What Next! The Next Chapter of DigitalA11Y

Over a decade ago, I acquired the domain DigitalA11Y and began writing articles for the blog. However, it wasn’t until 2019 that I took the blog seriously. At that time, I was undergoing dialysis and needed something to focus my energy on during my free time. While working part-time, I penned my thoughts on accessibility and shared what I learned during my journey as an accessibility specialist.

The encouragement from readers has been overwhelming, and over the past few years, our readership has grown significantly. The goal of DigitalA11Y has always been to simplify the subject of accessibility and share it with readers who find the academic documentation of W3C and the subject of WCAG difficult to navigate.

During this period, DigitalA11Y helped me become a better writer and person. I also built an accessibility community, HelloA11Y, over the last four years, which provided support during my dialysis and transplant journey.

Today, I stand once again at a crossroads in life. My transplanted kidney is going through immune rejection, and the doctors have done all they can to save the organ. At this point, I feel the need to rest and take a break from running the digital properties and communities I own.

In the last few days, it has felt as though life has not been fair to me in many ways. As someone who prefers to be a free bird, traveling and telling stories through my writing and art, I find myself stuck in a room, talking to all of you through the digital medium. This is not the same as being with most of you offline, in the same room.

While I am taking a break from DigitalA11Y for a while, I found a successor about two years ago. Monika and I met through a social app, and I instantly knew that she could run DigitalA11Y. Sometimes, we need new blood to bring innovation and new life into things, and I believe Monika Prasad can do it better than anyone else.

If you have observed all the great designs on the pages, featured images on the posts, and all the YouTube videos, those are created by Monika. Here is a short bio about her:

About Monika Prasad

Monika Prasad brings a wealth of experience in user experience design, accessibility, programming, and CAD modeling. She currently serves as the Creative Director at DigitalA11y, where she channels her creativity into enhancing digital spaces for her consulting clients. Monika’s expertise extends beyond designing captivating digital layouts.

She is also a scriptwriter, voice-over artist, educational video creator, and a dedicated mentor. Outside of her professional pursuits, Monika enjoys practicing music, creating artwork, and engaging in social activities. 

The captain of the Essex whale ship was once asked how someone could give him another ship when his first one was broken. He replied, assuming that lightning does not strike twice. But when the second ship of George Pollard Jr. was stuck in ice, he became a broken and lost man. This line resonated with me when I read about the tragedy of Essex and Captain George Pollard Jr. all those years ago.

I don’t want to be a lost man and become a ghost. I want to redefine and rediscover myself because I need new strength, both physical and mental, to face what awaits me in the future.

Thank you to each of the readers and well-wishers who supported me during all these years. One of the ways you can support me right now in these uncertain times is to let me know if DigitalA11Y or HelloA11Y played any role in your accessibility journey. Please send a personal note via email at [email protected] or comment here—a few words might help uplift my mood.

Until next time, this is Raghavendra Satish Peri.