Insights and PerspectivesRead the latest from Geographic Solutions.https://www.geographicsolutions.com/News-Events/BlogGAAD is a Good Day: Promoting Accessibility and Inclusion Across the Digital Landscapehttps://www.geographicsolutions.com/News-Events/Blog/PostId/312/gaad-is-a-good-day-promoting-accessibility-and-inclusion-across-the-digital-landscapeAccessibility,Calendar Observances,Global Accessibility Awareness DayThu, 19 May 2022 13:00:00 GMT<p><strong>It Starts with One Voice</strong></p> <p>Who knew a single blog post could spark an <a href="https://accessibility.day/">accessibility movement on a global scale</a>? In 2011, web developer <a href="https://mysqltalk.wordpress.com/2011/11/27/challenge-accessibility-know-how-needs-to-go-mainstream-with-developers-now/">Joe Devon posted a blog entry</a> calling for greater awareness of accessibility and for the creation of Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD). In a 2019 <a href="https://www.interactiveaccessibility.com/blog/iap-2019-e7-joe-devon-founder-global-accessibility-awareness-day#.YoUM_KjMKUl">interview with Interactive Accessibility Podcast</a>, Joe Devon tells the story of where the inspiration behind the blog post came from: his father, “a brilliant man … [who] spoke 10 languages, was a Holocaust survivor,” was trying to use a banking website but it was not accessible. Joe said of this frustrating experience, “It was painful to watch him get older and not be able to access a website.”</p> <p>Joe Devon admits he had the expectation that his idea for a day of accessibility awareness would go nowhere. He stated, “I wasn't even smart enough to tweet this out. WordPress had an automated tweet thing so it tweeted out my blog post.” That’s where Jennison Asuncion, an accessibility professional, came across Joe’s blog. Jennison contacted Joe via Twitter, and they joined forces to create the worldwide day of observance. Thanks to their efforts, GAAD is observed on the third Thursday of May each year, driving awareness of accessibility issues. </p> <p><strong>What Does Accessibility Mean?</strong></p> <p>In a post-COVID 19 world, <a href="https://www.rev.com/blog/what-is-digital-accessibility-and-why-is-it-important#:~:text=Digital%20accessibility%20is%20the%20ability,who%20may%20have%20language%20barriers.">the need for digital accessibility is more prevalent than ever</a>. Social distancing requirements stimulated an increase in the reliance upon electronic activities such as shopping, banking, entertainment, work, healthcare, and more. For many people with disabilities, this may have provided additional access to opportunities they may have been limited or nonexistent previously — such as remote work opportunities or access to virtual services like entertainment and healthcare. <a href="https://www.deque.com/covid-19-digital-accessibility-report/">Deque Systems collaborated with the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP)</a> to survey 292 accessibility practitioners in 2020 and followed up in 2021 with 270 responses. They found that although awareness around digital accessibility was higher than anticipated, accessibility complaints from people with disabilities increased.<br /> Accessibility means that a person with a disability must be able to experience web-based services, content, or other digital products with the same successful outcome as those without disabilities. In the U.S. alone <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilityandhealth/infographic-disability-impacts-all.html">61 million adults live with a disability</a> — that’s 26% of the adult population — and 1 billion people worldwide are living with disabilities. Of those American adults who make up the working population, 19.1% have a disability. Digital access and inclusion is not just crucial, it is an absolute requirement for an equitable world.</p> <p>Digital accessibility is not a new topic. It was 1998 when Congress amended the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to include electronic and information technology accessibility. Job hunting is difficult enough but navigating a system that is inherently working against you makes it near impossible, and remote service delivery has transformed more than one workforce development office. The North Carolina Department of Commerce and the Guilford County (Greensboro) teams <a href="https://go.geographicsolutions.com/cs/c/?cta_guid=7688c88a-5a53-4786-a3c4-536237087320&signature=AAH58kHjxuVCGVL8lmkS11q5jNWpykLhjA&pageId=41741336476&placement_guid=e0cabea8-5bb6-4fff-83c9-9bf956978285&click=d014b70a-b5fb-4707-ab1e-3549ac749004&hsutk=5bb68067cc2ac1b22f9f571dae71574e&canon=https%3A%2F%2Fgo.geographicsolutions.com%2Fpathwaystoemployment&utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.geographicsolutions.com%2F&portal_id=4320663&redirect_url=APefjpGDsA9tgSwmVIYW7mYkcP5SJlJDE3VTiKEo8aiaHhgNIBVz2gp1Pcrv3m6MmITbi8RfqZsLUMQJ3EUUhyFBjM7Ol7YbQre76yNoJjGBc42nbXiOLWs1dsFtjca_GgSgtIT2_x3xsYbsMtU_DtXuxdpIBeUMWG3Iggg-Wn-44IPKAKydwZpJ8-HArejCtnGhM3qWM1cRVYQGuXghdE2FEcTb9QtpncgWvkU4Y0CHmG-j1l9r8O7i5KR9sLB1RMiPPXVTEncyCzG1mAhnSDxuUC0MEGvDimNQmz6RqeoyvaQJ7YClid0bxSfLiXfJbazLyo5LDcP1HP5HgO0SnZ-WYTnGFVPd5Q&__hstc=192228981.5bb68067cc2ac1b22f9f571dae71574e.1650997509375.1652723765733.1652732356559.49&__hssc=192228981.1.1652732356559&__hsfp=2936329810&contentType=landing-page">found