Aaron Gustafson

About

As would be expected from a former manager of the Web Standards Project, Aaron Gustafson has been working to make the web more equitable for nearly three decades now. As a web designer, developer, and consultant, Aaron has worked with a number of companies you’ve probably heard of. In 2015, he joined Microsoft as a web standards advocate to work closely with their browser team, where he established the developer-engagement platform the Web We Want and worked to chart the future of Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) as a member of the W3C’s Web Applications Working Groups, an editor of several PWA-related specifications, and author of numerous feature proposals. In 2022, Aaron shifted his focus to accessibility innovation and began leading Microsoft’s AI for Accessibility grant program to identify and fund innovations in accessibility on a global scale. In his current role, Aaron continues to drive accessibility innovation at Microsoft. He is deeply involved in projects that use AI to help people with disabilities to empower themselves and is actively working on improving developer tooling around accessibility with the help of AI. Aaron actively works with other organizations to help them improve the quality (and equality) of their AI-connected products and to integrate accessibility into their development processes. Aaron loves to share his knowledge and insights in written form. His three-part series on progressive enhancement for A List Apart is a perennial favorite and his seminal book on the subject, Adaptive Web Design, earned him numerous accolades and honors. When he’s not writing, Aaron is frequently on the road presenting at conferences and running workshops across the globe. You can find out more about Aaron at aaron-gustafson.com.