Watch Webinar On Demand - Accessibility : Beyond Compliance

For many businesses and organizations, conversations about digital accessibility often begin and end with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). We rely on these agreed-upon standards to guide testing, design, and remediation work. But what are the potential drawbacks of viewing accessibility as a set of success criteria to be satisfied? Does compliance guarantee a good user experience? If not, how can we take a more user-centered approach to produce digital content and services?

Key Highlights

In this on-demand webinar, Straive’s Senior Director of Accessibility, Todd Marquis Boutin, Samuel Proulx (Accessibility Evangelist, Fable) and Jennifer Chadwick (Lead Accessibility Strategist, Siteimprove) to discuss the following assertion: “Accessibility means WCAG conformance.” In doing so, they offer an approach to digital accessibility that emphasizes people and process. They consider the practical implications of adopting this approach, and they explore why accessibility is an integral part of good design rather than an add-on.

This webinar is relevant for digital content producers, production managers, content managers, editors, instructional designers, web designers, web developers, accessibility leads, accessibility auditors, and sourcing specialists.

Accessible, inclusive, and universal design: Similarities and differences

Including people with disabilities in testing, design, and remediation

Broad benefits of user-centered, inclusive design

Limitations of remediation

Automated and manual testing

Added-value of going beyond Level AA

Insourcing, outsourcing, and vendor selection

Speaker Details

Todd Marquis Boutin
Senior Director, Accessibility Straive Lewiston, Maine USA

Todd comes to accessible publishing and eLearning from a background in social services and education. Since 2017, he has overseen the authoring of 2.3 million image descriptions for K-12 and Higher Ed learning products. Todd also works with Straive’s product teams to design client-tailored, multi-service accessibility solutions. He collaborates with clients on accessibility strategy and guidelines development, and he provides trainings for editors and content creators. Todd has been credentialed as a Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC) by the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP). He is an active member of W3C’s Silver Community Group and Alt Text Subgroup, and he has presented on alt-text authoring for the University of Guelph Accessibility Conference, M-Enabling, the ICT Testing Symposium, and IAAP’s OPD Webinar series.

Samuel Proulx
Accessibility Evangelist Fable Toronto, Ontario CA

Samuel Proulx is the Accessibility Evangelist at Fable, a leading accessibility platform powered by people with disabilities. As a blind individual, Sam knows and values the importance of accessibility in all aspects of life and is a strong advocate for the inclusion of people with disabilities in the digital world. Sam brings his previous experience as Fable’s community manager, plus life-long advocacy for himself and others, to his role as Evangelist.

Jennifer Chadwick
Lead Accessibility Strategist and Senior Training Consultant Siteimprove Toronto, Ontario CA

Jennifer is a former user experience designer of websites and mobile applications, and her 15-year background in user research and usability solidified her commitment to accessibility and inclusive design. Jennifer guides digital teams through a process of adopting and implementing inclusive best practices in design, development, content, and testing through their operations and culture. She has provided counsel to executive management teams and digital practitioners in both the public and private sectors in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. Jennifer is a Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC), a Certified Usability Analyst (CUA), and Certified User Experience Researcher (CXR). She is a proud member of the Accessibility Roles and Responsibilities Methodology (ARRM) task force, within the W3C Education and Outreach Working Group (EOWG), and an active participant in the W3C Silver Working Group (AGWG).