creative ways to continue high levels of service delivery</a> through their use of no-touch tools. The pandemic pushed many services to be provided virtually and accelerated the development of many <a href="https://geographicsolutions.com/covid-no-touch-employment-tools">no-touch tools</a>. </p> <p><strong>Creating an Accessible Experience for <em>Every</em> User</strong></p> <p>As a software development company, Geographic Solutions recognizes the large role it owns in <a href="https://www.geographicsolutions.com/blog/enhancing-user-experience">creating accessible web applications</a> and strives to bring ease-of-use to its products for all users.</p> <p>Each site we develop provides the same modern accessibility technology including keyboard shortcuts, alternative text and descriptions for images, usability with alternative computer technology, clear and simple text language, and the use of WAI-ARIA markup for screen readers. In addition to the accessibility features, our sites employ logical and consistent navigation to allow for navigation via keyboard shortcuts both vertically (within the page) and horizontally (between pages). Hyperlinks are described with meaningful location text, and hidden headers can be used to navigate the site.</p> <p>But for us, it is about more than just accessibility. Part of inclusion is empathy. When we feel empathy for others, we are more likely to find the ways to include them. In previous years, our in-house accessibility team executed <a href="https://www.geographicsolutions.com/blog/creating-awareness-digital-accessibility">Disability Awareness Labs</a> to demonstrate the challenges faced by people living with disabilities. For 2022, Deque Systems, an authority in digital accessibility, is offering both an <a href="https://accessibility.deque.com/e3t/Ctc/M+113/b-B-04/VWVM9Q8lgMsPW7d8Xtr2zHtlWW1RGk9h4JBNZkN22w10k3q3n_V1-WJV7CgX2NW5fJDKM4Hwkp-W7fxhlr6NNBzgW2jjb5C1HZ1jRW90zRBG6Hdp-cW16cZ4-5SybXrN7lYQY6gkwGvW72WTF697TgHtW40LmZW23gtp1W2jjlJw4d6HV7W7FSSB-5NMr70N7t0Cd9RsRZGW5JKNZQ5DnBz8W5wkJ2m1rbzgWW2W53yc9gVsDqW8gG-cP83YSGsW1BKKdM6TqYRQW17dv4W55J3XqW9lNYkh2Dx7dgW8KSDdW8cFvqxW7hwCQ_726JrXN3LDTw2t-58bN1D76mLv97KFW6jh2nj7t439FMYGlYDbcBMmW27f18V5QQK-RW1Bmj7r8RhhZ33nPR1">Accessibility Awareness Lab</a> and a <a href="https://accessibility.deque.com/e3t/Ctc/M+113/b-B-04/VWVM9Q8lgMsPW7d8Xtr2zHtlWW1RGk9h4JBNZkN22w10k3q3n_V1-WJV7CgThgW64pG4s8mg32bW58-yWN8yBC2lW2r3dDZ7PCwtRW45ZDSF1TT1QtW7KGVq42S4-q7W6SP2f35l-tVzW2RrpNv9jPzq0W7vlQ4j6_2_LvW9gTBq98rnDrxW1-gJGb7DZwz7W8nBvfb8_txVPW6lz-VV2-h48pW4z5fjc81fSqCW4H6lFG6NCR8HW63nLM05QFRNRW2JXv023KbtXzMF92JTksTk2W7qXh-T5JYr1SW6G35Qw1mfMYKW1SVCQ697CGN5W2fQmRR6hc7hyW4KfFQZ7BhPccW1BYNWg8tr03JW14S1Nm7TmLKyN4lnCC7kqKbWW7y1Qzp5VrrYg3kj71">Fundamentals Bootcamp online</a>. <br />  </p> 312The ADA At 31: Observing National Disability Independence Dayhttps://www.geographicsolutions.com/News-Events/Blog/PostId/297/the-ada-at-31-observing-national-disability-independence-dayVocational RehabilitationMon, 26 Jul 2021 15:08:00 GMT<p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">One of the most comprehensive pieces of civil rights legislation, the Americans with Disabilities Act paves the way for accessibility and inclusion.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Today is National Disability Independence Day, which commemorates the signing of the <a href="https://www.ada.gov/ada_intro.htm" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">Americans with Disabilities Act</a> (ADA) by President H.W. Bush on July 26, 1990.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The ADA is one of America's most comprehensive pieces of civil rights legislation that prohibits discrimination and guarantees that people with disabilities have the same equal opportunities to participate in mainstream American life. It paves the way for Americans with disabilities to enjoy employment opportunities, purchase goods and services, and participate in state and local government programs and services.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The ADA is modeled after the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, and <a href="https://www.dol.gov/agencies/oasam/centers-offices/civil-rights-center/statutes/section-504-rehabilitation-act-of-1973" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973</a>.