Accessibility Advocacy and Etiquette

For July’s Meetup, we will be featuring two talks that cross all professions and everyday life: one on disability etiquette and the other on advocacy strategies. Our speakers will be Janis Yee and #a11yTO’s own John McNabb!

How to be an Accessibility Advocate

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.

Janis Yee’s Bio

Janis has been a designer since 2004, currently specializing in digital accessibility. She loves to discuss ideas, debunk myths surrounding inclusion and diversity, and advocates for accessibility at every turn.

Disability Etiquette

Surveys show that many people who don't personally know anyone with a disability will avoid them for fear of saying the wrong thing.

This talk will introduce basic topics surrounding disability including: disability types, people-first language, permanent/temporary/situational disabilities, invisible disabilities, Social Model vs. Medical Model, curb cut effect, how to work with colleagues/customers with disabilities, Spoon Theory of chronic illness, and whether to disclose a disability.

John McNabb’s Bio:

John works at Level Access as an Accessibility Consultant. He likes to share information about accessibility in a straightforward manner. He's a lifelong learner and a fan of plain language.