Hello, I’m Jon Gibbins…
I’m a techie geek living in the South West of England, trying to use what I know and can do to make the world a better place for everyone. I’m passionate about accessibility and equity for Disabled people, sustainability and how we can have a net positive impact on our shared planet, and running a business in an ethical way. And I’m the founder and director of As It Should Be, a UK-based consultancy helping digital teams design and build more accessible and sustainable digital products and services.
I’ve been active in the digital accessibility community since 2004, promoting best practices for creating more accessible websites and mobile apps. I’m regarded as a leading expert on accessibility in iOS and Android apps, and am an Invited Expert to the W3C’s Mobile Accessibility Task Force, where I contribute towards new accessibility guidelines for use in modern mobile environments.
My work
I’ve worked with brands around the world and in a variety of sectors, with clients including Alzheimer’s Society, AtkinsRéalis, National Geographic, OVO Energy, Possible, RNIB, Travelodge, and more you’ll likely know. I’ve trained teams at the BBC, the Met Office, the Office for National Statistics, and Sainsbury’s, and my open source work has been used by teams at Google.
“Jon’s input was immensely useful, pitched right and clearly explained. His workshop with our team was an extremely valuable learning experience.”
Ben Garvey-Cubbon, User Research Practice Lead, OVO Energy
I’ve also worked with some of the most well known digital accessibility consultancies, including Dig Inclusion, Hassell Inclusion, Knowbility, Nomensa, RNIB, TetraLogical, and TPGi (formerly The Paciello Group).
“If you are looking for a smart developer who has a deep and intuitive knowledge of inclusive design, who knows accessibility with an organic user-centered perspective, who is an outstanding and encouraging communicator and teacher, and who has vision, imagination, and wicked skills, look no further than Jon Gibbins. He is simply the best.”
Sharron Rush, Executive Director, Knowbility
You can find further testimonials and endorsements from clients and industry peers (including contributors to W3C standards like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines and WAI-ARIA) on my LinkedIn profile.
If you need help with an upcoming project and would like to work with me, head over to digitalasitshouldbe.com to find out how I can help and ways to get in touch.
Speaking
I enjoy speaking at events about digital accessibility and sustainability, or business as a force for good, and I’ve presented at events internationally. If you’re interested in getting me to speak at your event, let’s have a chat.
Outside of work
Being outdoors is my happy place, especially if the view is beautiful. Some of my favourite ways to switch off is a long walk in the woods or along a coastline.
I love to play guitar, and have been known to write songs in the past. I currently host a monthly open mic evening in my local coffee house, and it’s wonderful way to meet other musicians in the area, hear them play and sing, and encourage people of all ages to build confidence and find happiness in performing in front of an audience.
I also like connecting with and supporting other small business owners to run more responsible businesses, align their work to their values, and consider people and our planet alongside profit. I’m a co-founder of a networking group for small business owners who are interested in business sustainability and ethics, and host of our local People Planet Pint meetup in Weston-super-Mare.
Elsewhere