WCATea

Digital Accessibility Careers for Blind Professionals: How Michaela and Tiffany Got Hired | Ep. 15

Two blind professionals went from no Windows or screen reader experience to working accessibility testers in under a year. Michaela Griffin studied music therapy, then taught herself to code. Tiffany Zhao has a cognitive science degree and a very analytical mind, Bee calling her the most analytical tester he's come across. Both graduated from the CAT program in spring 2026 and are now AccessAbility Officer apprentices, testing websites and logging WCAG violations as real careers. Watch out for our Weekly WCAG Watch with Matthew Dyer. He covers SC 3.2.4, Consistent Identification. Interested in working in digital accessibility? If you have an open VR case, reach out to us here: https://accessabilityofficer.com/vocational-rehabilitation/ Government agency needing an accessibility audit? Get compliant before the deadline. Talk to us: https://accessabilityofficer.com/digital-accessibility-audits/

What does a professional accessibility audit catch that your team can't? Special Edition Ep.14

Warning: At 37 minutes we thought we were done. Then it got even better. What does a professional accessibility audit actually catch that a good-faith review misses? In this special episode of WCATea, hosted by our CEO Tanner Gers, Caroline Karbowski hands her own nonprofit's website to a room full of testers during the NFB Convention and finds out. Caroline is the founder and CEO of See3D.org, a global volunteer network that 3D prints tactile models and ships them free to blind and low-vision people around the world. She's a certified O&M specialist, a certified braille transcriber, and she taught herself braille in sixth grade. Together with Liam Colburn, Test Manager at AccessAbility Officer, we walk through the real reports using our very own testing software: DARTAudit. Watch out for the Weekly WCAG Watch too! Follow Caroline Karbowski and See3D: Website: https://see3d.org Email: info@see3d.org Request a model, volunteer as a designer or printer, or ask about accessible 3D printing consulting. Models ship free, worldwide. Subscribe to WCATea on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Scope your audit, 30 minutes, and you'll leave with a recommended audit type and a timeline against your deadline: https://calendly.com/accessabilityofficer/aac #DigitalAccessibility #WCAG #A11y #ScreenReader #AltText #Blind #NFB

Inside the Weekly WCAG Watch: How a Testing Team Reads Success Criteria. Ep. 13

Meet Matthew "Matt" Dyer, test manager at AccessAbility Officer and author of the Weekly WCAG Watch. He entered digital accessibility from a computer science degree with no prior knowledge beyond alt text, and now leads testing on a predominantly blind team. Learn direct from Matt how to dive into digital accessibility testing and how fun it is to be working with a diverse team. Read Matt's blogs at matthew-dyer.com AccessAbility Officer is a managed digital accessibility firm serving state and local government agencies covering more than 30 million residents. The majority of our team are people with disabilities who use assistive technology every day. Sitting on a pile of PDFs you're not sure about? We'd be glad to take a look. Book a free audit at accessabilityofficer.com/audit accessabilityofficer.com

ADA Anniversary and Pride Month: Stop Posting, Start Fixing Ep#12

The ADA turns 36 this month, and every brand has a Pride Month post ready to go. Bee and Ellie read a few of them out loud. Then they check whether the websites behind them are actually accessible. Join us for Episode 12 of the WCATea Podcast, where we honor the trailblazers who fought for the ADA and paved the path we walk today. We get into Disability Pride Month, where it came from, and what the colors of the flag really mean. The challenge isn't posting in July. The challenge is what your website looks like in August. Thanks for watching! Drop us a comment: which color stripe is you, and where are you listening from? Learn how we, at AccessAbility Officer, help government, health care and university websites become truly accessible to all. Check out our Audits page: Title II ADA Digital Accessibility Audits • WCAG 2.1 AA Compliance Testing by Certified Experts

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Disability inclusion at work: What Are We Doing for Employees with Disabilities? Ep. 11

Would you speak up if you noticed your company was doing nothing for its employees with disabilities? Marcia Hutchinson did... and it launched an entire career. She shares what her role looks like supporting clients from big cities to small municipalities, the universal-design principles she's building into her own home, and her advice for anyone hesitant to try something new: dive in with both feet. Perfect for anyone curious about disability employment, allyship, or a career pivot into inclusive design. Wondering how accessible your own site really is? Start with an accessibility audit: https://accessabilityofficer.com/digital-accessibility-audits

