Latest / The Career Change Podcast with Fexingo: Switching Fields, Bootcamps, and Reskilling / How Bootcamp Grads Can Break Into Web Accessibility
Transcript
- Lucas: So Luna, I was reading through the latest job postings for front-end roles this week, and I kept seeing one requirement pop up that we haven't really talked about on the show: experience with web accessibility. Luna: Yeah, I've noticed that too. It's not just a nice to have anymore, it's like a core skill they're asking for. Lucas: Exactly. And that got me thinking — for a bootcamp grad, accessibility could be a really smart niche. It's something that touches every part of the tech stack, and there's a genuine shortage of people who actually know how to do it well. Luna: So today we're drilling into that. How do you break into web accessibility as a bootcamp grad? Lucas: Right. And to start, let's talk about why this field is blowing up right now. A big driver is regulation. In the U.S., the Department of Justice has been pushing for stricter enforcement of the Americans with Disabilities Act when it comes to websites and apps. And in Europe, the European Accessibility Act is forcing companies to make their digital products accessible by 2025. Luna: So it's not just about being ethical, it's about avoiding lawsuits and fines. That's a pretty strong incentive for companies to hire for this. Lucas: Absolutely. And the result is that accessibility has become a distinct career track. It's not just a bullet point on a front-ender's resume anymore. Big tech companies like Apple and Microsoft have had dedicated accessibility teams for years, but now we're seeing mid-size and even smaller companies hiring accessibility specialists because they need to comply with the law. Luna: What kind of background do you need for this? Is it more technical or more design-focused? Lucas: It's a mix, which is actually great for bootcamp grads because they come out with a solid foundation in both. On the technical side, you need to understand HTML, CSS, and JavaScript — especially how to use semantic HTML and ARIA attributes. On the design side, you need to think about color contrast, keyboard navigation, and how to make content usable for people with different disabilities. Luna: So you don't necessarily need to be a seasoned developer to start. You just need to really understand the basics and then specialize. Lucas: Exactly. And one of the best ways to learn is to get hands-on with assistive technology. That means using a screen reader like NVDA or VoiceOver, testing with keyboard-only navigation, and using browser extensions like axe or Lighthouse to audit a site. Luna: That's really concrete. So for someone listening who's thinking about this, what's the first step they should take today? Lucas: I'd say start by auditing a website you use every day. Run it through a tool like WAVE or axe, and then try to fix one or two of the issues you find. That gives you a portfolio piece and real experience you can talk about in an interview. Luna: That's a great idea. And speaking of portfolio, it's something we've talked about before, but for accessibility specifically, what should you show? Lucas: Well, you want to show that you can not only make a site accessible but also document how you did it. So a before and after case study is perfect. Take a site that has obvious issues — like a menu that can't be operated with a keyboard — and then show the fixes you made and how you tested them. That's way more compelling than just listing accessibility tools on your resume. Luna: And for those who want to learn more formally, are there certifications or courses specifically for accessibility? Lucas: There are. The Web Accessibility Initiative, which is part of the W3C, has free online courses. And there's a certification from the International Association of Accessibility Professionals, the IAAP, called the Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies, or CPACC. It's not cheap, but it's well-recognized. But honestly, what matters most is your practical experience. Luna: Yeah, it's like anything else in tech. Real projects speak louder than certificates. And you've been mentioning this idea of accessibility as a career track — what does the day-to-day actually look like for an accessibility specialist? Lucas: So there are a few different roles. You could be an accessibility engineer, which is heavy on the coding side — you're building accessible components and fixing bugs. You could be an accessibility UX designer, which is more about user research and inclusive design. Or you could be an accessibility program manager, who coordinates compliance across the whole organization. For a bootcamp grad, the engineering path is probably the most accessible entry point. Luna: And salary-wise, how does it compare to other tech roles? Lucas: From what I've seen, entry-level accessibility engineers are in the same ballpark as other junior front-end roles — maybe slightly higher because it's specialized. On the senior end, it can pay very well, especially in industries like finance and healthcare that are heavily regulated. Luna: And on that point, before we go further — and I know you hate it when I bring this up, but it's relevant — our own website, the show's