Accessibility in the software industry is becoming increasingly crucial as companies recognize the need to create inclusive digital experiences for all users, including those with disabilities. Designing accessible software ensures that barriers to access are removed, improving usability for a wider audience. Niki Ramesh, a passionate advocate for digital accessibility, exemplifies this commitment. Her journey began at Deloitte Canada, where an unexpected audit project introduced her to the importance of accessibility. Since then, Niki has co-founded Access to Success, supporting MBA students with disabilities, and currently works at CBC, where her efforts on products like CBC Lite have significantly improved access for users.
Niki’s leadership highlights the industry’s shift toward inclusivity, driven by empathy, education, and the belief that accessible design benefits everyone. Let us hear more from her.
What inspired you to pursue a career in software accessibility?
My journey into digital accessibility was a happy accident! I had some previous exposure to the challenges faced by students with disabilities during my time at the University of Toronto. But I’d never considered or been aware of jobs in accessibility. Accessibility was not talked about in the Middle East or India growing up.
A year after university, I was working in technology consulting at Deloitte Canada and had to step into a project to replace someone going on leave. My task was clear – audit a website and report its accessibility issues. I had 6 weeks to learn on the job and deliver my audit results. I was in for a surprise.
It was incredibly humbling to realize not everyone has the same digital experiences. Especially when you don’t have sight, hearing, mobility or cognition. Since that project, I haven’t looked back.
A career in digital accessibility is incredibly gratifying and I get to improve people’s lives daily.
Can you share any key moments or projects in your career that shaped your approach to accessibility?
I’m a co-founder of Access to Success, a not-for-profit that supports MBA students with disabilities and accessibility startups. It started in an academic setting when I noticed how some of my friends who struggled with anxiety or were hard of hearing faced a lot of barriers in the classroom, networking events and social meetups. It was frustrating to watch – here is someone else who is just as smart as others, moved across the world to Canada, pays a lot in tuition but somehow has to work a lot more to prove themselves. That was the first time I was able to articulate inequity and how disabling your environment can be.
Can you share a story where an accessibility feature made a significant impact on a user’s life?
I currently work at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, a public media and news broadcaster. One of the products we have is CBC Lite, a simplified version of the news website for those in low bandwidth and remote areas of Canada. As it turns out, the simple layout and colours of the website were great for users with cognitive and vision challenges. This was a product built for one user group but has ended up benefitting many. Fun fact – A user once said that they love CBC Lite so much, they would get it tattooed on themselves!
How do you approach building an accessibility-first mindset within teams?
It is really important to start with user needs – not everyone has a typical experience online and teams need to build empathy for that end user. I usually start with an introduction to disability and first-hand stories from audiences (customers) with disabilities. Next is backing it up with advanced training specific to someone’s role so they know how they can contribute to their work. There are many different approaches to building an accessibility-first mindset, whether it be through process changes, technology or education.
What do you find most rewarding about working in accessibility?
Knowing that accessibility is not just for a select few – it makes the experience better for everyone. Take automatic doors, they are great for a wheelchair user but also a parent with a stroller. Take closed captions, they are great for deaf/hard-of-hearing users and truthfully, everyone! English is not my native language and I can’t imagine watching a show without closed captions anymore. This is the power of designing inclusively, knowing that when I build an accessible product, I am removing barriers for those with disabilities and improving the experience for everyone.
If you could improve one aspect of the current state of accessibility in tech, what would it be?
People still view accessibility as being optional. I often hear statements like “Accessibility doesn’t affect many people”, “We don’t have time to make this accessibility improvement” or “Does it provide value to the business?”. These are misconceptions.
27% of people in Canada identify as having one or more disabilities (Source: Statistics Canada). Globally, that number is 16% (Source: World Health Organization). Statistically, we are all very likely to experience a disability at some point in life. Secondly, there is huge potential for Artificial Intelligence to drive advancements in accessibility through features like automated transcripts, text-to-speech and many more. When used with caution and with human oversight, AI can make online experiences a lot more enjoyable.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to women aspiring to leadership roles in tech, especially in accessibility?
Digital Accessibility is just starting to peak – lots of companies still don’t understand how to approach or have a point of view on digital inclusion. Educate yourself, be it through conferences, podcasts or blogs. And step into the space when you see inequitable experiences around you. Start by finding other allies around you and create a group of people who share your passion. This is work that needs to be done but not alone (and not for free).
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