The story of DevA11y began a decade ago when founders Patrick Guiney and Cormac Chisholm first met at a startup weekend. United by a shared vision, they were driven to address a glaring issue: the internet’s pervasive accessibility barriers. Their realization that 96% of the top one million websites are inaccessible to individuals with disabilities highlighted a critical gap in the digital world. This gap became their motivation to create DevA11y. With the European Accessibility Act pushing companies to rethink their approach to accessibility, Patrick and Cormac saw the perfect opportunity to launch a company dedicated to providing innovative solutions that meet compliance requirements and foster an inclusive digital environment. At DevA11y, their mission is to bridge the accessibility gap and make the internet a more welcoming place for everyone.

I interviewed Patrick and Cormac to find out more about the company:

1. Can you share the story behind the founding of DevA11y? How did the two of you meet and what specific challenges or gaps in the market motivated you to start this company?

Cormac and I first met 10 years ago at a startup weekend, The idea for DevA11y arose from the realisation that the internet, much like the physical world 30 years ago, is filled with accessibility barriers. Shockingly, 96% of the top one million websites are inaccessible to individuals with disabilities. This glaring gap motivated us to take action.

The European Accessibility Act further pushed companies to rethink their approach to accessibility, serving as a catalyst for us to create DevA11y. Our goal is to provide innovative solutions that meet compliance requirements and foster an inclusive digital environment. At DevA11y, we are dedicated to bridging the accessibility gap and making the internet a more accessible place for everyone.

2. Could you tell us about your professional backgrounds before founding DevA11y? How did both of your previous experiences shape your approach to accessibility?

Cormac has spent the last eight years running a digital product development agency, focusing on building startups’ first products. At Optum, he led engineering across multiple design systems, which have been integrated into 1,000s of applications, setting a company-wide standard for accessibility.

Patrick has a lived experience that uniquely positions him to understand accessibility challenges. He has a strong background in scaling and leading go-to-market functions for global companies like Zendesk and LinkedIn in Europe and North America. Additionally, he scaled an organisation to 4,000 users with the support of Enterprise Ireland, called Slingshot Academy.

Together, their combined expertise in digital product development, engineering, and scaling organisations shapes DevA11y’s innovative approach to accessibility, ensuring that they address the critical gaps in the market effectively.

3. What are the core services and solutions that DevA11y offers, and how do they stand out from other accessibility solutions available today?

DevA11y offers a range of core services and solutions that set it apart from other accessibility tools. Our standout feature is the deep integration with development environments, providing real-time insights. Unlike most tools that identify compliance issues post-development or during periodic reviews, DevA11y seamlessly incorporates accessibility into the development process.

This proactive approach helps identify issues early and educates developers on best practices, making accessibility a natural part of their workflow. DevA11y’s platform addresses a wide range of disabilities, ensuring websites are usable and enjoyable for everyone. We view accessibility as an ongoing commitment rather than a one-time fix, providing real-time support and historical overviews of product accessibility.

Additionally, Cormac’s extensive experience as a Full-Stack JavaScript Developer, with a focus on project management and software engineering, allows DevA11y to offer tailored solutions that address the specific challenges developers face in maintaining accessibility standards. Our platform’s scalability and seamless integration into existing business systems provide a strategic advantage, making accessible design an easier and integral part of web development.

4.  You’re part of The NDRC accelerator cohort. Can you tell us if this programme has supported DevA11y’s growth and development? 

The NDRC program has been instrumental in supporting DevA11y’s growth and development. FCAT and Dogpatch have been backing us long before we officially joined the program. They’ve provided us with invaluable support by putting a roof over our heads and connecting us with experts who have guided us on how to build and scale our business effectively.

Moreover, these partnerships have opened doors for us to collaborate with some of our earliest design partners, ensuring that our solutions are both practical and innovative. Their unwavering support and resources have played a crucial role in shaping DevA11y’s journey, helping us turn our vision into reality.

5. Would you have any advice for people wanting to enter the programme in future?

Absolutely! For those interested in the program, my advice is to reach out to people like Menno, Dave, and Liz—they’re always open to meeting for a coffee and discussing ideas. Explore your concept with them and take advantage of the extensive support they offer. It’s a fantastic opportunity to grow and develop your vision.

6. What are some of the most common issues you encounter during website accessibility audits? How does DevA11y address these issues?

Building accessible products is often slow, painful, and expensive. Common issues during website accessibility audits include high costs, inefficiency, and the difficulty of the process. Around 80% of accessibility testing requires manual review and testing, making it a time-consuming endeavour. Retrofitting accessibility can increase development time by over 40%, adding significant delays and costs. Additionally, audits can cost between €25,000 – €100,000, often requiring multiple attempts to address all identified issues.

DevA11y addresses these challenges by integrating accessibility into the development process from the start. Our platform provides real-time insights and support, allowing developers to identify and fix issues early, reducing the need for extensive manual testing and costly retrofitting. By making accessibility a seamless part of the workflow, we help streamline the process, making it more efficient and cost-effective. This proactive approach not only saves time and money but also ensures that products are accessible from the ground up, reducing the need for expensive and repetitive audits.

7. If a potential client is interested in your services, what steps should they take to become a customer of DevA11y? What does the onboarding process look like?

If you’re interested in DevA11y’s services, the first step is to reach out to Cormac or Patrick directly. Alternatively, you can sign up for early access on our website, http://www.deva11y.com. Once you’ve signed up, we’ll get in touch with you promptly.

We’re currently finalising our design partners and would love to discuss how we can collaborate. The onboarding process includes an initial consultation to understand your needs, followed by a tailored plan to integrate our accessibility solutions into your development workflow seamlessly. Join us to make your digital products more accessible from the ground up.

8. With the one-year countdown to the European Accessibility Act starting on June 28th, how do you anticipate this legislation will impact DevA11y’s work? Have you seen an increase in inquiries or concerns from potential clients about this act?

With the one-year countdown to the European Accessibility Act starting on June 28th, we anticipate a significant impact on DevA11y’s work. We’ve been inundated with inquiries from companies eager to discuss their accessibility strategies in advance of the EAA’s implementation. This surge reflects a growing urgency to comply with the new regulations and ensure inclusive digital products.

Our platform’s deep integration with development environments and real-time insights make it easier for businesses to embed accessibility into their workflows. We are committed to helping businesses navigate these changes effectively, ensuring their digital products are accessible to all users.

9. Beyond visual impairments, you’ve emphasised accessibility compliance for neurodiverse individuals. Why was this inclusion important to you, and what specific implementations do you foresee for neurodiverse accessibility under the European Accessibility Act?

We emphasise accessibility for neurodiverse individuals because the internet should be accessible to everyone. Act or no act, as builders, we have a responsibility to create accessible products for all.

Inclusion for neurodiverse users is crucial. The European Accessibility Act will push for better support features such as customizable user interfaces, clear and consistent navigation, and reduced cognitive load. These implementations will help neurodiverse individuals interact with digital products more effectively.