How NFB 2026 is opening doors to accessibility careers. Ep. 10

What happens when 10 remote teammates finally come together in person? At NFB Convention 2026 in Austin, Texas, our team experienced more than a conference... We strengthened friendships. Deepened our mission. Left more inspired than ever to create career opportunities through digital accessibility. From TWC Stories and Accessibility Jeopardy to Professional Headshots, the Accessibility Testathon, and our AO Cabana Meetup, every session told a different story. Some challenged us. Others inspired us. A few surprised us. Which one left the biggest impact? Tune in to this episode as we share our biggest takeaways, behind-the-scenes moments, and why this year's NFB Convention meant so much to the AO team. Interested in a career in digital accessibility? If you're blind or visually impaired and have an open Vocational Rehabilitation case, the CAT Program could be your next step. Learn more and see if you're eligible: AccessAbility Officer Vocational Rehabilitation & CAT Program

What tools do accessibility pros use in 2026? Ep.9

Accessibility tools are only as powerful as the people using them. In this episode, Bee and Ellie explore the accessibility testing tools they use every day and explain how each one contributes to finding barriers that impact real users. From browser extensions and screen readers to accessibility reporting platforms like DARTSuite, discover how professional testers build a toolkit that supports thoughtful, effective accessibility testing. Follow the podcast for more conversations about digital accessibility and inclusive technology.

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The #1 trait every great accessibility tester has | Bruce Blaser. Ep. 8

What makes someone successful in digital accessibility testing? Bruce Blaser, Test Manager at AccessAbility Officer and a web developer with more than 30 years of experience, shares the mindset, habits, and technical skills that separate great accessibility professionals from the rest. From writing actionable accessibility reports to collaborating with developers, Bruce explains why curiosity, continuous learning, and clear communication are just as important as knowing WCAG. If you're interested in accessibility careers, accessibility testing, or improving your digital accessibility knowledge, this conversation is full of practical insights you can apply immediately. Learn more about the CAT Program: https://accessabilityofficer.com/vocational-rehabilitation

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5 Ways to Level Up Your Accessibility Career at NFB 2026. Ep. 7

Planning to attend the National Federation for the Blind (NFB) Convention in Austin? This episode is your guide to everything AccessAbility Officer is bringing to NFB 2026... and why it matters for blind job seekers, accessibility professionals, and vocational rehabilitation participants. Bee and Ellie share how last year's NFB Convention led to new CAT students, paid apprenticeships, professional relationships, and even full-time careers. They also discuss why networking can become the opportunity that changes your future. In this episode: • Why the NFB Convention matters for blind job seekers • How networking has led to paid accessibility careers • The CAT Program and guaranteed apprenticeship • Accessibility Jeopardy • TWC Stories • Professional Headshots • Charity Testathon • Cabana Meetup • What to expect when visiting the AccessAbility Officer team If you're attending NFB 2026, stop by and meet the team. We'd love to hear your story, answer your questions, and help you explore careers in digital accessibility. Learn more about the CAT Program: Vocational Rehabilitation • Disability Employment & CAT Training Programs • AccessAbility Officer Subscribe for more conversations about digital accessibility, accessibility careers, assistive technology, WCAG, ADA compliance, vocational rehabilitation, and blind employment. #NFB2026 #BlindCareers #Accessibility #WCATea #VocationalRehabilitation #DigitalAccessibility #CATProgram

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What it was like fighting for the ADA before it existed. Todd Elzey. Ep. 6

Before websites. Before WCAG. Before AI. Todd Elzey was fighting for accessibility when the ADA was still being debated. Long before digital accessibility became a career path, Todd was helping shape the accessibility movement. He witnessed decades of change, challenged assumptions about what blind professionals could achieve, and never stopped advocating for access. In this episode, Todd reflects on the moments that shaped his career, the lessons he's learned along the way, and why accessibility continues to inspire him nearly 40 years later. Don't miss this conversation. Learn how AccessAbility Officer helps organizations reduce accessibility barriers through Digital Accessibility Audits, Accessibility Training, and Accessibility Management: Title II ADA Digital Accessibility Audits • WCAG 2.1 AA Compliance Testing by Certified Experts Ability is our middle name.

