Accessibility consultant spotlight: Meet Robbie McDonald
This month, we’re excited to spotlight Untapped Associate Robbie McDonald. She’s been with Untapped Accessibility since our launch and like all our team, brings valuable lived experience and subject matter expertise in different facets of accessibility.
Robbie is a seasoned accessibility consultant who has supported Untapped with many projects, including facilitating dialogues, client training, and contributing to complex documents. As a deaf and neurodivergent professional, she brings a unique perspective and cultivates high-trust environments.
Here are some highlights from our conversation:
How has your background as a writer, photographer, and communications professional influenced your work in accessibility?
Stories have always been how I relate to community. Everyone has something wonderfully unique to contribute. My work as a photographer deepened my awareness of physical space, but also the nuances of human expression. I’m always observing how folks respond and adjusting my communication accordingly.
Everything starts with trust. It led to my success as a journalist, and it continues to inform everything I do.
As part of communications teams ranging from photo agencies to mid-sized non-profits, I’m always considering how to solve problems for our audience and connect with them in the most meaningful way.
In accessibility work, this is a key strategy. Whether it’s processing feedback from the disability community, or holding space for leaders to grow their perspectives, I’m always looking for ways to shift into deep connection and understanding.
As a lifelong learner, I enjoyed the Community Capacity Building program at SFU, which crystallized my understanding of how to hold challenging conversations. I believe that organizations of all sizes function as a kind of community and building trust through clarity and flexibility are key.
Even with all my years collaborating across sectors, I’m still learning new ways to build understanding and remove barriers. It’s humbling and deeply rewarding work.
As a person with non-apparent disabilities, what are some of the barriers you’ve experienced in traditional workspaces?
I was properly diagnosed with profound hearing loss in 2017, even though I’ve struggled with misophonia (an intense reaction to common sounds that causes immense distress) most of my life. When I was fitted with hearing aids, they gave me access to birdsong for the first time in years, but they don’t “fix” my impairment. I still struggle to understand different frequencies of voices.
Boisterous meetings with a lot of crosstalk are a barrier, the same is true of telephone conversations and constant interruptions. It’s hard to believe I interned in open newsrooms where this was the norm!
When I discovered that I’m neurodivergent in 2020, it gave me clarity. Now I understand what it takes to do my best work. This includes clear communication, uninterrupted focus time, and having meeting agendas in advance so I can be prepared.
These simple adjustments are zero cost and I thrive on supporting organizations adapt their policies so everyone can shine.
After years of living in denial of my disabilities, I am now open and proud to share how I perceive the world. You can read more about my perspective in the blog I wrote for Disability Pride Month.
What gives you hope and keeps you going?
Burnout is high in the accessibility sector, partly because of intense pressure to create impact immediately for high level reporting to senior leadership and boards. My biggest concern is placing all the responsibility for accessibility on disabled teams instead of broadening the scope and inviting people from all experience levels into the discussion.
I have good news! There is increased energy around accessibility and people are keen to be involved. Whether you have a small team or are part of a complex agency, there are many ways to remove barriers that can be implemented simply and effectively.
What gives me hope is being immersed in the accessibility movement and witnessing the incredible work of the Untapped team. This is a group of people who know what’s right and are moving us to a truly inclusive future.
Robbie is committed to equipping organizations with the tools and knowledge needed to bust stigmas, remove barriers, and actively contribute to co-creating a world where everyone can thrive.
Learn more about Robbie: AccessibleDimensions.