Gulen Yilmaz

Gulen Yilmaz is a digital accessibility specialist focused on creating inclusive experiences across websites, mobile applications, and other digital products. Her expertise includes accessibility testing, Section 508, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), functional testing, automation testing, and the evaluation of web and native applications across platforms including iOS, Android, and tablets.

Gulen has worked as part of Perficient’s Detroit Business Unit, where she has contributed to cross-functional teams through accessibility testing, software quality assurance, problem-solving, and collaboration with clients and colleagues. Her work focuses on identifying accessibility barriers and helping organizations create digital products that can be used by people with a wide range of abilities and needs.

A central part of Gulen’s expertise is understanding and applying accessibility standards. She has deep knowledge of WCAG and Section 508 and applies these standards when evaluating digital experiences. Her testing experience includes both manual and automated approaches, as well as functional testing across web and native applications. Her technical background allows her to work across different stages of software development and testing while keeping accessibility and inclusion at the center of the process.

Gulen is also a strong advocate for inclusive and universal design. Her published work explores accessibility beyond compliance, emphasizing how inclusive design can improve experiences for everyone. She has written about accessibility in education, healthcare, digital products, and everyday experiences, highlighting the importance of designing for people with different abilities from the beginning rather than treating accessibility as an afterthought.

Her writing also covers practical accessibility topics, including digital accessibility testing, captions and semantic markup, physical and auditory disabilities, equitable use, and the relationship between accessibility and universal design. Through these contributions, she advocates for digital experiences that remove barriers while also improving usability and inclusion for broader audiences.

Gulen holds the IAAP Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC) credential, issued in July 2023. Her LinkedIn profile also lists certifications in digital accessibility, web design accessibility, Agile testing, Selenium, Postman, Git, Java, and ACCELQ automation engineering. She has also completed training through the Interaction Design Foundation and holds an Oracle Certified Associate credential for Java SE 8.

Her combination of technical testing experience and accessibility expertise gives Gulen a practical perspective on inclusive digital product development. She is particularly interested in ensuring that accessibility is integrated into the design and development process so that digital experiences are usable, equitable, and welcoming to everyone.