Scheduled at 1:45 pm in Denver 1-3 on Wednesday, November 19.
#42160Speaker(s)
- Mike Hess, Founder and Executive Director, Blind Institute of Technology (BIT)
- Samantha Evans, Certification Director, IAAP/G3ict
Session Details
- Length of Session: 1-hr
- Format: Lecture
- Expertise Level: Beginner
- Type of session: General Conference
Summary
The accessibility field is evolving fast and professionals with disabilities are driving its growth. In this session, IAAP & BIT will unpack how training, assessment-based courses, knowledge badges, and professional certifications align with real-world apprenticeships to create market-ready talent. Learn how accessibility professionals can market themselves, evaluate applicants, & leverage software certificates, mentorship, and hands-on experience to build lasting careers – and how orgs benefit.
Abstract
As demand for accessibility expertise grows, organizations face a critical question: how can we train, credential, and employ the professionals who will deliver it?
This session, led by IAAP and Blind Institute of Technology (BIT), explores how the accessibility workforce is shaped by a combination of structured training, assessment-based courses, and professional certifications – alongside the power of real-world apprenticeships. We’ll discuss how knowledge tests, badges, and certifications help professionals with disabilities demonstrate technical skills, while apprenticeships and mentorship provide the on-the-job experience needed to excel.
From a workforce development perspective, BIT will highlight how its nationally registered apprenticeship programs connect accessibility education directly to employment outcomes. Apprentices gain practical, paid experience that prepares them for roles in high-demand areas such as Digital Accessibility Analysis (CPACC) and Salesforce Administration. By combining technical instruction with career coaching, apprentices emerge prepared for both immediate contributions and long-term growth.
IAAP will bring a broader industry perspective, showing how assessment-based courses & certifications validate expertise & signal readiness to employers. Together, we’ll provide strategies for both professionals & organizations:
• For professionals: how to market yourself effectively in the accessibility job market & showcase your skills through certifications, badges, & apprenticeship experience. • For employers: how to evaluate applicants, identify qualified talent, & leverage apprenticeship models to fill accessibility gaps while advancing equity.
Participants will walk away with a clear understanding of the layered ecosystem of accessibility workforce development – from on-demand training and knowledge validation to real-world application through apprenticeships.
Keypoints
- Training and certifications create a foundation for building accessibility expertise.
- Apprenticeships connect accessibility education directly to real-world employment.
- Aligning learning and work experience strengthens the accessibility workforce.
Disability Areas
All Areas
Topic Areas
Faculty Development & Support, Other, Uncategorized
Speaker Bio(s)
Mike Hess
Mike Hess is the Founder and Executive Director of Blind Institute of Technology (BIT), a nonprofit on a mission to close the employment gap for professionals with disabilities. After two decades managing multimillion-dollar tech projects for Fortune 500 companies, Mike grew frustrated by being seen as the “token blind guy.” He knew the skills he’d developed because of his blindness were an asset – not a limitation – and he set out to challenge stereotypes, break down employment barriers, and promote equity for disabled professionals in corporate America.
Since launching BIT, Mike has built global partnerships and connected talented disabled professionals with career opportunities at leading companies. He also created the BIT Academy, the only Salesforce-approved training provider for professionals with disabilities, offering accessible, complimentary courses in Salesforce Administration, Digital Accessibility, Platform App Builder, and Agentforce – with more to come in 2025.
Under Mike’s leadership, BIT launched two U.S. Department of Labor–registered apprenticeship programs and was awarded a large Disability Innovation Fund grant to scale its workforce development model nationwide. Mike’s work continues to challenge outdated narratives and shape a more equitable workforce where disability is seen as a strength, not a setback.
Samantha Evans
Sam Evans (she/her) plays a pivotal role in advancing the accessibility profession globally, guiding the expansion of International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP) certifications from a single offering in 2016 to a comprehensive suite of four certifications, serving over 8,500 professionals in more than 100 countries.
Sam holds ASAE’s Certified Association Executive (CAE) and Institute for Credentialing Excellence’s ICE-Certified Credentialing Professional (ICE-CCP) credentials. Her MBA and BA are from Kennesaw State University.
Sam lives in Atlanta with her husband and two cats.