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to <a href="https://www.census.gov/newsroom/facts-for-features/2021/disabilities-act.html" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">Census Bureau</a> surveys conducted in 2019, it's estimated that:</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">•    41.1 million people in the United States have a disability<br /> •    Of those employed between the ages of 18-64, 7.9 million reported having a disability.<br /> •    Median earnings for those with disabilities age 16 and older were $25,270.  </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>Amending the Act</b></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In 2008, the <a href="https://adata.org/learn-about-ada" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act</a> (ADAAA) was signed into law and became effective on January 1, 2009. The ADAAA made a number of significant changes to the definition of "disability." The changes in the definition of disability in the ADAAA apply to all titles of the ADA, including Title I (employment practices of private employers with 15 or more employees, state and local governments, employment agencies, labor unions, agents of the employer, and joint management labor committees); Title II (programs and activities of state and local government entities); and Title III (private entities that are considered places of public accommodation.)</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>Our Commitment to Accessible and Inclusive Design</b></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">We're focused on bringing ease-of-use in our products to people with disabilities, and we're committed to ensuring our software is universally accessible. Our Accessibility Services Team devotes their time to analyzing websites, documents, and other materials for compliance with the latest accessibility guidelines. They review and ensure web pages are decipherable to <a href="https://www.geographicsolutions.com/blog/enhancing-user-experience" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">enhance the user experience</a> for all.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">"We do whatever is necessary to ensure our products are accessible to as many people as possible, helping to level the playing field for all individuals, regardless of specific impairment," said Accessibility Services Team Lead, Patti Arouni.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">To those celebrating today and all month long, we honor you for your uniqueness and courage.</span></span></span></p> 297National Disability Employment Awareness Month Highlights The Importance Of Accessibility And Inclusion In The COVID Agehttps://www.geographicsolutions.com/News-Events/Blog/PostId/301/national-disability-employment-awareness-month-highlights-the-importance-of-accessibility-and-inclusion-in-the-covid-ageAccessibility,Vocational RehabilitationSat, 10 Oct 2020 11:56:00 GMT<p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">National Disability Employment Awareness Month brings focus to the proliferation of accessible practices due to the global pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>National Disability Employment Awareness Month: an Important and Timely Observance</b></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">2020 marks two important milestones for disability awareness: the 75<sup>th</sup> anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) and the 30<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. 1945 was the year Congress initially declared the first week of October to be “National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week”; the name was changed 16 years later to<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Disability_Employment_Awareness_Month" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline"> acknowledge individuals</a> with all types of disabilities. In 1988, Congress moved to expand the observance from a week to a month, giving us the NDEAM we know today.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">To commemorate this important year, the Office of Disability Employment Policy chose to center their celebrations on the theme “Increasing Access and Opportunity”. NDEAM is a way we can celebrate American workers with disabilities and remind employers of the importance of inclusive hiring practices.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>Accessibility and Coronavirus</b></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The coronavirus has become a catalyst for digital transformation in many companies and industries. This is the age of COVID-19, and technology is at the forefront. In some cases, the pandemic has helped to level the playing field—especially for persons with disabilities. Firms large and small have adapted and created new policies meant to keep their employees safe.