About Us

Meet Michael Harshbarger

Founder and Principal Consultant

Welcome to AccessibilityFirst Solutions LLC. Michael Harshbarger, an experienced project leader and digital accessibility advocate, founded the company. Michael has over fifteen years of experience leading accessibility initiatives and managing important projects. He ensures digital experiences are inclusive for everyone.

Experience

Michael has worked with Fortune 100 companies, helping them integrate accessibility into their products. He has created tailored training programs and delivered measurable improvements in digital accessibility. AccessibilityFirst Solutions is a reliable partner with expertise in accessibility principles and program management.

Training

Michael taught a PMP Prep course at his local chapter for over five years. In 2020, he brought that passion for teaching and learning to Deque to training companies about accessibility. Michael has a reputation as an engaging trainer. He presents with energy and charisma. In his training sessions, Michael ensures he incorporates real-world examples into his discussions, as he remembers how his most effective teachers always stressed the relevance of what they were teaching.

Michael learned early on “the person doing the talking is doing the learning”. Because of that, he makes sure whatever he teaches gives the learning to time to try, and talk to others what they are learning. This core belief of our accessibility training solutions and public accessibility training.

Services

This training and teaching mindset also applies to Accessibility Audits and Strategic Accessibility Consulting. It is not just about raising awareness of what needs to be done at an organization to move accessibility forward. It is about taking the time to help others understand what needs to be done so they can do it themselves.

Personal Philosophy

Michael wants to make the world better. He loves that accessibility allows him to do that every day. He also feels he can make the world a better place by telling dad jokes. Admittingly, not everyone agrees with that one. As a father of four, he has no control over it. Michael will tell you, “That is apparent.”

Another philosophy he follows is to be the person his dog thinks he is. We also reflect this philosophy in our approach at AccessibilityFirst Solutions LLC.

Liliana

Chief Happiness Officer

Liliana is the heart and soul of our team. Adopted six years ago, she has since become an indispensable part of our office. As our Chief Happiness Officer, Liliana brings joy, enthusiasm, and a sense of calm to our workplace. With her friendly demeanor and boundless energy, she ensures that everyone in the office stays motivated and stress-free. She is also willing to offer puppy kisses if anyone needs one. Her loyalty and dedication are an inspiration to us all, reminding us of the importance of perseverance and a positive attitude. Liliana served as the inspiration for our company philosophy because she reminds us how important it is to change the world.

She also does a great job of reminding us to give back. Which we do by donating to the Guide Dogs of America and NVAccess. One way Liliana makes sure we stay inspired is making sure we watch the live stream of Guide Dogs of America Nursery Cam powered by EXPLORE.org to brighten our day.