Universal access is an important aspect of modern technology to enable people with disabilities to interact with digital systems. Given the fact that technology penetrates almost every aspect of our lives, companies that design and build technology products and services should follow the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other web accessibility guidelines such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.2. The problem is how to achieve accessibility from the perspective of the design and development processes and across multiple devices and platforms. However, this task is not only technical but also involves a high level of understanding of the requirements of users with disabilities.
Over the years, Anand Sarangam, an Accessibility Subject Matter Expert, has become an influential name regarding digital accessibility, especially when working for the MNC HCL, catering Microsoft and Google. He has proven that most popular applications are accessible on different platforms. Anand’s solution starts right from the design stage where he offers accessibility checks and recommendations to build applications from the ground up with accessibility in mind. He has delivered these digital tools to millions of end users and shown that accessibility can be achieved even in the most intricate systems.
Anand has influenced not only specific projects but also the overall process. He has developed and deployed accessibility processes in different product teams with processes that have reduced redundancy and brought in automation in the validation of the same. His leadership in hiring and training of accessibility testers, over 150 and some of them being people with disabilities, has not only created capable teams but also introduced the much-needed diversity into the testing teams. His work, “Accessibility Assessment Tool”, has greatly improved the effectiveness of accessibility validations. He has come up with ways and means of proving accessibility on gaming platforms, Chromecast, smart watches, and purpose-built chrome books and tablets for kids. By working with developers and UX designers, he has found ways to bypass the technical issues and offer solutions that will make the site accessible for as many users as possible.
These initiatives have achieved cost savings in the time and resources that would have been used in the creation and implementation of accessibility processes for products that should meet accessibility standards. He has not only increased the quality of goods and services but also satisfied the needs of the clients, achieving 100% results in the satisfaction questionnaires. Some significant projects include accessibility validations for some of the most recognizable products such as Google Workspace (Docs, Drive, Gmail), Google One, Google Family Link and Microsoft digital marketing sites for Windows, Visual Studio, Office 365. These projects illustrate his capacity for producing excellent deliverables within tight deadlines and when the UI is changing. These platforms were made available to all users by his effort, including the disabled.
However, there were some challenges in application frameworks, lack of accessibility experts, and many others. To overcome these tasks, people who are not part of the IT field were trained, rapidly scaling up teams, and offering solutions to avoid typical accessibility obstacles. He has not only worked to guarantee compliance but also to establish new standards of accessibility in the sphere of technology.
In conclusion, industry leaders think that AI can take the digitization to the next level of accessibility. The creativity of professionals like Anand Sarangam in making products that millions of people use has transformed the tech industry. “Though it is going to take lot more years for AI to be confidently used by people with disabilities, accessibility validations need to be conducted to make AI accessibility compliant to make it ready to be used by people with disabilities”, he added.