Johan Huijkman
Q42 / Accessibility Engineer
Preferred Pronouns: He/Him
Like no other engineer in the Netherlands, Johan knows how to integrate accessibility as a starting point in every digital product development. By thinking in terms of opportunities and inclusivity instead of limitations, his work at Dutch tech company Q42 is groundbreaking in many ways. Johan’s main point: not only people with a long-term disability are confronted with situations in which interaction with digital tools is more difficult. Visual and other impairments effect everyone who is confronted with a situation in which she temporarily cannot see, look, use her hands, et cetera. In this way, Johan links accessibility to user-friendliness, broadening the target group. He translates this vision into projects in a pragmatic way. By challenging the notion of limitation, he knows how to create awareness among colleagues and clients. His main drive is to make accessibility our common responsibility.
Read more about Johan’s talk here: “Better Quality of Life Through Apps”