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In August, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/24/style/disability-accessibility-coronavirus.html" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">the New York Times published an article</a> discussing how the coronavirus pandemic limited public life for most, yet opened some doors for persons with disabilities. Thanks to modern technology, house parties, professional conferences, and improv classes became more accessible.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">And, earlier this month, the Seattle Times posited that <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/how-accessibility-for-all-could-make-the-world-better-after-covid-19/" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">embracing universal design</a> could make the digital world more accessible. With 26 percent of Americans having a disability, there is an opportunity as businesses and institutions reopen to become more inclusive.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>Vocational Rehabilitation, Disability, and Empowerment</b></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">At Geographic Solutions, we’re working to help close gaps in digital accessibility, especially for state and local workforce agencies. In addition to crafting accessible software to assist people with all levels of ability, we also created an effective <a href="https://www.geographicsolutions.com/VocRehab" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">Vocational Rehabilitation</a> (VR) case management module to track and manage individuals with disabilities as a way of supporting them in their goal of working and living independently. The module has been designed to give program staff the tools they need to improve efficiency and service delivery, while providing individuals with the necessary resources to find employment that is suitable for them.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Although the entire module focuses on helping people with disabilities find employment, some sections are unique because they focus on program eligibility, and tailoring services to maximize success. For instance:</span></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The accommodations section of the application is designed to for use by workforce agency staff since they too have people with disabilities making use of the program.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Health Assessment wizard in the VR Module uses a determination formula to help with finding a person with disabilities eligible for VR services.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">And, the Individualized Plan for Employment is a key component for outlining the services needed by the person with a disability.</span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>The Future of Disability Employment Awareness</b></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">To quote <a href="https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/odep/odep20200630" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">Office of Disability Employment Policy</a> Deputy Assistant Secretary, Jennifer Sheehy, people with disabilities are experienced problem solvers with proven ability to adapt. Now more than ever, flexibility is important for both workers and employers.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The 75<sup>th</sup> anniversary of NDEAM and the ongoing implication of coronavirus makes this the perfect time to reassess accessibility and promote inclusion for all.</span></span></span></p> 301Creating Awareness For Digital Accessibilityhttps://www.geographicsolutions.com/News-Events/Blog/PostId/307/creating-awareness-for-digital-accessibilityAccessibility,Global Accessibility Awareness Day,Virtual OneStopThu, 21 May 2020 12:54:00 GMT<p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Geographic Solutions as a company is focused on bringing ease-of-use in their products to people with disabilities. In the United States alone, over half of working-age people have a disability or impairment, making it imperative to consider accessibility from the initial stages of software development. Geographic Solutions is committed to making our software as accessible as possible, and we are proud to observe Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD).</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Each year, GAAD is observed on the third Thursday of May, as a means to get everyone talking, thinking, and learning about digital access for individuals with disabilities. GAAD was first celebrated in 2012 to help highlight the need for increased accessibility for over one billion people with disabilities and/or impairments.