Practical Accessibility Insights

In this episode, David and Sandi talk with Amy Widdows, CEO of the Ontario Disability Employment Network (ODEN), about inclusive hiring for small businesses. We discuss common myths about hiring people with disabilities, how to make your hiring process more accessible, and simple first steps any employer can take.

Episode transcript: < a href="https://cmswebsolutions.com/season-03-episode-02-inclusive-hiring-for-small-businesses/">cmswebsolutions.com/season-03-episode-02-inclusive-hiring-for-small-businesses

Amy Widdows: [email protected]

ODEN: ODENetwork.ca

We're kicking off our third season talking about travel. In this episode, David and Sandi talk with Richard Marion about accessibility and travel. We discuss the tools Richard uses to plan his trips, what works well and what doesn’t, and gain insights into how technology is transforming travel for people with disabilities.

Episode transcript: cmswebsolutions.com/season-03-episode-01-accessibility-and-travel

Links mentioned:

• Airo: aira.io
• BlindCanadians.ca
• TravelEyes: traveleyes-international.com

In this episode, David and Sandi explore the intersection of technology and accessibility with Lauren Hedges, Managing Director of Hackforge. We learn more about Hackforge's Accessibility Week initiatives and the power of community-driven tech solutions.

Episode transcript: cmswebsolutions.com/season-02-episode-12-bridging-technology-and-accessibility-with-lauren-hedges/

Hackforge: hackf.org

Lauren Hedges: linkedin.com/in/lauren-hedges/

In this encore episode, David and Sandi talk with Jason Pomerleau, President of Elev8 Web Studio, about delivering accessible websites to clients – whether they realize it or not.

"Because sometimes customers ... they wanna bring the cost down, so they'll say, well, what if we could remove this and this? I don't even wanna have that conversation because it's not coming out. It's part of our product. We're not gonna do a website project without accessibility in mind. "
Jason Pomerleau, Elev8 Web Studio

Email: [email protected]

Website: elev8webstudio.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jasonpomerleau/

Episode transcript: cmswebsolutions.com/season-02-encore-episode-11-accessibility-and-web-agencies

In this encore episode, we chat with Juan Olarte, CEO of Digita11y Accessible, to explore how AI is shaping accessibility in the workplace. We discuss the potential of AI tools to enhance productivity, the importance of ethical and secure implementation, and how understanding prompts can improve AI interaction. Juan also shares insights on AI as a personal assistant and offers practical advice for making digital environments more inclusive.

" When it comes to AI and accessibility, I see AI as a big enabler for people with disabilities."

Juan Olarte, Digita11y Accessible

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/juanolarte

Website: digita11yaccessible.io

Episode transcript: cmswebsolutions.com/season-02-encore-episode-10-accessibility-and-ai/

Listen now and join the conversation:

In this episode, David and Sandi chat with Christine Briggs, People Partner - Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Accessibility with the City of Kawartha Lakes. We learn more about the role of the Accessibility Advisory Committee and the strategies used to ensure compliance with accessibility standards.

Episode transcript: cmswebsolutions.com/season-02-episode-09-accessibility-advisory-committees

City of Kawartha Lakes Accessibility: www.kawarthalakes.ca/accessibility

Christine's LinkedIn page: www.linkedin.com/in/christinemwilliamson

In this episode: David and Sandi chat with Dr. Yvette Pegues, an accessibility incident prevention specialist, to explore invisible disabilities and why they are so often misunderstood in schools and workplaces. They discuss how organizations can shift from reacting to accessibility complaints to preventing them in the first place and what it looks like to build truly inclusive environments.

Episode transcript

Contact Dr. Yvette Pegues

LinkedIn

Website

Free resource: : See It. Stop It. Scale It.™ A Free Practical Guide to Invisible Disabilities, Incident Prevention, and AI Accessibility.

In this episode, David and Sandi explore how businesses, especially small and scaling ones, can build a brand that is honest, inclusive, and built to last. It’s a conversation about doing business in a way that reflects your values and why getting that right from the start matters.

As Sandi puts it, "The clearer and simpler we make our marketing, the more effective it's going to be."

This is a conversation about doing business in a way that reflects your values and why getting that right from the start matters.

Episode transcript: cmswebsolutions.com/season-02-episode-07-marketing-with-dignity/

In this episode: David and Sandi chat with Kevin Shaw, Digital Accessibility Lead at Tangerine, about launching successful startups and leading accessibility initiatives. He offers tips on integrating accessibility from the ground up and empowering inclusive entrepreneurial ventures.

Website

X (Twitter)

LinkedIn

Transcript

In this episode, David and Sandi talk with John-Marc Vachon from WEtech Alliance. Discover how accessibility is integral to innovation and business growth and tips on integrating accessibility as a core business strategy. "Advocacy and awareness are key - never stop learning," John-Marc emphasizes.

John-Marc on LinkedIn

WEtech Alliance

Episode transcript