Square Enix
Making accessibility everyone's job — not just mine.
Executive Summary: Accessibility at Square Enix was happening, but it wasn't working. Teams across three regions were handling it differently, catching problems late, and passing the responsibility around. I came in to change the pattern — not just fix individual issues, but reshape how accessibility fitted into the way teams planned, designed, and shipped. By the time I left, it was in the room from the start.
Results
On-the-ground wins
- Embedded accessibility reviews into planning and design — before code, not after
- Improved release quality through accessible-by-default components and reusable patterns
- Established shared ownership across design, engineering, and QA
- Increased alignment across regions through consistent standards and documentation
- Reduced friction between teams through clearer workflows and accountability
The bigger picture
- Shifted accessibility from reactive fixes to embedded infrastructure
- Integrated inclusion into the full service lifecycle — concept through launch
- Created a shared baseline across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific while preserving regional nuance
- Strengthened regulatory and risk alignment through Legal and HR collaboration
- Built an accessibility culture that improved both player experience and operational resilience
The challenge: Three regions. Multiple time zones. Different regulatory environments. And accessibility being treated as someone else's problem until the last possible moment. When it was addressed, it was reactive — a specialist patching things after decisions had already been made. Legal, HR, and platform teams needed to be in the conversation too, but they weren't. The challenge wasn't finding more accessibility issues to fix. It was changing the conditions that kept producing them.
My Role: Accessibility Manager, Digital Platforms
The Team: Digital Platforms Leadership, Design, Engineering, QA, Legal, HR, & Cross-regional Stakeholders
My Approach:
- 1. Mapped the delivery system
- Analyzed end-to-end product workflows across regions
- Identified structural gaps causing late-stage accessibility fixes
- Embedded accessibility upstream into planning and design
- Clarified cross-functional ownership and accountability
- 2. Embedded accessibility into core workflows
- Integrated accessibility checkpoints into planning and design reviews
- Defined accessible design patterns and reusable components
- Partnered with engineering to implement compliant system-level foundations
- Introduced practical QA guidance and assistive technology testing
- 3. Built cross-regional enablement
- Established shared documentation and async workflows across time zones
- Adapted training and communication to regional regulatory and cultural context
- Partnered with Legal and HR to align internal platforms and policies
Titles I Worked On
Over two years, I worked across 26 titles — from AAA releases to indie projects. Here's the full list:
- Chocobo GP
- Dragon Quest Builders 2
- Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince
- Fable
- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
- Final Fantasy XIV Online
- Final Fantasy XVI
- Foamstars
- Forspoken
- Hitman Sniper: The Shadows
- Infinity Strash: Dragon Quest The Adventure Of Dai
- Killer Inn
- Life Is Strange: True Colors
- Life Is Strange: Double Exposure
- Little Goody Two Shoes
- Marvel's Guardians Of The Galaxy
- Neo: The World Ends With You
- Nier Replicant Ver. 1.22474487139…
- Octopath Traveler II
- Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries Of Honjo
- Powerwash Simulator
- Star Ocean The Second Story R
- Stranger Of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin
- Tactics Ogre: Reborn™
- Theatrhythm Final Bar Line
- Visions Of Mana
- Voice Of Cards
View all projects Close
- Square Enix: Varioius Projects
- Square Enix: Accessibility Hub Work covered: Accessibility, UX, AI, Visual, Web, and QA
- Equal Entry: Website and Knowledge Base Redesigns , Work covered: Accessibility, UX, Visual, and Web
- Medi Me: Medical Records App , Work covered: Accessibility, UX, Visual, and Web
- Weight Watchers: Responsive Signup , Work covered: Accessibility, and UX
- Weight Watchers: Marketing Website , Work covered: Web
- Shoogies NYC: Homemade Baby Food E-Commerce , Work covered: UX, Visual, and Web
Image Caption: New Square Enix Store homepage with interactive product carousel.
Image Caption: New Square Enix Store product page with accessible product detail tab navigation.
Image Caption: Final Fantasy XVI Online Starter Guide series with interactive, accessible video dialogs.
Image Caption: Little Goody Two Shoes homepage with redesigned legible logo.