WCATea

Do you need to be a programmer to test digital accessibility?

Mary Beth Ritter is our team's PDF specialist, and she'll tell you herself... she can spot exactly what's broken. What happens next might surprise you.

Does age matter? Do you need to be techy? What does the job actually take? What tools are truly useful and accessible?

All these questions and more, listen to the full interview on Episode 13.

Wondering if your own PDFs would pass?

We audit documents, websites, and mobile apps: tested by people who use assistive tech every day:

Title II ADA Digital Accessibility Audits • WCAG 2.1 AA Compliance Testing by Certified Experts

The ADA turns 36 this month, and every brand has a Pride Month post ready to go. Bee and Ellie read a few of them out loud. Then they check whether the websites behind them are actually accessible.

Join us for Episode 12 of the WCATea Podcast, where we honor the trailblazers who fought for the ADA and paved the path we walk today. We get into Disability Pride Month, where it came from, and what the colors of the flag really mean.

The challenge isn't posting in July. The challenge is what your website looks like in August.

Thanks for watching! Drop us a comment: which color stripe is you, and where are you listening from?

Learn how we, at AccessAbility Officer, help government, health care and university websites become truly accessible to all.

Check out our Audits page: Title II ADA Digital Accessibility Audits • WCAG 2.1 AA Compliance Testing by Certified Experts

Would you speak up if you noticed your company was doing nothing for its employees with disabilities?

Marcia Hutchinson did... and it launched an entire career.

She shares what her role looks like supporting clients from big cities to small municipalities, the universal-design principles she's building into her own home, and her advice for anyone hesitant to try something new: dive in with both feet.

Perfect for anyone curious about disability employment, allyship, or a career pivot into inclusive design.

Wondering how accessible your own site really is? Start with an accessibility audit: https://accessabilityofficer.com/digital-accessibility-audits

What happens when 10 remote teammates finally come together in person?

At NFB Convention 2026 in Austin, Texas, our team experienced more than a conference...

We strengthened friendships. Deepened our mission. Left more inspired than ever to create career opportunities through digital accessibility.

From TWC Stories and Accessibility Jeopardy to Professional Headshots, the Accessibility Testathon, and our AO Cabana Meetup, every session told a different story. Some challenged us. Others inspired us. A few surprised us. Which one left the biggest impact?

Tune in to this episode as we share our biggest takeaways, behind-the-scenes moments, and why this year's NFB Convention meant so much to the AO team.

Interested in a career in digital accessibility? If you're blind or visually impaired and have an open Vocational Rehabilitation case, the CAT Program could be your next step. Learn more and see if you're eligible: AccessAbility Officer Vocational Rehabilitation & CAT Program

Accessibility tools are only as powerful as the people using them.

In this episode, Bee and Ellie explore the accessibility testing tools they use every day and explain how each one contributes to finding barriers that impact real users.

From browser extensions and screen readers to accessibility reporting platforms like DARTSuite, discover how professional testers build a toolkit that supports thoughtful, effective accessibility testing.

Follow the podcast for more conversations about digital accessibility and inclusive technology.

What makes someone successful in digital accessibility testing?

Bruce Blaser, Test Manager at AccessAbility Officer and a web developer with more than 30 years of experience, shares the mindset, habits, and technical skills that separate great accessibility professionals from the rest.

From writing actionable accessibility reports to collaborating with developers, Bruce explains why curiosity, continuous learning, and clear communication are just as important as knowing WCAG.

If you're interested in accessibility careers, accessibility testing, or improving your digital accessibility knowledge, this conversation is full of practical insights you can apply immediately.

Learn more about the CAT Program: https://accessabilityofficer.com/vocational-rehabilitation

Planning to attend the National Federation for the Blind (NFB) Convention in Austin?

This episode is your guide to everything AccessAbility Officer is bringing to NFB 2026... and why it matters for blind job seekers, accessibility professionals, and vocational rehabilitation participants.

Bee and Ellie share how last year's NFB Convention led to new CAT students, paid apprenticeships, professional relationships, and even full-time careers. They also discuss why networking can become the opportunity that changes your future.

In this episode:

• Why the NFB Convention matters for blind job seekers • How networking has led to paid accessibility careers • The CAT Program and guaranteed apprenticeship • Accessibility Jeopardy • TWC Stories • Professional Headshots • Charity Testathon • Cabana Meetup • What to expect when visiting the AccessAbility Officer team

If you're attending NFB 2026, stop by and meet the team. We'd love to hear your story, answer your questions, and help you explore careers in digital accessibility.

Learn more about the CAT Program: Vocational Rehabilitation • Disability Employment & CAT Training Programs • AccessAbility Officer

Subscribe for more conversations about digital accessibility, accessibility careers, assistive technology, WCAG, ADA compliance, vocational rehabilitation, and blind employment.

#NFB2026 #BlindCareers #Accessibility #WCATea #VocationalRehabilitation #DigitalAccessibility #CATProgram

Before websites. Before WCAG. Before AI.

Todd Elzey was fighting for accessibility when the ADA was still being debated.

Long before digital accessibility became a career path, Todd was helping shape the accessibility movement. He witnessed decades of change, challenged assumptions about what blind professionals could achieve, and never stopped advocating for access.

In this episode, Todd reflects on the moments that shaped his career, the lessons he's learned along the way, and why accessibility continues to inspire him nearly 40 years later.

Don't miss this conversation.

Learn how AccessAbility Officer helps organizations reduce accessibility barriers through Digital Accessibility Audits, Accessibility Training, and Accessibility Management:

Title II ADA Digital Accessibility Audits • WCAG 2.1 AA Compliance Testing by Certified Experts

Ability is our middle name.

Many blind professionals are looking for the same thing: a real career, meaningful work, and an opportunity to prove what they can do.

In this episode of WCATea, Bee Yang and Ellie Alvarado unlock truths about the Certified AccessAbility Tester (CAT) Program and explain how blind and disabled professionals can build careers in digital accessibility.

They discuss what the CAT Program actually teaches, why it is challenging, how the program is evolving from 14 to 18 weeks, what students can expect, and how a paid apprenticeship helps graduates gain real-world accessibility testing experience.

In this episode:

• What the CAT Program is and who it is for
• How blind professionals become accessibility testers
• DHS Trusted Tester Certification
• WCAG 2.2 accessibility training
• Paid apprenticeship opportunities
• Remote work for blind and disabled professionals
• Professional skills needed to succeed
• Why motivation matters more than technical experience
• How accessibility testing becomes a long-term career

Whether you're a blind job seeker, vocational rehabilitation client, accessibility professional, or someone curious about digital accessibility careers, this episode provides an honest look at what it takes to get started.

Learn more about the CAT Program: https://accessabilityofficer.com/vocational-rehabilitation

Learn more about AccessAbility Officer: https://accessabilityofficer.com

Subscribe to WCATea for conversations about blindness, digital accessibility, employment, assistive technology, vocational rehabilitation, and accessibility careers.

She's known around AccessAbility Officer as the AO Queen.

As AO's Business Operations Manager, Marisa Reder has helped support blind and disabled professionals, accessibility testers, and apprentices as they build meaningful careers in digital accessibility.

Her message is simple:

Just because you have a disability doesn't mean you deserve anything less.

In this WCATea conversation, Marisa shares the mindset that has guided her own career growth and why opportunity, high expectations, and continuous learning matter more than limitations.

Whether you're pursuing a career in accessibility or looking for your next opportunity, this conversation is a reminder that your potential should never be defined by your disability.

Listen to the full WCATea conversation for more discussions on accessibility careers, disability inclusion, and professional growth.