::Last-Child – Ted Drake

Accessibility | Inclusion | Belonging | DEI AF

Resist with Ted

Category: accessibility

  • Don’t make me think… like a designer

    Don’t make me think… like a designer

    You walk up to a door with a big handle that clearly says pull. So you pull. Nothing happens. Then you notice the tiny sign that says PUSH. That moment is small, but it stays with you. You hesitate. You feel a little foolish, even though the problem was not you. The design told you…

  • Impressions from the Zero Project 2026 Conference in Vienna

    Impressions from the Zero Project 2026 Conference in Vienna

    I was invited to join the Zero Project Conference in Vienna this year, and I was proud to represent both Intuit and the Magical Bridge Foundation. Across three days, I saw a wide range of disability-focused work, but the strongest message was consistent: accessibility moves forward when disabled people are treated as leaders, not just…

  • Using Maturity Models to Build Accessibility That Lasts

    Using Maturity Models to Build Accessibility That Lasts

    Accessibility work often starts with urgency. A customer complaint, a legal requirement, a failed audit, or a team member raising their hand and saying, “This isn’t working for everyone.” Those moments matter, but urgency alone doesn’t create durable change. What sustains accessibility over time is structure, shared understanding, and a clear sense of progression. This…

  • How to Tell Better Accessibility Stories with Data (and AI)

    How to Tell Better Accessibility Stories with Data (and AI)

    Accessibility work often happens behind the scenes – design thinking sessions, backlog refinements, bug fixes that never make the release notes. Because that effort is invisible, it’s easy for accessibility to be misunderstood, deprioritized, or treated as a checkbox. But when you pair data with narrative, accessibility becomes visible, meaningful, and aligned with shared goals.…

  • Inclusive AI Isn’t New—But How We Use It Matters More Than Ever

    Inclusive AI Isn’t New—But How We Use It Matters More Than Ever

    Artificial intelligence might feel like the hot new thing—but for folks working in accessibility, AI has been quietly powering essential tools for decades. Whether it’s reading a street sign out loud, helping someone navigate indoors, or turning spoken words into text, inclusive technology has always been one of the proving grounds for AI. That’s why…

  • If you answer it twice, make it an article

    If you answer it twice, make it an article

    Most accessibility teams are small and we need to make the most of our available time. Answering questions from designers, developers, PMs, and customer success can be the best use of our time. But it can also be a time waste if we’re constantly answering the same questions. At Intuit, I’ve had the policy of…

  • Accessibility Keyword list for filtering Voice of Customer

    Accessibility Keyword list for filtering Voice of Customer

    This list of keywords was a collaborative effort that was compiled by accessibility leaders of technology companies. They represent words customers may use that are not necessarily accessibility-specific. You can use these to find the comments that would otherwise be missed. Contribute to this list via the a11y-data-keywords project on GitHub. 508 access technology access…

  • Disability Organization volunteer opportunities in your city

    Disability Organization volunteer opportunities in your city

    Volunteering with a disability organization is an incredible opportunity to gain deep empathy for your customers. You can make a sincere impact by sharing your time and resources. The following list was created for fellow Intuit Accessibility Champions to find nearby organizations. Organizations By Location Atlanta PropelATL which focuses on commuter safety and accessibility in…

  • CSUN Assistive Technology Conference notes for  2025

    CSUN Assistive Technology Conference notes for 2025

    The CSUN Assistive Technology Conference 2025, held from March 10th to 14th at the Anaheim Marriott in California, brought together a diverse global community of professionals, researchers, and individuals passionate about accessibility and inclusive design. This year’s conference featured a wide array of presentations covering topics from digital accessibility law to AI equity and innovative…

  • Accessibility, Globalization, and Internationalization: Designing for a World Wide Web

    Accessibility, Globalization, and Internationalization: Designing for a World Wide Web

    This post is based on a presentation I gave in 2019 for Intuit’s Accessibility Week in Bangalore, India: Accessibility, Globalization, and Internationalization. When we talk about building global products, we often throw around acronyms like G11n (Globalization), I18n (Internationalization), and A11y (Accessibility). Too often, these are treated as separate silos. But the truth is, if…