Unusual career
Accessibility Specialist
Accessibility specialists make sure digital products work for everyone, including people with disabilities — a need that is both an ethical baseline and, increasingly, a legal one. It is a meaningful, in-demand niche that sits across design, development and research.
What the work involves
The role covers auditing websites and apps against standards like WCAG, testing with assistive technologies such as screen readers, advising teams on inclusive design and code, and helping organisations meet legal obligations. You will often be the person teaching others — embedding accessibility into how teams work rather than fixing it at the end. Real empathy for users matters as much as technical knowledge.
Skills that matter
Useful strengths include familiarity with WCAG and related standards, comfort reading HTML and ARIA, hands-on experience with screen readers and keyboard navigation, and clear communication to influence designers and developers. Lived or close experience of disability is a genuine asset, though not a requirement.
Switching in
Common routes come from front-end development, UX design, UX research and QA testing — all share relevant foundations.
- Learn WCAG and practise auditing real sites
- Get hands-on with a screen reader and keyboard-only navigation
- Consider a recognised accessibility certification to formalise expertise
Frequently asked questions
Is accessibility a developer role or a design role?
Both, and neither exclusively. Specialists come from development, design, research and QA. The unifying skill is understanding how disabled people use technology and helping every part of a team build with that in mind.