::Last-Child – Ted Drake

Accessibility | Inclusion | Belonging | DEI AF

Resist with Ted

Category: Inclusive Leadership

  • Impressions from the Zero Project 2026 Conference in Vienna

    Impressions from the Zero Project 2026 Conference in Vienna

    I was invited to join the Zero Project Conference in Vienna this year, and I was proud to represent both Intuit and the Magical Bridge Foundation. Across three days, I saw a wide range of disability-focused work, but the strongest message was consistent: accessibility moves forward when disabled people are treated as leaders, not just…

  • Using Maturity Models to Build Accessibility That Lasts

    Using Maturity Models to Build Accessibility That Lasts

    Accessibility work often starts with urgency. A customer complaint, a legal requirement, a failed audit, or a team member raising their hand and saying, “This isn’t working for everyone.” Those moments matter, but urgency alone doesn’t create durable change. What sustains accessibility over time is structure, shared understanding, and a clear sense of progression. This…

  • How to Tell Better Accessibility Stories with Data (and AI)

    How to Tell Better Accessibility Stories with Data (and AI)

    Accessibility work often happens behind the scenes – design thinking sessions, backlog refinements, bug fixes that never make the release notes. Because that effort is invisible, it’s easy for accessibility to be misunderstood, deprioritized, or treated as a checkbox. But when you pair data with narrative, accessibility becomes visible, meaningful, and aligned with shared goals.…

  • Don’t Change the Company—Reflect It

    Don’t Change the Company—Reflect It

    Aligning Accessibility with What Already Matters Every company has its own personality. It might be obsessed with speed, driven by design, led by customer feedback, or focused on data. The identity shapes how decisions get made—and if you want accessibility to last, it has to fit right in. I’ve seen accessibility efforts succeed (and survive)…

  • From “I” to “We”: Building Lasting Accessibility by Letting Go

    From “I” to “We”: Building Lasting Accessibility by Letting Go

    When we think about leadership, we often picture a single person standing at the front of the room, confidently sharing big ideas and inspiring the crowd. We imagine a strong individual leading the charge, driving change through personal determination and charisma. But if there’s one lesson I’ve learned from years of working in accessibility and…

  • If you answer it twice, make it an article

    If you answer it twice, make it an article

    Most accessibility teams are small and we need to make the most of our available time. Answering questions from designers, developers, PMs, and customer success can be the best use of our time. But it can also be a time waste if we’re constantly answering the same questions. At Intuit, I’ve had the policy of…

  • Intuit’s Accessibility Champions Program

    Intuit’s Accessibility Champions Program

    Intuit’s Accessibility Champion program enables everyone to become a champion and a roadmap for people to become leaders. This was created to celebrate people making contributions towards accessibility. It highlights people via employee profile badges, congratulatory spotlights, and notifications to managers about their commitment. The program emphasizes customer empathy, disability etiquette, and accessible product design…

  • Authority Podcast: Accessibility, Inclusive Design, and Accommodations at Intuit

    This is a follow up podcast interview with Authority Magazine about accessibility, inclusive design, and inclusion: Intuit’s Ted Drake On How Businesses Make Accommodations For People Who Have a Disability This is the original article: Disability Inclusion In The Workplace: Intuit’s Ted Drake On How Businesses Make Accommodations For Customers and Employees Who Have a Disability