Digital Accessibility Designer on Starting His Own Business, Brutal Job Market, and Custom Design

Kris discusses the accessibility industry with De'Shan Perry, owner of Art of A11y, a digital accessibility design business. De'Shan brings over 13 years of experience in web design and development, having started as a graphic designer before transitioning into HTML, CSS, and UX work. After the company he worked at for over a decade dissolved, he discovered digital accessibility and realized his existing skill set aligned perfectly with the work. The conversation explores what draws professionals to accessibility and why it feels different from other design and development work. De'Shan shares how accessibility gave his career a sense of purpose, combining all of his favorite elements of design and programming with the opportunity to make a real difference in how people experience the web. His focus is on remediation, where his deep front-end knowledge allows him to implement the actual code-level changes needed to bring websites into conformance. A significant portion of the discussion centers on the current job market and the challenges facing professionals trying to break in. De'Shan describes a process that feels increasingly disconnected from real opportunity, with AI-generated job posts demanding unrealistic qualifications, applicant tracking systems filtering out strong candidates, and listings that may not represent real openings. The parallel is drawn to gambling, where enormous time and energy go into a process with little return, and the takeaway is clear: at a certain point, building something of your own becomes the more practical path. The conversation also challenges the common misconception that accessible websites have to look plain or unattractive. De'Shan makes the case that accessibility actually enhances design by introducing constraints that push creativity in new directions. He points to focus styling, heading hierarchy, and keyboard navigation as examples of small changes that dramatically improve usability while opening up fresh design possibilities. The idea that constraints fuel better creative work resonates throughout the discussion. Both speak to the opportunity in digital accessibility right now. The market is wide open, the need is enormous, and most websites still have basic accessibility problems. Small businesses and independent professionals have a real advantage in this space because they can offer personalized attention and genuine value that larger companies struggle to scale. The accessibility community itself is described as one of the most supportive professional communities around, with active Slack and Discord groups where people freely share knowledge and help each other grow. The episode wraps with encouragement for designers, developers, and professionals at any stage to take accessibility seriously, not as a niche specialty but as a foundational skill that improves everything it touches. Whether pursuing employment, contract work, or building an independent business, the opportunity is right in front of anyone willing to invest in the knowledge and put in the work. Learn more about De'Shan and his accessibility design and remediation services. https://artofa11y.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/deshanperry/ https://accessibilitybase.com/deshan-perry/ Join Accessibility Base at https://accessibilitybase.com. Join De'Shan and Kris in this channel's YouTube membership @adabook YouTube channel. #AccessibleDesign #AccessibilityDesign