About
I am the founder of UXAccess LLC , Web Accessibility consultancy company.
I am a Certified Professional in Web Accessibility (CPWA) from the IAAP (International Association of Accessibility Professionals) as well as a Certified Usability Analyst (CUA) from HFI (Human Factor International).
For the last 11 years I have worked with user experience (UX) teams to design and create accessible online web applications, widgets and portals.
This work included the creation and implementation of guidelines and internal procedures combining Universal Design and Web Accessibility principles and guidelines. Those procedures were mainly based on Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG2.2) and UX research.
While working with the teams I stressed the importance of User Centered Design (UCD), putting into practice the creation of personas and user stories for people with disabilities.
I invited people with disabilities to join the development team in testing completed code, using their preferred assistive technology. The interaction between the professional team and the people with disabilities developed into a very productive exchange of knowledge and ideas.
While living in the US, I had the opportunity to audit different types of websites from private companies and government agencies, Education and Academia through, E-commerce, Banks to the Airline Industry. I reviewed the content of the websites for accessibility compliance issues, mainly WCAG 2x and and Section 508 of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
I provide small to large organizations with VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template) documents evaluating their product accessibility according to their required standard, either Section 508 Standards, WCAG 2x, the European standard EN 301 549 or a combination of the three.
I grew up in a household with a sister who is hard of hearing and a brother who is deaf. My sister married a wonderful person living with Ascher Syndrome, a condition that combines Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP, is a genetic disorder of the eyes that causes loss of vision) and hearing loss. Observing the way they function in inaccessible environments and conditions urged me to make a difference by using my skills to create more accessible web and mobile interfaces. We must ensure that people with disabilities will feel exactly like the rest of society by making the environment and services less impaired for them. Whenever I am able, I take part in voluntary work for people with disabilities introducing them to technology that can normalize their lives.