Let’s face it: championing accessibility can feel like being stuck in an endless game of corporate pinball. You bounce between departments, dropping nuggets of truth and hoping someone somewhere gets it. Good news. You don’t have to win everyone over. You just need to know who to talk to, what to say, and when to say it.
Step One: Read the Room
Accessibility conversations don’t just happen in boardrooms. They happen in project kickoffs, in planning meetings, in town halls and newsletters and yes, in the cafeteria and private Teams chats. Every space is an opportunity — if you know how to use it.
Step Two: Speak Their Language
Different stakeholders care about different things. If you walk into every conversation with a screen reader demo, you’ll lose them. Instead, tailor your talking points.
HR and DEI teams want:
- Inclusive hiring practices
- Onboarding that works for everyone
- “Best Places to Work” status and metrics they can report
Sales and Procurement want:
- Compliance for big contracts
- RFP language that won’t backfire
- Vendor VPATs that show due diligence
Senior Leaders and Project Managers want:
- ROI, future-proofing, reputation management
- That sweet, sweet buzzword — user experience
Content Creators and Designers want:
- Clarity on structure, semantics, and tool limitations
- To know what’s expected of them (without feeling judged)
Dev and IT teams want:
- Specifics. What label goes where? When to use ARIA? How to avoid breaking stuff?
Talk to people about their priorities — not yours. Accessibility is the lens, not the headline.
Step Three: Know Your Role
You don’t need to be the accessibility police. You’re better off as the guide. Or better yet, the cheerleader.
When someone forgets to invite you to the meeting, ask why accessibility wasn’t brought up. When someone mentions you in the meeting, make sure they’re equipped to speak the language.
It’s not about being in every room. It’s about building trust so others carry the message when you’re not there.
Final Thought
Accessibility is human. So are the people you need to convince. Be kind. Be strategic. And never underestimate the power of a well-timed cafeteria conversation.