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Before you apply to the CAT Program, Watch This. Ep. 5

Many blind professionals are looking for the same thing: a real career, meaningful work, and an opportunity to prove what they can do. In this episode of WCATea, Bee Yang and Ellie Alvarado unlock truths about the Certified AccessAbility Tester (CAT) Program and explain how blind and disabled professionals can build careers in digital accessibility. They discuss what the CAT Program actually teaches, why it is challenging, how the program is evolving from 14 to 18 weeks, what students can expect, and how a paid apprenticeship helps graduates gain real-world accessibility testing experience. In this episode: What the CAT Program is and who it is for How blind professionals become accessibility testers DHS Trusted Tester Certification WCAG 2.2 accessibility training Paid apprenticeship opportunities Remote work for blind and disabled professionals Professional skills needed to succeed Why motivation matters more than technical experience How accessibility testing becomes a long-term career Whether you're a blind job seeker, vocational rehabilitation client, accessibility professional, or someone curious about digital accessibility careers, this episode provides an honest look at what it takes to get started. Learn more about the CAT Program: https://accessabilityofficer.com/vocational-rehabilitation Learn more about AccessAbility Officer: https://accessabilityofficer.com Subscribe to WCATea for conversations about blindness, digital accessibility, employment, assistive technology, vocational rehabilitation, and accessibility careers.

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The missing piece in most accessibility teams. Marisa Reder. Ep. 4

She's known around AccessAbility Officer as the AO Queen. As AO's Business Operations Manager, Marisa Reder has helped support blind and disabled professionals, accessibility testers, and apprentices as they build meaningful careers in digital accessibility. Her message is simple: Just because you have a disability doesn't mean you deserve anything less. In this WCATea conversation, Marisa shares the mindset that has guided her own career growth and why opportunity, high expectations, and continuous learning matter more than limitations. Whether you're pursuing a career in accessibility or looking for your next opportunity, this conversation is a reminder that your potential should never be defined by your disability. Listen to the full WCATea conversation for more discussions on accessibility careers, disability inclusion, and professional growth.

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When HHS delays accessibility, who pays the price? Ep. 3

The government moved the accessibility deadline. Millions of disabled Americans still face the same barriers today. In this episode, Bee and Ellie break down the new HHS accessibility rule, the extension of Section 504 digital accessibility compliance deadlines, and why disability advocates are pushing back. From inaccessible healthcare portals and online forms to the broader fight for disability rights, this conversation explores what the delay means for blind people, healthcare organizations, and the future of digital accessibility. If you've been following the HHS accessibility rule, ADA compliance, WCAG 2.1 AA, Section 504, or healthcare accessibility, this episode is for you.

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"Don't Tell Me What I Can't Do." Sheri Byrne-Haber Ep. 2

This Global Accessibility Awareness Day, we're proud to release one of our most meaningful conversations yet. Bee Yang and Ellie Alvarado sit down with one of the most respected voices in digital accessibility, author, WCAG contributor, and AccessAbility Officer's Director of Accessibility Projects and Strategy, the legend, Sheri Byrne-Haber. Together, they talk about what happens when disabled parents raise disabled children in a world that already expects both of them to fail; and why accessibility, AI, and advocacy become deeply personal because of it. Here's Sheri's blogpost about Body Worn Cameras: Body-Worn Camera Footage Under ADA Title II: What state and local agencies need to know before the 2027 and 2028 deadlines • AccessAbility Officer Grab the book Sheri co-authored: Digital Accessibility Ethics Disability Inclusion in All Things Tech | WorldCat.org Want more real conversations about digital accessibility, disability employment, AI, advocacy, and ADA Title II compliance? Explore the AccessAbility Officer blog collection: Blog • AccessAbility Officer Blog: Digital Accessibility & Disability Employment for Modern Organizations • AccessAbility Officer And if WCATea moved you, challenged you, or taught you something new, help us grow this community by listening, subscribing, and leaving a review. Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wcatea/id1896601148 Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/WCATeaPod AccessAbility Officer YouTube Channel

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What if rejection leads you to the right career? Ep. 1

If you're blind, you know the feeling. Rejection. Unemployment. The helplessness of being stuck. Then everything changed. The blind people who've been rejected all their lives, get a shot. Their shot. Welcome to the first episode of WCAT, a podcast dedicated to helping blind and disabled people launch their careers in digital accessibility. Bee and Ellie will be spilling all the Tea, shedding light on tough topics no one likes to talk about. Years of unemployment after hundreds of rejections. Managing financial and family stress How to actually get hired, and navigate this crazy job market as a blind person. So grab a cup, smash subscribe, and join us as we spill all the Tea, on the WCATea podcast!

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The accessibility podcast you've been waiting for

Nobody talks enough about what unemployment feels like when you're blind. So we did. This week, we're dropping the very first episode of the WCATea Podcast. Bee Yang and Ellie Alvarado are talking about blindness, careers, and the moments that quietly change your life. Join us as we spill all the Tea, on the W C A Tea podcast! Subscribe. Share it. Tag us. And if you're as hyped as someone finally getting a callback after 200 applications… leave a review and tell us why.

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