If you are interested in furthering your knowledge of accessibility (and you should be--the WHO estimates that 16% of the global population has some kind of disability) there's no better resource than the education and networking you can experience at AccessU! Scholarships available; see Sharron Rush's post for more information. (Also, Knowbility is an incredible organization.)
I've attended AccessU several times and each time, left uplifted and learned a lot. Accessibility is something that any design professional should have a working understanding of, even if you aren't a specialist in the field.
My personal interest in a11y stems from the fact that I grew up with two uncles with accessibility needs--one in a wheelchair, and another with cerebral palsy. Neither one let their disability define them (my uncle Dillard, who was in a wheelchair from age 18, taught me how to swim and dive!) but I've thought about them every time I've had to suggest, push for, or outright insist that we include users with disabilities in product research.
Accessible design is good design, period.
Did you know that Fable is funding the Jim Thatcher Scholarship program for #AccessU2024? The scholarship honors Jim Thatcher, inventor of the first screen reader and early contributor and mentor to Knowbility programs. Fable is the first corporate sponsor of the scholarship program, which enables five people with disabilities to attend Knowbility's annual #accessibility #training conference. Apply here: https://t.co/sU6DWVKYTr
Jim Thatcher Scholarship Application — Knowbility
knowbility.org
Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel at Harvard Maintenance
1moSuch an incredible family! Congrats Moghamad on Porter of the Year, and Dina on earning the scholarship (her essay was absolutely amazing!)!