Advocacy is an important element that pushes companies to think about digital accessibility as more than just a barrier to launch. Unfortunately, many feel they don’t have the power within their current roles to make an impact. This talk will go over some ideas and suggestions to help empower anyone to be an accessibility advocate, no matter what role you’re in.

1. Accessibility
Advocacy
Janis Yee
www.janisyee.ca

2. I am not an expert.
Janis Yee, a11yTO July 2019

3. What is Accessibility
Advocacy?
Janis Yee, a11yTO July 2019

4. Advocacy is an activity by an
individual or group that aims to
influence decisions within
political, economic, and social
systems and institutions.
Wikipedia

5. Accessibility Advocacy is
about doing whatever it
takes to give accessibility
considerations a seat at the
table everywhere.
Janis Yee, a11yTO July 2019

6. Where do you
start?
Janis Yee, a11yTO July 2019

8. Progression of Impact
1. You
2. Your Peers
3. Your Team
4. Your Company
5. Your Community
Janis Yee, a11yTO July 2019

9. 1. Start with YOU
Janis Yee, a11yTO July 2019

11. #wethechamps
Janis Yee, a11yTO July 2019

12. Invest in yourself
1. Keep learning
2. Apply your knowledge
3. Grow your proactive
mindset
Janis Yee, a11yTO July 2019

13. Who can make
accessibility happen?
Janis Yee, a11yTO July 2019

15. It’s not enough to just be
the squeaky wheel.
You’ve gotta bring your
own grease too.
Janis Yee, a11yTO July 2019

16. 2. Your PEERS
Janis Yee, a11yTO July 2019

17. Things you can do
1. Host lunch and learns
2. Setup posters everywhere
(even in bathroom stalls)
3. Answer questions in Slack
Janis Yee, a11yTO July 2019

18. Janis Yee, a11yTO July 2019

19. Dos and donts on designing
for accessibility Posters
https://accessibility.blog.gov.u
k/2016/09/02/dos-and-donts-o
n-designing-for-accessibility/

20. 3. Your TEAM
Janis Yee, a11yTO July 2019

21. Challenges within Teams
1. Poor psychological safety
2. Lack of budget, time, or
dedicated resources
3. Misconceptions about
scope
Janis Yee, a11yTO July 2019

23. 4. Your COMPANY
Janis Yee, a11yTO July 2019

24. Challenges with Companies
1. No corporate awareness
2. Lack of executive support
3. Lack of education program
4. Silos by function
Janis Yee, a11yTO July 2019

25. The Accessibility Maturity Model in a nutshell
Beginning
No executive
mandate,
policies, or
budget
Transition
Some
Executive
support, no
clear strategy
Goal
Full executive
support and
thought
leadership
Adapted and simplified from Neil Milliken’s model

26. Basic Strategies
1. Identify maturity level
2. Map out influencers
3. Identify gaps and plan
4. Gather executive support
Janis Yee, a11yTO July 2019

27. 5. Your COMMUNITY
Janis Yee, a11yTO July 2019

28. Things you can do
1. Attend events
2. Share what you know
Janis Yee, a11yTO July 2019

29. Who can make
accessibility happen?
Janis Yee, a11yTO July 2019

31. Thank you!

32. Questions?
Comments?
Discussion?