About Dan Spelt
Full-Stack Developer · Accessibility Specialist · Remote
I'm Dan Spelt — a full-stack developer with over 18 years of experience building web applications. I work across the whole stack: Next.js, React, Node.js, MongoDB, Docker, and more. I have shipped real products, worked in real teams, and solved real problems.
I was born with cerebral palsy, which means I type more slowly than most developers. I won't pretend otherwise. But I use AI tools every day — not as a shortcut, but as an equalizer. They help me move at a pace that works, and they have made me a better, more deliberate engineer in the process.
I will get the job done. It might take me a bit longer than average. But the work will be thorough, the code will be clean, and I will not stop until it is right.
Open to remote roles — full-time, part-time, or contract. Let's talk.
18+ Years of Real Experience
I have been building web systems professionally since 2008 — across non-profits, universities, SaaS products, and government-adjacent organizations. That depth shows up in the quality of my work.
AI-Assisted Development
I use AI tools every day to work faster and smarter. Because I type more slowly than most developers, AI helps me stay competitive — and I've become genuinely skilled at prompting, directing, and verifying AI output.
Strong Team Collaborator
I work well in teams. I communicate clearly, I ask good questions, I keep things unblocked, and I follow through. I have worked in Agile/Scrum environments for years and I know how to contribute without ego.
Lived Accessibility Expertise
I was born with cerebral palsy. I have used assistive technology my whole life. When I build for accessibility, it is not a checkbox — it is something I genuinely understand from the inside.
Accessibility & Compliance
My WCAG implementation work at Neil Squire Society produced measurable outcomes: a 20% increase in accessibility compliance, a 30% reduction in bounce rate, and a 15% increase in sales attributed to screen reader compatibility improvements. This is not theoretical — these are delivered results in a real public-interest organization. My compliance work spans WCAG 2.0/2.1, ADA alignment, screen reader engineering, and structured accessibility auditing and documentation.
Systems & Architecture
I have designed and shipped several real systems: LipSync Connect (a Next.js accessibility platform for device interaction at Neil Squire Society); a full-stack data platform at CanAssist (University of Victoria); Community Hive (a multi-tenant SaaS for strata and HOA communities, built solo over 22 months); and AccessLens (a civic accessibility mapping platform, currently in active development). Each project reflects how I actually work — methodically, carefully, and with attention to the things that matter long-term.