Technical Accessibility Specialist

Western Governors University•Salt Lake, UT

About The Position

The Technical Accessibility Specialist works with UX, designers, product managers, business leaders, internal clients, developers, and students to deliver accessible experiences across public, employee-facing, and student-facing products. The role partners with others to develop solutions that address problems while advancing accessibility and inclusion in a way that fits the university’s brand and supports student success. Innovation, design, and functionality are central to the position. The specialist evaluates platforms and products for accessibility conformance, develops remediation plans and guidance, documents findings and processes, and supports colleagues through consultation, training, and coaching. The position requires occasional travel of up to 20%, including attendance at designated company summits, typically one to two per year, and may include conferences, visits to company locations, and other business-related events.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a related field, or equivalent relevant experience that may substitute for the degree requirement.
Three years of experience in the accessibility field.
Broad knowledge of WCAG, Section 508, and ADA.
Ability to read and interpret HTML, CSS, and JavaScript and explain accessibility best practices.
Ability to navigate multiple environments using a screen reader and understand how screen readers interact with user-agent elements.
Understanding of how people with various disabilities experience digital environments and how to design accessible digital spaces.
Ability to collect data accurately and analyze it to identify process and performance improvements.
Ability to explain technical and user-experience issues in simple, concise language.
Ability to research complex topics and independently find answers.
Ability to work on team projects under the direction of senior team members.
Ability to study and comprehend complex technical documentation, including WCAG 2.x AA and Section 508.
Self-initiative and self-motivation; ability to manage daily tasks and meet deadlines.
Ability to work independently without supervision and as part of a team.
Ability to multitask and manage multiple projects.

Responsibilities

Run audits and accessibility tests on university platforms and products for conformance with the current version of WCAG.
Use screen readers and other assistive technologies, including JAWS, Dragon, and NVDA.
Create remediation plans for university platforms and products.
Prepare evaluation documentation for university stakeholders and product teams.
Provide expert accessibility guidance to designers, product managers, developers, and business partners to influence product development.
Maintain knowledge of accessibility industry trends, innovations, solutions, standards, laws, and management strategies.
Develop guidelines for architects, designers, and developers to support compliance with the current version of WCAG.
Train and coach colleagues individually and in small groups on ADA awareness, implementing solutions, and fostering accessibility-focused innovation.
Consult with colleagues to resolve challenging accessibility barriers.
Develop and document accessibility team processes and procedures.
Assist with research, development, and maintenance of the accessibility evaluation methodology.
Assist with training and mentoring new team members.
Network with accessibility industry professionals.
Perform other job-related duties as assigned.
Travel occasionally, up to 20%, including attendance at designated company summits and other business-related events as needed.