In a recent episode of Beyond Barriers, host Brian Gavin sat down with Michael Bolton, a Senior QA Engineer at Carnegie, to explore the intersection of accessibility, advocacy, and innovation. Michael’s diverse career—spanning from band instrument repair to aerial photography and now accessibility engineering—reflects his innate curiosity about how things work and his drive to make them better. His story offers valuable insights into navigating accessibility challenges, scaling strategies, and fostering meaningful change.
From QA to Accessibility Advocacy
Michael’s journey into accessibility stems from a lifelong passion for technology and problem-solving. Growing up in the early days of personal computers, he developed a knack for helping others navigate technology.
“Helping others figure out how to use a new tool or fix something broken has always been my through thread,” Michael shared. This ethos carried him through roles in e-commerce QA and ultimately into his current position at Carnegie, a higher education marketing and enrollment agency.
Today, Michael focuses on quality assurance for marketing websites, with accessibility as a central pillar. His work ensures that users of all abilities can effectively engage with digital content.
Pushing the Boundaries of Accessibility
For Michael, accessibility is inseparable from usability. His philosophy revolves around pushing boundaries to account for real-world scenarios—whether it’s users entering unexpected inputs or navigating with assistive technologies.
“Testing for expected input isn’t enough. You have to think about how things could break or fail in real-world use,” Michael explained.
This principle informs everything from testing ARIA labels for screen readers to ensuring intuitive keyboard navigation. Michael’s commitment to going beyond the status quo has become a cornerstone of Carnegie’s approach to accessible design.
Embedding Accessibility Into Culture
Carnegie’s accessibility-first culture is a standout aspect of Michael’s work. The company’s commitment to human connection as a core value aligns seamlessly with the principles of accessibility.
“Accessibility isn’t just an afterthought; it’s baked into everything we do,” Michael emphasized. Partnering with colleagues who bring complementary expertise in design and user experience, Michael ensures accessibility is integrated throughout every project phase.
This collaborative approach has earned Carnegie recognition for its work in higher education, including award-winning websites that prioritize user experience and inclusivity.
Overcoming Challenges and Educating Clients
One of the most significant challenges Michael encounters is navigating institutional bureaucracy in higher education. Budget constraints, complex decision-making hierarchies, and misconceptions about accessibility often create hurdles.
“Sometimes the hardest part is getting buy-in from stakeholders who don’t fully understand why accessibility matters or what it entails,” Michael said.
To address this, Michael and his team offer accessibility workshops for clients. By educating stakeholders about barriers faced by users with disabilities, they foster empathy and understanding, turning skeptics into advocates.
Innovating for Accessibility
Michael shared several success stories that highlight Carnegie’s commitment to innovation:
Mobile-Friendly Tables: Recognizing the challenges of navigating tables on mobile devices, Michael’s team implemented stacked views for improved accessibility and usability. “It’s a small change, but it makes a big difference for users,” he noted.
Accessible Carousels: The team also refined how carousels function with assistive technologies, ensuring ARIA labels provide clear context for screen readers. These improvements enhance navigation for all users.
These examples demonstrate how small, iterative changes can have a significant cumulative impact on accessibility.
Disruptions and Opportunities in Accessibility
Looking to the future, Michael sees both opportunities and challenges:
Budget Constraints in Higher Education: Limited resources make it difficult for institutions to invest in accessibility, but Michael advocates for prioritizing inclusive design as an essential long-term investment.
Accessibility Overlays: While some organizations turn to overlays as a quick fix, Michael warns they often exacerbate usability issues rather than solving them. “Overlays might satisfy regulators temporarily, but they don’t create meaningful change,” he said.
WCAG 3.0: Michael is optimistic about the potential of WCAG 3.0 to set clearer standards and improve user experiences. However, he acknowledges the timeline for widespread adoption may stretch over a decade.
Conclusion
Michael’s parting message underscores the importance of persistence and advocacy in advancing accessibility.
“Keep knocking on doors. Even if you get a no, keep pushing for the right thing,” he urged. “Every step forward adds up, and someday, I hope it will be impossible to build something that isn’t accessible.”
With leaders like Michael paving the way, the future of accessibility looks brighter than ever.
