Accessibility at
Worked as a part of the UX Research & Design team at SoFi, the internship focused on improving accessibility across product funnels. The final project involved conducting research on screen reader compatibility, with findings and recommendations presented through detailed presentations, spreadsheets, and Figma prototypes. Presented insights and findings to 60+ colleagues (including executive staff).
The Problem:
The project focused on making sure screen readers worked smoothly across SoFi’s product funnels, tackling a key accessibility challenge. This can be especially tough in banking, where accessibility isn’t always a priority due to complex interfaces, security constraints, and overall industry culture.
My Goal: To identify gaps and barriers in the user experience to create a more inclusive platform for all users.
The Proccess:
1. Learning
The first step in improving accessibility was understanding how screen readers work and the challenges users face when relying on them. This involved learning about different screen reader technologies, navigating digital experiences with them, and identifying barriers that could make interactions frustrating or inaccessible. Putting myself in the user's shoes helped uncover gaps and ensure recommendations were grounded in real user needs. More importantly, we conducted live user-interviews with members using screen readers, to validate & test that what we were learning was helpful and meaningful.
2. Research
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​Conducted an audit that test all 929 elements (buttons, images, etc.) across 12 product funnels. Used a screen reader throughout the entirety of the audit.
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3. Findings
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Presented an overview of my findings to 60+ members of the company (including our head of product). ​​​
*Numbers covered for confidentiality.
Provided actionable insights to improve our accessibility performance across product funnels.
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What I learned:
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1. The importance of developing empathy with users before making design decisions.
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2. How to collaborate effectively across research, design, and engineering teams, balancing different perspectives and aligning stakeholder priorities.
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3. How to distill complex, technical information into clear, high-level insights for executive presentations.