Adaptive Atelier Founder on Digital Accessibility Gaps

What Happened

In an interview published by techcabal.com on Friday, November 13, 2026, Toyosi Badejo-Okusanya, founder of accessibility company Adaptive Atelier, detailed how digital platforms in Africa and Europe frequently exclude disabled users. She highlighted why companies must look past basic automated compliance scans and invest in real human testing to fix digital barriers.

Key Details from the Report

Badejo-Okusanya grew up in Nigeria before moving to London at age 16. After studying law, she transitioned into technology and luxury marketing, working with brands such as Jo Malone London. Almost two years ago, she left corporate employment to focus completely on Adaptive Atelier, a firm dedicated to identifying and removing accessibility barriers in digital products.

Adaptive Atelier operates using a hybrid model that combines automated scanning software with manual evaluation by disabled professionals. Through its AdaptiveAlly program, disabled testers perform product assessments and earn between 80% and 90% of the testing fee for each project.

Badejo-Okusanya cautioned against trusting automated scans alone. During an audit of Nigerian fintech homepages using their automated tool, AdaptiveTest, the software recommended labeling an empty button with the generic phrase "Click me". While that suggestion technically passes an automated check, a vision-impaired customer using a screen reader would still not know whether clicking the button transfers funds or closes a pop-up window.

She also pointed out key operational contrasts between business hubs. In Lagos, gaining direct access to C-suite executives is often simpler than in London, but local platforms face far fewer legal mandates regarding accessibility. Conversely, while London has stricter legal requirements, decision-makers in both markets frequently treat accessibility as a static report to file rather than an ongoing customer experience to improve.

What This Means for You

For founders, product managers, and executive leaders in Nigeria and across Africa, digital accessibility directly impacts market reach and customer retention. When platforms fail to accommodate disabled users, businesses lose potential revenue and exclude qualified clients before those customers even have an opportunity to engage with the product.

Relying exclusively on automated software audits leaves critical gaps in your user experience. Automated tools can flag missing tags, but only actual users can evaluate whether a digital workflow makes logical sense. When structuring internal operations to handle user experience audits, managers can draw on AyaHQ Lessons: Building Resilient Business Teams to ensure cross-functional alignment during product reviews.

Additionally, regulatory frameworks established by agencies such as the National Information Technology Development Agency and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission emphasize digital standards and consumer protection. Treating accessibility as a strategic priority rather than a legal burden allows growing companies to stand out in increasingly competitive digital markets.

What to Do Now

• Audit critical user journeys: Review your sign-up, checkout, and payment flows to ensure screen readers and alternative input methods function correctly.
• Combine automated tools with human feedback: Use automated scanners for quick initial checks, but engage actual disabled users to evaluate real-world usability.
• Present accessibility as a business case: When seeking budget approval from senior management or board members, outline the financial and market reach advantages rather than relying solely on moral arguments.
• Establish continuous updates: Treat digital inclusion as an ongoing operational process instead of a one-time compliance report.