In a recent episode of Beyond Barriers, host Brian Gavin welcomed Ian O’Bara, Senior Accessibility Engineer at a financial services company. Ian’s journey into accessibility is a compelling narrative of blending technology, empathy, and research to create inclusive digital experiences. With a background in healthcare and technology, Ian shares his unique perspective on the challenges, innovations, and the evolving role of accessibility in engineering.
From Healthcare to Accessibility
Ian’s journey began in an unexpected place—working as a direct care provider for individuals with developmental disabilities. This early experience fostered his passion for helping others and laid the groundwork for his interest in accessibility.
“Seeing how people engaged with technology and the barriers they faced inspired me to pursue a career that merged my love for technology with my desire to create inclusive experiences,” Ian shared.
After obtaining a technology degree and working in IT support, Ian sought to combine his skills with his passion for accessibility. Graduate research at Michigan State University further solidified his path. One standout project involved developing a universally accessible mobile voting system, a challenge that highlighted the importance of balancing universal design with specific accommodations.
Universal vs. Specific Design
A key insight from Ian’s experience is the distinction between universal design and tailored accommodations. While universal design ensures broad accessibility, specific accommodations address unique needs.
“When designing public-facing projects, universal design is often the right approach. But there are cases where specific accommodations are more effective,” Ian explained.
For example, in his voting system project, the focus was on enabling everyone to participate in the same way, emphasizing the value of shared experiences. In other cases, such as custom accessibility features for specific user groups, tailored solutions may be more appropriate.
Challenges in Mastering Accessibility
Like many accessibility professionals, Ian faced challenges early in his career. He noted that understanding WCAG standards, with their technical complexity, was initially daunting. Another hurdle was gaining firsthand insight into the experiences of users with disabilities.
“As a sighted person, using a screen reader was a learning curve. I had to recognize that my perspective was limited and prioritize including people with lived experiences in testing,” Ian said.
These challenges underscored the importance of empathy and continuous learning in building accessible products.
The Role of Research and Collaboration
Ian’s research background informs his approach to accessibility. He emphasized the importance of understanding not just technical standards but also user experiences. Collaboration with design and development teams is critical to ensuring accessibility is embedded throughout the product lifecycle.
“Being part of the user experience team allows me to influence everything from design systems to workflows. Accessibility isn’t just about meeting technical requirements; it’s about creating a seamless and inclusive experience,” Ian said.
He highlighted the need for thoughtful design choices, such as chunking information into digestible sections and reducing repetitive steps in forms. These considerations enhance usability and accessibility simultaneously.
Emerging Trends and Disruptions in Accessibility
Looking to the future, Ian identified key trends shaping the accessibility landscape. The European Union’s upcoming accessibility legislation in 2025 is a positive step, promoting the integration of accessibility into roles across organizations. However, Ian cautioned against relying on automated solutions like overlays, which often create separate and subpar experiences.
“We’re seeing a shift toward building accessibility into job descriptions and workflows, which is great. But we must avoid quick fixes that don’t address core issues or help organizations grow their accessibility expertise,” Ian noted.
He also expressed optimism about WCAG 3.0, which will incorporate more experiential guidelines, emphasizing usability and cognitive accessibility.
Empowering Through Education
Ian emphasized the importance of education and training in closing the accessibility knowledge gap. He advocated for making accessibility training widely available and integrating it into college curricula.
“You can’t succeed in accessibility without understanding both the technical standards and the human experience. Education needs to bridge these aspects,” Ian said.
Creating communities of practice within organizations and fostering cross-team collaboration are other ways to build a culture of accessibility.
Conclusion
Ian’s story underscores the power of empathy, research, and collaboration in driving accessibility forward. His journey from healthcare to engineering illustrates how diverse perspectives can enrich the field and inspire innovation.
“Accessible design is better design—for everyone,” Ian concluded, calling on organizations to prioritize accessibility not just as a requirement but as a commitment to inclusivity.
