Watch the M-Enabling A11y Chats Live!

M-Enabling Summit A11y Chats

The Accessibility Chats (A11y Chats) program at the M-Enabling Summit is a valuable resource for individuals interested in accessibility. It consists of subject matter interviews where one or more guest speakers delve into various accessibility topics, including current trends and advocacy issues.  

The A11y Chats sessions will be conducted live and in person at the 2024 M-Enabling Summit and will also be available through the Summit Virtual Registration Package.  

The A11y Chats sessions will be recorded and later shared through the Global Initiative for Inclusive ICTs (G3ict) and the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP)’s social media outlets.

M-Enabling Summit Registration.

Attendance Options

In-Person Attendance: Registered 2024 M-Enabling Summit attendees can participate in each session live and in person in Studio F at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel. Please note that seating is limited in Studio F.

Virtual Attendance: Virtual attendees can access the event’s virtual portal to view sessions and use the networking chat feature. Please note that registration is required to attend the livestream sessions.

A11y Chats Schedule 2024  

Tuesday, October 15 | PM (EST) Schedule

A focus group lunch on “What Companies and Jobseekers Need to Know When Hiring Accessibility Professionals” will be held in Studio F before Track 1 (1:30-2:30 pm EST) begins. Focus groups are for on-site participants, and there is limited seating. If you are interested in participating, email Lauren Blankenship at lblankenship@g3ict.org. 

1:30 – 2:30 | Hiring Accessibility Professionals – The Organizational Perspective

Day 1, Track 1

  • 1:30 – 1:45 | Who to Hire – Internal/External/ Both?
    • Interviewer: Sharron Rush, Executive Director, Knowbility 
    • Guest speaker: Derek Featherstone. VP, Accessibility and Inclusive Design, Salesforce
  • 1:50 – 2:05 | Building a Diverse Team
    • Interviewer: Sharron Rush, Executive Director, Knowbility 
    • Guest speaker: Nandita Gupta, CPACC, Senior Product Manager, Accessibility, Cisco
  • 2:10 – 2:25 | Distributing Responsibilities
    • Interviewer: Sharron Rush, Executive Director, Knowbility
    • Guest speaker: Thomas Wlodkowski, Vice President, Accessibility, Comcast

2:30 – 3:30 | Global Accessibility Impact

Day 1, Track 2

  • 2:30 – 2:45 | AccessibleEU (European Accessibility Centre)
    • Interviewer: Christopher M. Lee, Ph.D., President, G3ict/IAAP
    • Guest speaker: Klaus Hoeckner, Managing Director, Austrian Association for the Blind and Low Vision
  • 2:50 – 3:05 | Zero Project
    • Interviewer: Klaus Hoeckner, Managing Director, Austrian Association for the Blind and Low Vision (Zero Project Ambassador)
    • Guest speaker: David Banes, Director, DB Access and Inclusion Services (Zero Project Ambassador)
  • 3:10 – 3:25 | Priorities of the U.S. Special Advisor on International Disability Rights Team
    • Interviewer: Isabel Hodge, Executive Director, U.S. International Council on Disabilities (USICD)
    • Guest speaker: Suzy Rosen Singleton, Senior Advisor to Special Advisor on International Disability Rights (Detailee), U.S. Department of State

4:00 – 5:00 | AI Innovation

Day 1, Track 3

  • 4:20– 4:35 | AI for Sign and Spoken Language
    • Chat Guest speakers: AnnMarie Killian, CEO, TDIforAccess, Inc. & Larry Goldberg, Accessible Media and Technology Consultant
  • 4:40 – 4:55 | Artificial Intelligence: Technology Solutions for People with Disabilities
    • Interviewer: Kate Kalcevich, Head of Accessibility Innovation, Fable
    • Guest speaker: JoAnna Hansen, Head of Accessibility for Worldwide Stores, Amazon

Wednesday, October 16 | PM (EST) Schedule

A focus group lunch on “What Companies and Jobseekers Need to Know When Hiring Accessibility Professionals” will be held in Studio F before Track 1 (1:30-2:30 pm EST) begins. Focus groups are for on-site participants, and there is limited seating. If you are interested in participating, email Lauren Blankenship at lblankenship@g3ict.org.

1:30 – 2:30 | Hiring Accessibility Professionals – The Jobseeker Perspective

Day 2, Track 1

  • 1:30 – 1:45 | How Inclusive Are Most Hiring Practices?
    • Interviewer: Sharron Rush, Executive Director, Knowbility
    • Guest speaker: Ali Ingersoll, Global Head of Community, Open Inclusion
  • 1:50 – 2:05 | Accessibility Professional Certifications
    • Interviewer: Sharron Rush, Executive Director, Knowbility
    • Guest speaker: Natalie P. Tucker, Accessibility Lead, Genuine Parts Company
  • 2:10 – 2:25 | Career Transformation and Maturity
    • Interviewer: Sharron Rush, Executive Director, Knowbility
    • Guest speaker: Jillian Fortin Burtnett, Director of Community Programs, Fable

2:30 – 3:30 | Accessibility Metrics

Day 2, Track 2

  • 2:30 – 2:45 | SODAR Report Results
    • Interviewer: Christopher M. Lee, Ph.D., President, G3ict/IAAP
    • Guest speaker: Tim Springer, CEO, Level Access
  • 2:50 – 3:05 | IAAP 10 Years Metrics
    • Interviewer: Christopher M. Lee, Ph.D., President, G3ict/IAAP
    • Guest speakers: Sam Evans, G3ict/IAAP Certification Director & Rachel Paul, MBA, Membership Director, IAAP
  • 3:10 – 3:25 | Metrics for Accessibility Quality of Service (QoS)
    • Interviewer: Karen Strauss, National Disability Advocate and Historian
    • Guest speaker: Christian Vogler, Ph.D., Professor and Director, Technology Access Program, Gallaudet University

4:00 – 5:00 | Public Infrastructures & Education

Day 2, Track 3

  • 4:00 – 4:15 | Making Self-Service Accessible: From Design to Deployment
    • Interviewer: Daniel Goldstein, Esq., Brown, Goldstein & Levy, LLP, Retired
    • Guest speaker: Michael O’Hare, Director, Systems Accessibility, Tech for All, Inc.
  • 4:20 – 4:35 | G3ict Digital Accessibility Rights Reference Guide (DARG)
    • Interviewer: Mohammed Loutfy, Ph.D., CPACC, Director, Capacity Building and Advocacy, G3ict
    • Guest speaker: Karen Strauss, National Disability Advocate and Historian
  • 4:40 – 4:55 | Closing the Gap in Accessibility Curricula in Higher Education
    • Interviewer: Sam Evans, G3ict/IAAP Certification Director
    • Guest speaker: Kate Sonka, Executive Director, Teach Access