Why Choose Nick?
I am passionate about Accessibility, but there is some background to that passion that you might want to know.
I’ve written other about pages for different things, but none more personal than this one. Below, I’ll talk about a few things that led me to accessibility and how I have worked to achieve mastery.
I’ll also be sharing some history of my daughter’s health and disability. I think this is important information so you will know why I hold an incredibly high standard regarding accessibility.
Background in physical accessibility
In my 20s, I worked in construction on a college campus. During this time, I learned about physical access requirements.
My first exposure to accessibility was while replacing a door-closing mechanism. Did you know that there is a maximum pull weight and minimum closing time required for automatic door closers? I didn’t.
But I read the install directions and figured out how to make the adjustments necessary so that the door would be easy to open, take long enough to close, and still shut securely.
I also learned how to correctly build ramps and install bathroom fixtures and minimum hallway widths so people with disabilities can use them.
I worked on initiatives to improve the overall accessibility of the campus.
The last initiative was an elevator for the main building. I had pushed for years to make that happen and moved away the day after helping cut the opening to make it possible.
Starting Digital Accessibility
After moving, I started doing web development. I learned much about WordPress and the Genesis theme framework. I even wrote a book about the latter.
I attended a WordCamp in DC and sat in on an accessibility talk. During the talk, the speaker challenged us to use a screen reader to test our site.
When I got home, I did just that, and I learned that the things I thought were accessible had a long way to go, but then I started fixing them.
Accessibility Certifications
After learning to use a keyboard and screen reader to test components and sites, I wanted to go further. There was so much I didn’t know, so I enrolled in a course through Dequeue University. That got me started. I was looking for the next level.
This resulted in my first certification, Web Accessibility Specialist (WAS), through the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP). This is a pretty stringent certification process that requires applicants to pass an exam but also to be actively working in accessibility.
After earning my WAS, I searched and learned about the 508 Trusted Tester program. Section 508 is a US Accessibility requirement for government programs and associated contractors and services. It sets minimum accessibility requirements using a slightly modified version of WCAG 2.1 guidelines. The primary difference is a couple of guidelines are not testable with current technology in a quantifiable and repeatable manner. For example, the WCAG 2.3.1 “Three flashes” requirement can’t be tested by available tools in a way that ensures all testers get the same result, so it is left off the report but should still be honored.
Finally, I worked on my Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC) certification. This required an additional understanding of physical access, disabilities, and accessibility-related laws.
When I earned the CPACC, I also earned my Certified Professional in Web Accessibility (CPWA), which is awarded to individuals who have earned the CPACC and WAS certifications.
DHS Trusted Tester
More Passion
One would think earning four accessibility certifications would be the climax of my accessibility journey, but life is rarely so simple. In September 2021, our family experienced a significant tragedy.
My daughter, then 15, had a massive heart attack just as her school day was getting started. Fortunately, a quick response by the teacher resulted in EMS arriving quickly, CPR being started early, and transport to a nearby ER. The ER trauma team took over and would not give up after work for hours. She wouldn’t remain stable for more than a few minutes and required resuscitation over and over for more than three hours.
Eventually, she was put on ECMO (ExCorporeal Membrane Oxygenation), which stabilized her and kept her alive after significant lung and heart damage brought on by hours of CPR. While this did save her life, she experienced complications resulting in the loss of her left leg. She also had hypoxic brain injuries affecting motor control, vision, and higher executive function.
After four months of hospitalization and inpatient rehab, we were finally able to bring her home, but we had many changes to the home so that it would be accessible for her. Changes were also required at her school, and she required a screen reader for several months as her vision recovered.
This has only served to increase my passion for accessibility. I’m not just fighting to make the web accessible for everyone; I’m fighting for my daughter.
Let me help make your site accessible
