What if the most powerful part of your brand is the part most users can’t see? We sit down with designer and agency founder Rochelle Ratkaj Moser to unpack how accessibility becomes a strategic advantage when it’s baked into visual storytelling, not bolted on at the end. From plain-language copy to thoughtful reading order, alt text with meaning, and semantic structure that guides both people and screen readers, we explore the practical moves that turn mission statements into experiences everyone can use.
Rochelle shares lessons from work with education nonprofits and the Brain Injury Association of America, reframing disability as a shifting spectrum rather than a checkbox. We talk about cognitive accessibility, low reading ages, and why designing for moments of disadvantage—fatigue, distraction, sensory overload—creates better outcomes for all. The budget conversation gets real: if roughly 26% of adults live with a disability, ignoring access is like burning one dollar of every four. Building access from the start saves money, avoids technical debt, and raises conversion because users can actually finish tasks.
We also dig into the surprising synergy between accessibility, SEO, and AI. The same scaffolding that helps humans—clear headings, descriptive alt text, labeled tables—helps search engines and language models parse content more accurately. But we push back on designing for bots over people, calling out keyword stuffing in alt fields and reminding teams that ethical design serves humans first. For leaders and new designers alike, Rochelle offers a values-first approach to client selection, guidance on navigating DEI rollbacks, and encouragement to learn accessibility early—including emerging areas like XR, where standards are still evolving.
If you care about brand trust, usability, and real reach, this conversation gives you a roadmap to make accessibility your competitive edge. Subscribe, share with a colleague who owns your website or content pipeline, and tell us: what’s one change you’ll make this week to include more users?
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