Accessibility is about more than the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and checking off a list of criteria. It’s about real people, with real needs, using real products. Accessibility is improving, but it's become too focused on technical compliance instead of human experience.
In this talk, Craig will explore why accessibility must be centred around people, not just a test to pass or a task to complete. He’ll discuss gaps in current standards, highlight the importance of lived experiences, and share practical ways to create truly inclusive digital products that work for everyone.
Craig is a Principal Accessibility Consultant at TetraLogical and the former Head of Accessibility at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). He specialises in sustainable accessibility, developing policies and processes that help teams develop the skills needed to consistently deliver accessible products and services.
Craig has over 15 years’ experience designing and building user-centred products, previously working as a UX Designer and Design Manager. He has led teams across the public sector and large globally-distributed enterprise organisations like Elastic, the search AI company.
Beyond his day-to-day work, Craig is an active member of neurodiversity communities. Being neurodivergent himself, Craig advocates for user-centred accessibility approaches that go beyond just compliance.
