What was your HE course and when did you graduate?
BSc Computer Networks, 2009
Could you briefly describe the organisation you work for?
I work Destek Accessible Technology Solutions, a company specialising in the accessibility of digital material. We provide an audit service for websites, software and documents to ensure that they are accessible for users with disabilities and conforms to legal requirements. We also provide training to content authors to enable them to create content that is accessible.
What is your job title and role?
Digital Accessibility Specialist, Trainer and Auditor
I audit digital material and map issues against several guidelines including the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, Section 508 and ISO 9241-171. I also deliver training on Disability Awareness, Accessibility and Accessible Content Authoring.
What modules are most helpful to you in your job?
Systems Analysis has given me the tools to be able to take a system and understand what a user is trying to get out of a system. This then allows me to know what areas of the system that I need to spend more time highlighting to the user.
Data Analysis and Data Centric Windows Programming has allowed me to create several scripts and batch files to allow for the automated testing of HTML code to highlight code issues that may affect accessibility. It has also allowed me to improve reporting mechanisms, administration and record keeping.
Research and Development Methods gave me the skills that have allowed me to pursue and win several contract opportunities, providing work for me and the company.
Where do you use your specialist skills and abilities?
In every aspect of my work. My role require a very specific set of skills that starting in university and have been built on and added to over time. Without these skills I wouldn’t be able to carry out any aspects of my current job.
Do you find yourself using the transferable skills that you developed in University?
Whilst the knowledge that I have gained allows me to carry out my job, without the transferable skills such as report writing, presentation skills, proof reading, I would not be able to carry out the majority of the task within my job.
One of the major parts of my role is to deliver training. Without presentation skills and public speaking skills this would not be possible.
What aspects of your job do you enjoy most?
Delivering training is a large part of my job. Presenting content and sharing knowledge to enable companies to improve the accessibility of their information is one of the major objectives of our work.
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