[Athen] Microsoft Will Help Launch a New Association for Accessibility Professionals

[Ron Stewart]

Here is their website: http://accessibilityassociation.org/

 

Ron Stewart

 

From: Ron Stewart [mailto:ron at ahead.org] 
Sent: Thursday, December 19, 2013 10:26 AM
To: 'Access Technology Higher Education Network'
Subject: RE: [Athen] Microsoft Will Help Launch a New Association for
Accessibility Professionals

 

Thanks Norm I am looking into this. ATHEN has been involved in this effort
since its very beginning but they have not done a very good job of keeping
us all informed.  My concern is that it may be another pay to play effort
given the involvement of ATIA and primarily large IT companies.  I know that
both I and Greg Vanderheiden (sp?) have expressed our concern about their
claims to have involved education in this effort when they really have not.

 

Ron Stewart.

 

From: athen-list-bounces at mailman2.u.washington.edu
[mailto:athen-list-bounces at mailman2.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of Prof Norm
Coombs
Sent: Thursday, December 19, 2013 10:11 AM
To: athen-list-u.washington.edu
Subject: [Athen] Microsoft Will Help Launch a New Association for
Accessibility Professionals

 


I just picked this announcement up and feel it is relevant to ATHEN
members....
Norm




Microsoft Will Help Launch a New Association for Accessibility Professionals


Daniel Hubbell - MSFT <http://blogs.msdn.com/3857/ProfileUrlRedirect.ashx>  
17 Dec 2013 7:11 AM 

*	2
<http://blogs.msdn.com/b/accessibility/archive/2013/12/17/microsoft-will-hel
p-launch-a-new-association-for-accessibility-professionals.aspx#comments>  


 
<http://blogs.msdn.com/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-
weblogfiles/00-00-00-98-83/1881.RobSinclair1_5F00_2013.jpg> Picture of Rob
Sinclair 

This blog post was written by Rob Sinclair, Microsoft's Chief Accessibility
Officer. Rob is responsible for the company's worldwide strategy to develop
software and services that make it easier for people of all ages and
abilities to see, hear, and use their computers.

-----

Last month, I joined the founding members of the International Association
of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP) in a meeting where we discussed the
next steps to create an association and transform accessibility into a
globally recognized and respected profession.

In March, we will take one of our biggest steps by formally launching the
Association. So far, accessibility has developed at a grassroots level,
hindered by an inconsistent approach to training as well as the absence of
certifications and an established career path for engineers to follow from
higher education into the workplace.

This new association will begin solving these challenges by creating a
global community for people and organizations working in accessibility to
share expertise and resources, support one another's work, and follow
developments in this fast-changing field. As part of this effort, the group
will develop training materials, webinars and other educational resources
and point people to the wealth of existing industry resources. All of this
will lead to IAAP developing professional certifications to help individuals
demonstrate their level of expertise in one or more aspects of accessibility
and help them keep that expertise current. Overall, the association's goal
is to help elevate the level of expertise held by the growing number of
people, around the world, who are designing or authoring content, media,
software, devices, and more.

Perhaps most importantly, the association is an effort to create a stronger
sense of profession in a field of frequently self-taught practitioners. It
will help those working full-time in accessibility as well as those that
only include it as part of their jobs. It will support companies and
organizations by helping their leaders understand how to build a successful
accessibility program and develop the organizational capacity needed to
deliver accessibility solutions.

We have a lot to do in the next three months including the creation of an
accessible infrastructure, including a website, to serve the association and
its members. It also includes beginning work to develop content, like
webinars, and a platform to share insights and experience from experts in
the field. All of this is being achieved through the contributions of the 23
founding member organizations, representing five countries, that have
committed money, personnel and materials to help prepare for the IAAP
launch.

The window of opportunity to become a Founding Member organization is
quickly closing. If you are interested in contributing to the IAAP in this
leadership capacity, or if you simply have a question or suggestion, please
send us mail at info at accessibilityassociation.org.

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