The Digital Accessibility Podcast – David Sloan

In this episode of The Digital Accessibility Podcast, Joe is joined by David Sloan, Chief Accessibility Officer at TPGi/Vispero, and one of the most respected voices in inclusive design and digital accessibility research.

With decades of experience across academia, consultancy, and industry, David shares his perspective on the evolution of accessibility; from its early roots in user research to its growing importance within business strategy and product design.

We discuss:

• A lifetime in accessibility: David’s journey from academia at the University of Dundee to joining TPGi in the U.S., and what continues to inspire his work in digital inclusion.
• Research and real-world impact: How evidence-based approaches and user research can drive better accessibility outcomes, and why empathy alone simply isn’t enough.
• Accessibility maturity: The practical stages organisations go through on their accessibility journey, and how leadership and accountability shape lasting progress.
• Inclusive design culture: The role of education, mentoring, and community in building accessibility capability across teams and industries.
• The future of accessibility: How emerging technologies like AI and automation could support, or hinder, accessibility, and where the human touch remains vital.

David also reflects on the ongoing need for cross-industry collaboration and openness, highlighting how knowledge-sharing within the accessibility community can create a lasting culture of inclusion.

Follow David Sloan:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sloandr/

Follow Joe James:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeajames/

Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/A11yJoe

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PCRDigital

Visit PCR Digital:

https://www.pcrdigital.com/