On this week's episode of the podcast, freeCodeCamp founder Quincy Larson interviews Julia Undeutsch who is a self-taught software engineer and accessibility specialist. She works at a large European consultancy helping companies make their software more accessible for people with disabilities. Taught herself to code in her 30s using freeCodeCamp.
We talk about:
- Julia's coding journey from poker dealer to self-taught software engineer
- How she creates tutorials in Japanese
- Her passion for making software easier to use for everyone
- Working remotely at a big European software consultancy
Links we talk about during our conversation:
- Julia's website: https://www.juliaundeutsch.com/
- Movie trailer for the 1999 Clive Owen movie "Croupier" that Quincy mentions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDWzeq5QGiA
Chapters
0:00:00 Teaser
0:00:19 Introuction
0:01:24 Song: Fever
0:02:20 Introduction to Accessibility and Self-Taught Development
0:05:12 Understanding Accessibility: Importance and Impact
0:08:16 The Role of Accessibility in Software Development
0:11:14 Julia's Journey: From Poker Dealer to Accessibility Specialist
0:14:27 The Transition to Coding: Overcoming Challenges
0:17:16 Cultural Insights: Working Across Borders
0:20:21 The Experience of Working in a Consultancy
0:23:15 Building Confidence in a New Role
0:26:16 Final Thoughts on Accessibility and Career Growth
0:34:36 Navigating the Early Days of Development
0:36:21 The Evolution of Front-End Frameworks
0:37:52 Continuous Learning and Skill Development
0:39:36 Passion for Accessibility
0:41:26 Cultural Perspectives on Accessibility
0:44:03 The Importance of Accessibility in Gaming
0:45:54 The Future of Accessibility in Technology
0:50:35 Practical Tips for Web Accessibility
0:56:40 The Role of Companies in Accessibility
1:03:36 The Value of Language Learning