If you're building, buying, or implementing AI systems, you need to understand this: accessibility isn't an add-on. It's a design decision that determines who gets included and who gets left out.

In this episode of AI: Voice or Victim, host Erica Rooney sits down with Joe Devon, founder of A11y Audits and co-creator of Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD). Joe has spent his career making the digital world usable for everyone, and now he's turning his attention to AI.

You'll hear why the accessibility challenges we're seeing with AI aren't new—they're amplified versions of mistakes we've already made. Joe breaks down where AI has the potential to break down barriers for people with disabilities, and where it's creating new ones. This isn't about compliance checkboxes. It's about whether the AI systems you're deploying actually work for all the people they're supposed to serve.

This conversation is for product leaders, HR teams, customer experience managers, and anyone responsible for technology decisions that affect real people.

In this episode, you'll learn:

-Why accessibility must be built into AI from the start, not bolted on later
-How AI is already creating barriers for people with disabilities
-Where AI has real potential to improve accessibility
-What leaders miss when they treat accessibility as a legal requirement instead of a design principle
-Why ignoring accessibility in AI isn't just unethical—it's bad business
-Practical steps you can take right now to make your AI systems more inclusive

If you're deploying AI tools without considering accessibility, you're making a choice about who matters. This episode will help you make a better one.

About Joe Devon
Joe Devon is the founder of A11y Audits, a company dedicated to making digital products accessible to everyone, and the co-creator of Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), an annual event that raises awareness about digital accessibility worldwide. With over two decades of experience in web development and accessibility advocacy, Joe has worked to ensure that technology serves all users, regardless of ability. His work focuses on bridging the gap between innovation and inclusion, proving that accessible design benefits everyone.
Learn more:

A11y Audits: https://www.a11yaudits.com/
GAAD Foundation: https://gaad.foundation/

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AI and Accessibility: Are We Building a More Inclusive Future or Leaving People Behind?