Scaling Accessibility, Developer Mindsets & the European Accessibility Act – Michaël | Lead UX Engineer

In this episode of Beyond Barriers, Brian is joined by Michaël Vanderheyden, a seasoned accessibility specialist and internal champion, to explore what it takes to scale accessibility across global teams. Michaël shares his two-decade journey from building WCAG 1 compliant web apps in 2004 to leading accessibility initiatives inside one of Germany’s largest tech organizations.

Together, they dive into the evolution of accessibility, from retrofitting complex communication software to embedding accessibility into the development process from day one. Michaël discusses how to turn accessibility awareness into company wide practice, how to mentor developers and designers, and why accessibility and usability are inseparable. The conversation also covers the growing impact of the EU Accessibility Act, the challenges of legacy codebases, and how small, consistent improvements can transform both products and culture.

Tune in for an insightful discussion filled with practical advice, real world lessons, and inspiration for anyone working to make digital experiences more inclusive.

Watch Beyond Barriers on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WallyAX

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction to Accessibility Challenges(06:31) The Passion Behind Accessibility(12:22) Challenges in Scaling Accessibility Strategies(19:19) The Evolution of Accessibility Practices(24:26) Disruptions in the Accessibility Space(30:50) The Importance of Basic Accessibility Understanding

#BeyondBarriersPodcast #DigitalAccessibility #A11y #WCAG #AccessibilityStrategies #Inclusive