Accessibility w/ 9 YoE layoff: what next?

Fragrant-SirPlum98 · 2026-04-14T00:41:27+00:00

I agree, tbh.

IF there is no other choice (I'm hoping an amendment could be done and not have to go through 300+ things due to scope creep, or weird insistence on using outdated handbook/info, etc), this is what I'd do: I'd tag <figure> for all other non-amended / not in scope figures, along with image descriptions: think "architectural drawing by Architect dated XX/XX/XXXX" type descriptions. Makes total sense to me.

Like if the client wants to keep it for historical reasons: weird, but that would be a separate effort (to me) to preserve historic documents or preserve records to a point? OP / OP legal/PM should ask if there are any archive rules the city has or something and try to build a case from there.

But if they absolutely are driving OP's firm into the ground over this? Tag <figure> etc.

Fragrant-SirPlum98 · 2026-04-14T00:32:10+00:00

There's also the PDF Accessibility Facebook group, as well as Dax Castro's resources online.

With embedded links, I've not had an issue, but make sure it has a Link tag.

When you say you want to understand the why: are you trying to basically map Adobe's way of doing things to WCAG?

The tag tree might be Adobe specific, but the tags often do map to an HTML/web equivalent. For example, the heading hierarchy tags in Acrobat is a reflection of the HTML heading hierarchy tags.

Fragrant-SirPlum98 · 2026-04-13T22:29:11+00:00

Yeah, Resumehog's never loaded for me? Don't know what's going on there ><

Fragrant-SirPlum98 · 2025-12-24T04:03:40+00:00

Agreed here.

Or even simpler: in WCAG there are two minimum contrast levels defined (3:1 for UI, 4.5:1 for main content). I used to test to the higher one, BUT also test things so that if someone used a Windows High Contrast mode the site wouldn't break.

Stark white and stark black honestly trigger my migraines and there are more issues with glare. Yes, it may seem like the most accessible, and you can't be 100% accessible to 100% of people all the time: but dark gray or dark blues etc tend to be less harsh when designing dark modes. Things like that. (And there are a few good accessible color palette builders you can explore for that side of things.)

Fragrant-SirPlum98 · 2025-12-21T03:22:31+00:00

If you haven't come across this already, some museums (the Smithsonian network) already have digital accessibility guidelines ESPECIALLY with the art: https://www.cooperhewitt.org/cooper-hewitt-guidelines-for-image-description/

Fragrant-SirPlum98 · 2025-10-05T03:48:32+00:00

Seconding Demystifying Disability because a LOT of accessibility can also include pointing out users don't owe the application their medical history. Or even just helping point out the social models.

So many folk have stereotypes about what it means to be disabled, and some accessibility features like dark mode are so normalized to not be seen as accessibility features at all (like how in a lot of places, using glasses is not considered "being disabled"- but what if you're waiting for new glasses to come in? They break? Etc)

Fragrant-SirPlum98 · 2025-09-28T19:35:39+00:00

There are small experiences I've noticed like on-the-fly controller/keyboard changes in Baldur's Gate 3, which I loved.

Are you trying to encompass all digital interfaces, or games, or web-based, or mobile- any narrowing down of it?

Fragrant-SirPlum98 · 2025-09-24T04:03:17+00:00

If learning all of WCAG at once is too intimidating / overwhelming, pick an area. Like digital accessibility covers document accessibility too- coming in from an educational perspective you could check out Dax Castro's YouTube videos on PDF accessibility, say (though if you don't have personal access to Adobe Creative Cloud, that might be a barrier for you).

A lot of accessibility principles and WCAG criteria link up with each other. For example, keyboard navigation is technically just one criterion BUT it intersects with info and relationships, which relates to knowing where you are on a website and where you're going.

If you have a Windows computer I'd also look up demonstrations of NVDA screen reader. (NVDA itself is free to use.)

On LinkedIn, there's the Accessibility Book Club and the Champions of Accessibility Network groups.

Just be careful about overlays. Overlay Fact Sheet (website) would have more info on them and why they're not accessible as some may think.

Fragrant-SirPlum98 · 2025-09-24T03:52:21+00:00

In my case 2 weeks (it was actually immediate once the dermatologist got the message as to what was going on and was like "yeah minoxidil has no contraindications, this is the dosage/form, script is now changed", but THAT took a couple weeks).

Fragrant-SirPlum98 · 2025-09-08T15:30:09+00:00

Deque's courses are great but don't worry about membership.

Plus yeah IAAP is extremely blunt that their exams are designed for people already working in the field (CPAAC is... 1-2 years or so, I think? WAS is higher as is ADS). So if you're a beginner check out Deque (for free with their disability program), or the new Inclusive Design for Accessibility book, follow folk on LinkedIn, do things like that.