site, we've made sure it's accessible. And honestly, that's something I'm proud of. Lucas: Absolutely. It's something we care about. And speaking of caring — I know we don't like to talk about this a lot, but the reason we can keep making these episodes and cover topics like this is because of listeners who support the show. A couple of dollars a month genuinely makes a difference — it keeps us ad-free and lets us keep digging into niche topics like accessibility. If you've gotten something out of the show, you can support us at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. Luna: Yeah, it really does help. And it's just a small way to say thanks if you've found value here. But back to accessibility — you mentioned that the field is growing, but what are the actual job titles someone should search for? Lucas: Good question. You'll see titles like Accessibility Engineer, Web Accessibility Specialist, Inclusive Design Lead, Digital Accessibility Consultant. And sometimes it's embedded in a broader role, like Front-End Developer with accessibility focus. On LinkedIn, you can search for those terms, and also follow hashtags like accessibility and inclusive design to see what's out there. Luna: And in terms of industries, where is the demand strongest right now? Lucas: Definitely in government — we did an episode on government tech, and accessibility is a huge part of that because of Section 508. Also in e-commerce, because online stores face a lot of ADA lawsuits. And I'd say in SaaS, because they sell to enterprise clients who require accessibility in their procurement processes. Luna: So if you're a bootcamp grad, you have a coding background, and you want to make a difference — accessibility seems like a really good fit. But what are some common mistakes people make when they try to break in? Lucas: The biggest mistake is thinking that accessibility is just about checking boxes. It's not only about passing an automated test. A lot of grads rely on tools like Lighthouse and think that if the score is 100, they're done. But accessibility is really about empathy. You need to understand how real people interact with your product. So the best way to stand out is to do user testing with people who have disabilities — that's something very few junior devs have done. Luna: That's a great point. So how do you actually do that if you're not working at a company yet? Lucas: You can volunteer. Reach out to local non-profits that serve people with disabilities and offer to audit their website for free. That gives you real feedback and you learn a ton. Plus it's a great story for your portfolio and your interviews. Luna: And for the technical side, what are the most important things to master? Lucas: First, semantic HTML. Using the right tags — like header, nav, main, button — is the foundation. If you get that right, you're already halfway there. Then you need to understand ARIA, which is a set of attributes that make dynamic content accessible. But here's the thing: ARIA is powerful but dangerous if misused. The first rule of ARIA is don't use ARIA if you don't need it. So it's important to learn when and how to apply it. Luna: And keyboard navigation is another big one, right? Lucas: Absolutely. A huge percentage of accessibility issues are keyboard-related. If you can't tab through a form or operate a dropdown without a mouse, it's broken. That's often the first thing an auditor checks. So practice using your site or app with just the keyboard, and you'll find all sorts of problems. Luna: That's something you can start doing today. And for visual design, what about color contrast? Lucas: That's a big one. The WCAG guidelines require a contrast ratio of at least 4.5 to 1 for normal text, and 3 to 1 for large text. There are free tools like WebAIM's contrast checker that make it easy to test. And it's not just about people with low vision — think about someone using their phone in bright sunlight. Good contrast helps everyone. Luna: Yeah, that's a good point. Inclusive design benefits everyone, not just people with disabilities. So if someone is listening and they're thinking about making this their career, what would you say their next step should be? Like, within the next week? Lucas: I'd say two things. One, start experimenting with a screen reader. It's intimidating at first, but you get used to it. And two, find a mentor. There are great communities online — like the A11y Slack group, or Twitter, excuse me, X, where accessibility professionals are very open to helping newcomers. Engage with them, ask questions, and you'll get guidance that's way better than any tutorial. Luna: And to wrap up, what's the one thing you want listeners to take away from this episode? Lucas: I think it's that accessibility is not a niche anymore. It's a fundamental part of building good products, and it's only going to become more important. For bootcamp grads, it's a way to stand out in a crowded job market and to do work that genuinely matters. So if you're looking for a career that combines technical challenge with real human impact, accessibility is a path worth exploring. Luna: Well said. And we'll have links to resources in the show notes. Thanks for joining us, and we'll catch you in the next episode.