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">"GAAD creates awareness. The more people who begin to know and understand what digital accessibility is -- everyone will benefit in way they may not know," said Geographic Solutions' Accessibility Services Programmer, John Contarino.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>Ensuring Inclusiveness For All Users</b></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">To offer a truly inclusive experience, individuals with disabilities must be able to experience web-based services, content, and other digital products with the same successful outcome as those without disabilities. Accessibility guidelines enhance the product experience for those with disabilities as well as for all users. These guidelines became part of an industry-wide movement with revised regulations from the Department of Justice in 2010.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">As a company, we are committed to ensuring our software is universally accessible. As a testament to this commitment, our Accessibility Services Team periodically creates awareness labs. These workshops not only show how imperative inclusive design is to our user base, they also demonstrate to our employees--how advantageous accessible design can be.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">While no days are typical in an agile-driven software development company, this team spends any given week analyzing websites, documents, and other materials for compliance with the latest accessibility guidelines.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">"We continually research, train, and ask questions to better understand the barriers that persons with disabilities encounter," said Accessibility Services Team Lead, Patti Arouni.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>Looking Toward the Future</b></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The benefits far outweigh the challenges, and our accessibility services group agrees that the most rewarding part is helping level the playing field for all individuals, regardless of impairment.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">"We recommend visiting the GAAD website, globalaccessibilityawarenessday.org, to take part in the event," said Contarino.</span></span></span></p> 307Enhancing The User Experiencehttps://www.geographicsolutions.com/News-Events/Blog/PostId/160/enhancing-the-user-experienceAccessibility,General,Virtual OneStopMon, 03 Sep 2018 15:40:00 GMT<p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">You won’t find it on a list of the world’s most dangerous jobs, but this career path requires brave employees who are willing to work with JAWS.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Simply one technique within an entire set skills, JAWS, or Job Access With Speech is way more tame than the famous great white shark, and allows members of Geographic Solutions’ Accessibility Services Team to review and ensure web pages are decipherable to screen reader users who have low or no vision.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Considered the next frontier in worldwide accessibility equality, Geographic Solutions is focused on bringing ease-of-use in their products to people with disabilities. In the U.S. alone, over half of working-age people have disabilities, making it even more imperative to consider accessibility from the second a product is conceived.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">While no days are typical in an agile-driven software development company, this team spends any given week analyzing websites, documents, and other materials for compliance with the latest accessibility guidelines.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The benefits far outweigh the challenges, and this group within the development department agrees that the most rewarding part is helping level the playing field for all individuals, regardless of specific impairment.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">As a company, we're committed to ensuring our software is universally accessible. As a testament to this movement, the Accessibility Services Team periodically creates awareness labs. These workshops not only show how important inclusive design is to our users, they also show employees company-wide, and regardless of department, how great accessible design can be.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Part of an industry-wide movement since the Department of Justice revised regulations in 2010, accessibility guidelines not only enhance the product experience for those with disabilities, but for all users.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">“The Accessibility Services Team is here to help,” said Accessibility Services Team Lead, Patti Arouni. “We can answer questions, provide training, recommend tools, and do whatever else is necessary so that our products are usable by as many people as possible.”</span></span></span></p> 160