NCTech4Good

where tech meets social change

where tech meets social change

Testing Your Website for Accessibility

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Speaker: Don Shin – For many non-profits, inclusion is a core value – and yet many websites and web apps are developed without disabilities or impairments in mind. Learn the basics about the latest Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) standard, and some DIY methods for evaluating your current web content for accessibility and improving the user experience for everyone.

Don Shin
Don Shin is the founder of CrossComm, an award-winning mobile, web, and immersive app development studio headquartered in Durham, NC. Under Mr. Shin's leadership, the Durham, NC-based company has been recognized as one of the leading mobile app developers in the region by clutch.co, and has been nationally recognized as the the Minority Technology Firm of the Year (2015) by the US Dept. of Commerce. In 2018, Mr. Shin became a contributor to an open source cryptocurrency project; he is currently interested in exploring Augmented Reality and finding smart uses of blockchain for enterprise.

Digital Equality and Access for All

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Speaker: John Samuel – Today, nearly 20% of Americans live with a disability — and digital content is difficult or impossible for them to navigate, understand and consume.

Digitally equitable content is designed to create a universal experience that is inclusive of people who are blind or visually impaired, deaf or hard of hearing, or those with cognitive and/or physical disabilities, such as the inability to use a mouse.

When organizations see people with disabilities use their website, it raises empathy and awareness of accessibility issues. Therefore, we will demonstrate how blind users navigate the web, using assistive technology, and share best practices for making your website accessible for all people!

John Samuel
John G. Samuel is an innovative business development expert, with over thirteen years of experience building strategic partnerships, designing profitable business models, and transforming organizations around the world. He is currently leading the technology service strategy for LCI, one of the largest employers of Americans who are blind, with responsibility for building the new LCI Tech business. He has a proven record of accomplishment of leading startup initiatives, most recently helping build Homestrings – Movement Capital, an USAID backed crowdfunding platform, and previously starting a Joint Venture in Cameroon for Aster, a global telecom infrastructure company, where he generated over $45 million in revenue and brought internet access to millions of people across Africa. John holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from North Carolina State University, Poole College of Management and a Master of Business Administration from The George Washington University, School of Business. John is a Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC).

Web Accessibility for Everyone

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Many people think website accessibility is a “nice to have” feature when in reality it’s a “must have” feature. We’ll demystify the WCAG 2.1 guidelines and show how when you make websites accessible it benefits everyone. You’ll leave this session with new tools to add to your toolkit and be well on your way to being an accessibility ally!

Alisa Herr
Alisa is a multidisciplinarian who loves flexing her skills in strategy, data analysis, writing, empathy, design, and web development. She found her calling to lift up those who use their talents as a force for good and established Unity in 2016 to connect mission-driven technologists, designers, and strategists to the organizations who need them the most. A North Carolinian to the bone, Alisa was born and raised in the Triangle, has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Appalachian State University, a master’s degree in library and information science from UNC-Chapel Hill, and ardently defends her preference for Lexington style bbq. She is a mom, wife, public speaker, open source evangelist, and serves on the community board of AIGA Raleigh as the chair of the Women Lead Initiative.

Access for All…A Website Accessibility Primer for Nonprofits

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An accessible website has benefits for people of ALL abilities, but the concept can seem complex for non-web developers. In this session, we’ll cover the essentials: where web accessibility guidelines come from, what your organization stands to gain by having an accessible site and questions you should be asking your web developer. Additionally, we’ll give you tips on what you can do right now to improve your website and where to go for more information.

Cindy Leonard
Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management at RMU

Speaker Bio
Cindy Leonard is the Consulting Team Leader at the Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management at Robert Morris University. She manages the consulting program and technology program, working with the consulting team to maximize client satisfaction and identify areas for growth. Her own consulting specialty is helping nonprofits leverage technology to meet their missions. In addition to technology assessments, planning and decision support, she specializes in website development on the WordPress platform. Cindy convenes monthly Bagels & Bytes meetups and organizes the annual TechNow conference. She holds a B.S. in computer science, an M.B.A. and a M.Ed. in instructional design technology, all from Seton Hill University.

NCTech4Good, an affiliate of NTEN and TechSoup’s NetSquared, is the local resource for nonprofit technology information. Join the sharing and networking at monthly meetings on the third Wednesday of the month, 6:30-8:30 p.m. usually at UNC-TV, and our annual conference, https://www.nct4g.org/. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter @nctech4good, and with the hashtag #nct4g.