Reflections from Matthijs & Luca at Storm Interface
Last week, we had the privilege of representing Storm Interface at AbilityNet‘s TechShare Pro conference in London. It was energising to join top minds and passionate advocates coming together to talk about accessibility, inclusion, and the technology shaping our future.
From start to finish, our experience was a mix of insightful discussion and genuine human connection. We were joined by Emma Wilson FRSA from ImpactMatch and we couldn’t help but be inspired by the friendly and proactive atmosphere.
Challenging Times, Shared Purpose
Amy Low CPACC FRSA opened the event with a simple but powerful message:
“We live in very challenging times. We are all aware of the challenges, and this conference is about what we, as the accessibility community, can do about it.”
We felt that right away. There was no shying away from questions, only an eagerness to drive real change.
Seeing Value Through AI
Technology, especially AI, was at the heart of conversations. Maxine Williams of Meta put it beautifully: AI should create “value for as many as possible, with input from as many as possible.” It hit home for us; we believe in designing with, not just for, people with different needs.
Microsoft’s Hector Minto described a world where AI-powered tools aren’t just nice-to-haves, but essential tools for everyone and mentioned that when Copilot went offline for a while, for technical problems, the disruption this caused was seen as an accessibility issue. We’re excited to see how fast these solutions are making a difference for people with disabilities.
Designing With People
One idea that kept coming up was putting lived experience at centre stage. Malin Rygg from the Norwegian Digital Authority said, “The best way to influence companies to become fully accessible is to let them meet people with disabilities and hear their stories.”
We’ve always tried to embed this at Storm Interface. Products are better when they are designed by listening, understanding, and collaborating with the people who will actually use them.
Ethics and Human Rights
AI promises so much, but it needs strong ethical foundations. We loved how Ioana Tanase from Microsoft laid out core values for ethical AI: transparency, accountability, safety, security, reliability, inclusiveness, and fairness. Ian Smith from Baseline Vision also made sure we remember that human rights should always come before trust in the machines.
Everyday Impact: Neurodivergence & Innovation
An especially memorable panel hosted by Will Sutton, CPWA, showed how new AI tools are making everyday life simpler for neurodivergent people. Meta’s smart glasses are helping people with visual impairment, like Robin Christopherson MBE from AbilityNet. What struck us is how these tools also open up opportunities for people with dyslexia and ADHD, especially when it comes to tackling online challenges, simplifying messages, or performing daily tasks.
The central lesson for us was simple. Good design enables. Bad design disables. It’s that straightforward.
From Compliance to Culture
Day Two was full of practical advice as organisations scramble to meet the European Accessibility Act. The tone was clear: accessibility isn’t a checkbox ticked for compliance. It’s a commitment that touches every part of business. Companies like Crawford Technologies showed how new AI tools can quickly transform inaccessible documents, like old PDFs, into something usable for all.
As Malin Rygg put it, true impact comes when organisations listen, learn, and see the real lives behind the requirements.
Our Takeaway
TechShare Pro wasn’t just another industry event. The conversations, stories, and ideas left us more motivated than ever. For us at Storm Interface, accessibility isn’t a destination. It’s a journey we take side-by-side with the people we serve. We came away with a renewed sense of purpose and optimism, along with a few new friends too.
If you’d like to hear more of our experiences or have questions about making your self-service experience more inclusive, drop us a line. Let’s keep the conversation going.