Elly Loel

Introduce yourself!

Hi I’m Elly Loel (she/her), I’m a Web Designer / Design Engineer with a passion for Accessibility and Design Systems, working to make the web a more inclusive space in Naarm (Melbourne, Australia).

I love crafting with Web Standards like HTML & CSS, and I’m always looking for ways to queer the web and make things less shit.

I’m disabled & neurodivergent & trans & queer—this is where my work and identity meet.

When I’m not advocating for better digital experiences, I’m probably geeking out over web standards or figuring out how to make life more equitable for everyone.

What do you do for work?

Digital Accessibility Officer at the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.

“We support people in Australia to have safe, secure and well-paid work with the skills for a sustainable future.”

I mostly work with the design system team but also engage with project teams doing a range of things including testing/auditing and design reviews. I help with accessibility at any point of the process from beginning to end, though as per usual, we’re mostly brought in at the end. I love getting to work on the design system the most.

What do you do outside work?

I’m always listening to music, sooo much music. I’m also a huge fan of reading manga/manhwa/manhua/webcomics, and enjoy watching anime and cartoons, really anything animated, 2D or 3D, I’ll eat it up.

When I’m not geeking out over animation, I spend far too much time watching YouTube and Nebula, diving into everything from tech talks to multi-hour video essays. Lately, I’ve also been thoroughly enjoying Dropout’s amazing catalogue of shows. I’m also an avid player of video games and board games, more the former than the later due to convenience, though admittedly I don’t do either as much as I’d like to. Outside of all this, I’m constantly working on my personal website, always tinkering with ways to make it better.

What’s a common myth about web accessibility you’d like to debunk?

Accessibility is often perceived as uniquely difficult, but it’s no more challenging than anything else we already do. The real issue lies in systemic and individual ableism, which leads to accessibility being undervalued and deprioritised. As a result, it’s ignored, forgotten, or excluded entirely. By the time it’s finally addressed, it’s often treated as an afterthought—tacked on at the end of projects after key structural and design decisions have already been made. This lack of early consideration means accessibility isn’t given the time, energy, or thought it requires, making it feel like an overwhelming and even unachievable task. That’s why it’s not accessibility that’s hard—it’s the way we (don’t) approach it that makes it hard.

What’s your top tip for tech folks aiming to enhance inclusivity in their work?

• Everyone is biased, the best thing you can do is be aware of your biases so you can actively work to address them.
• We can sniff out performative inclusion from a mile away, don’t use us as a way to try and score brownie points.
• Marginalised people need to be brought to the table and listened to, but don’t make us do all the work, use your privilege to elevate those less privileged.

What is your favourite tool or resource, and why?

• The A11y Slack
• The A11y Project
• A11ySupport.io
• Many wonderful blogs: Adrian Roselli, Sara Soueidan, Sara Higley, Eric Bailey, Eric Eggert, Scott O’Hara, Heather Buchel, Léonie Watson, Bruce Lawson, Heydon Pickering, Hidde de Vries, Rachel DiTullio, Aaron Gustafson, Sarah Fossheim, Kitty Giraudel, Ricky Onsman.

Any podcast you are currently listening to, or a book you are reading?

• Dungeons and Daddies (not a bdsm podcast) a hilarious and chaotic Dungeons & Dragons podcast.
• Extra Bold by Ellen Lupton is an amazing book about inclusive design, blending practical advice with personal stories to challenge traditional design practices.

Toughest work moment?

Being made redundant was one of the most challenging experiences in my career. It felt like losing momentum and questioning my value, which triggered a lot of self-doubt and imposter syndrome. Another difficult moment came when I faced significant resistance to accessibility initiatives—trying to prove their value to a team that didn’t see them as a priority was frustrating and emotionally draining. Both experiences, though tough, taught me resilience, the importance of advocating for what matters, and trusting in my expertise to create meaningful change.

Most rewarding work moment?

Receiving feedback and recognition from colleagues and clients for my contributions to accessibility is deeply gratifying, but hearing directly from users about how my work has positively impacted their experience means the most to me. Additionally, being invited to speak at conferences or write about my expertise in accessibility and design systems has been an incredibly rewarding way to share my knowledge and make a broader impact.

Your one-sentence work-related advice

Prioritise accessibility and inclusion from the start; integrating them into every step of your process is not only easier but creates better outcomes for everyone.

Your one-sentence hiring-related advice

Hire disabled and marginalised people, trust their expertise, and pay them equitably—representation without exploitation is key to meaningful inclusion.

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