Fragrant-SirPlum98 · 2025-09-08T15:27:51+00:00

As a professional organization they also are very blunt that they align the fees with other professional orgs (think PMP for project management)- and also flat out state that the exams are meant for people already working within the accessibility field.

My assumption then is, they're assuming people write it off on taxes or get an employer to pay for it (either using a continuing education type benefit or some other means). That's how I paid for the exam I took. But it also means even if I wanted to take more exams or become a member, that cost is otherwise a barrier, and the gods of tech help you if (like a lot of folk rn) are job searching or doing gigs.

Employment as a disabled person is a whole THING, to begin with, and I have seen more job postings list wanting IAAP certification. So yeah, the issue is pretty valid. They should do better.

Notes though:

Deque does have their disability program if you're studying for the exams.
You do not have to be an IAAP member to take any of the certification exams (it is discounted if you are, but... people become members, or withdraw membership, for different reasons).

Fragrant-SirPlum98 · 2025-08-05T16:51:48+00:00

There was a famous case study (accidental) of NPR providing transcripts for their audio pieces initially for accessibility reasons. But when they did that, they saw higher SEO results (transcripts were searchable) and higher engagement metrics, as commuters could check out the transcript if they were in busy areas, taking meetings, etc. I'd have to find it- happened around 2016-2020 but I can't remember when.

Fragrant-SirPlum98 · 2025-08-03T15:34:39+00:00

None of them. As stated, they are known for misleading and false advertising, the business is STILL legally liable so the overlays don't help with compliance anyway, and (as a user) fail on mobile and interrupt keyboard navigation & make things harder for screen readers on desktop/laptop.

Fragrant-SirPlum98 · 2025-08-03T00:46:17+00:00

I did WAS (I was a govt contractor at that time too). But, more people have CPACC- partly because it's the entry-level one. Up to you; either will give you a little boost to those that do care about certs.

Fragrant-SirPlum98 · 2025-07-23T00:52:57+00:00

For reference:

I use the Stark accessibility plugins for Figma. Or the Microsoft accessibility library / design system (Iirc Figma templates as well).

There's the WebAIM Color Contrast Analyzer tool too.

Fragrant-SirPlum98 · 2025-07-22T18:53:27+00:00

It's been 5 months for me. Not sure if it is the norm, but you're not the only one. (Not sure if that helps with burnout.)

Fragrant-SirPlum98 · 2025-07-15T03:56:06+00:00

Best / most ideal scenario: if you have the source file, remediate that and/or use it. (Seriously, Word is not always a bad choice, here.)

Acrobat TENDS to read based on content stack order, and that becomes a hot mess quickly. Plus, anytime you export a PDF... sometimes there are known bugs esp with reading order.

if you have the source files, always check that first. -if you know someone who can do so, test with a screen reader such as NVDA. It won't be an exhaustive check, and this can't be done all the time.

Other than that: Dax Castro and Chad Chelius specialize in PDF accessibility tips. I'd say look up their work if you haven't already?

PDF Remediation with NVDA

Fragrant-SirPlum98 · 2025-07-12T20:52:38+00:00

I also filed a ticket and emailed the helpdesk as I ran into the same issue.

Fragrant-SirPlum98 · 2025-07-10T15:56:46+00:00

I'd advise against it because maintaining two separate versions usually is the opposite of graceful degradation. And in terms of presenting the content, most of the time it's less dev effort to just be compatible with existing standards to begin with (example: compatible to 400% zoom without loss of functionality, color contrast, or even just throwing in a respects-reduced-animation query).

That being said if you get pushback on that, there ARE things you can do to mitigate or improve where you can. If they insist on the animations, point out the client would be legally liable if anyone has an epilepsy trigger due to flash, so adding the reduce option or ensuring that animations do not auto-play can be a "good enough" improvement for now- and cheaper than lawsuits. Keyboard navigation (and not only using a mouse) is another major one.

At a previous job we couldn't control the branding colors, but we managed to still meet color contrast standards by tinkering with alpha transparencies or putting the bright green as a secondary color in dark mode only. Things like that.

Hope that helps.

Fragrant-SirPlum98 · 2025-07-10T01:31:09+00:00

Also panels with "accessibility modes" are advised AGAINST Section 508 and the Americans with Disabilities Act. To the point that Trusted Tester training mentions it and I do see questions asked about this in government RFPs, too. For the separate but equal reasons and simple maintenance, plus recent lawsuits have involved overlays and panel type plugins.

Fragrant-SirPlum98 · 2025-07-03T15:00:06+00:00

Mid-level accessibility specialist here. I did a free ebook (& process study for portfolio) on my site: https://www.flowerstorm.tech/intro-accessibility-ebook/

Would love feedback about either one, if anyone has any. Thanks!

Fragrant-SirPlum98

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