Microsoft
Flipgrid Accessibility Transformation
Drove Flipgrid iOS from a 'C' accessibility rating to Microsoft's Accessibility Gold Medal, achieved by only 5.6% of E+D teams.
The Problem
Flipgrid iOS had a 'C' accessibility rating. For an education platform used by students of all abilities, including those with visual, motor, and cognitive disabilities, this was unacceptable. Accessibility wasn't treated as a first-class engineering priority.
Approach
I conducted a comprehensive accessibility audit of every screen in the app. I filed bugs, wrote fixes, and championed VoiceOver support, Dynamic Type, high-contrast mode, and inclusive design patterns across the entire application. I advocated relentlessly for accessibility as a core engineering value, not a checkbox.
The Transformation
Comprehensive Audit
I audited every screen in the Flipgrid iOS app for accessibility compliance. This meant testing with VoiceOver enabled, verifying Dynamic Type scaling, checking color contrast ratios, and ensuring all interactive elements had appropriate labels, hints, and traits.
Systematic Remediation
I didn’t just file bugs. I wrote the fixes. Over multiple Connect cycles, I shipped VoiceOver improvements, added Dynamic Type support, implemented high-contrast mode, and established inclusive design patterns that the team adopted going forward.
Culture Change
The most important outcome wasn’t just the technical fixes; it was shifting the team’s mindset. Accessibility became a first-class engineering priority, integrated into every feature spec and code review.
Outcome
Flipgrid iOS earned Microsoft’s Accessibility Gold Medal, an honor achieved by only 5.6% of Engineering + Devices organization teams. This remains one of my proudest career accomplishments and was cited in my promotion to engineering manager.
Impact
- Microsoft Accessibility Gold Medal, top 5.6% of Engineering + Devices org
- Comprehensive audit and remediation of every screen in the app
- Championed VoiceOver, Dynamic Type, and inclusive design as first-class priorities
- Cited as a key factor in promotion to engineering manager