspaper industry agreed on some consistency, in size and delivery, which made it easier to design solutions.
When we think about digital experiences delivered through devices, we don’t have that level of consistency, which is one of our biggest challenges.
Different browsers affect digital content rendering. From talking to brands, I’ve realized there’s a huge gap in analytics companies can use to understand the input and output experience of users."
Aligning Assistive Tech and Accessibility Goals
You mentioned the differences between assistive technology and the infrastructure support needed to make accessibility happen. How do the two play together, and do you work cross-functionally with these teams?
Hector:
"Interesting point. In my years with assistive technology, nobody talked about creating accessible content. My role focused on things like home control, speech devices—assistive technology motivated by the health and medical model. It was about accessing home, independent living, or voice.
Seeing stories of people with physical and speech disabilities accessing computers motivated me, but support for computer access worldwide is lacking. I didn’t fully engage with creating accessible content until I joined Microsoft."
Final Thoughts
You’re a wealth of knowledge and share so many insights. I love the message you kept bringing up—being deliberate. It’s foundational for the accessibility space.
Hector:
"Thanks for having me. And yes, be deliberate, brave, and lift your horizons. Knock on the door of your CTO, your leaders. Use big tech as a lever, lift the value of this conversation, and stay engaged.
The relationship of diverse humans with technology will be the conversation of the next 50 years. This is a great career, a great topic to be in. So, be deliberate, and get brave—knock on those doors."
