Progress Over Perfection: Maturing & Sustaining Accessibility

Scheduled at 8:30 in Penrose II on Thursday, November 19.

Speaker(s)

• Karen Pellegrin, Senior Manager, Technology Accessibility Program, State of Colorado
• Sam Evans, Director, Certification, IAAP/G3ict

Session Details

• Length of Session: 1-hr
• Format: Lecture
• Expertise Level: All Levels
• Type of session: General Conference

Summary

Members of an IAAP Think Tank are developing a guide focusing on "Progress Over Perfection", providing a practical, comprehensive roadmap for leaders, program managers, and accessibility practitioners aiming to mature and sustain digital accessibility for the long-term. Whether you are in government, public, or private industry, this guide helps you build, scale and maintain inclusive digital experiences.

Abstract

Building and sustaining a mature digital accessibility program is a journey, not a one-time initiative. Organizations often face the challenge of balancing long-term accessibility goals with immediate priorities, limited resources, competing demands, and the realities of organizational change. A focus on “Progress Over Perfection” can help organizations move forward by emphasizing practical, sustainable improvements rather than waiting for ideal conditions.

Members of an IAAP Think Tank are developing a practical guide designed to help leaders, program managers, and accessibility practitioners build, scale, and sustain digital accessibility programs for the long term. This session will introduce the thinking behind the guide and explore approaches organizations can use to advance accessibility maturity while creating inclusive digital experiences.

Participants will consider how accessibility can move beyond individual projects or isolated efforts to become an ongoing organizational practice. The session will explore the importance of establishing achievable priorities, building organizational capacity, engaging stakeholders, and creating structures that support continued progress as accessibility programs evolve.

Designed to be relevant across government, public, or private industry, the discussion will recognize that organizations begin at different levels of accessibility maturity and operate within different structures, resources, and constraints. Rather than presenting a one-size-fits-all model, the “Progress Over Perfection” approach encourages organizations to identify meaningful next steps and build upon them over time.

Attendees will gain practical insights they can use to assess where their organization is today, identify opportunities for improvement, and continue building a more sustainable approach to digital accessibility.

Keypoints

1. Identify opportunities to advocate for accessibility in digital projects.
2. Apply practical tools and strategies to create more inclusive digital products.
3. Build confidence to advance accessibility regardless of role or technical expertise.

Disability Areas

All Areas

Topic Areas

Other, Uncategorized

Speaker Bio(s)

Karen Pellegrin

Karen Pellegrin is Senior Program Manager for the State of Colorado’s Technology Accessibility Program, where she leads a collaborative team of accessibility consultants, engineers, and architects helping government entities operationalize accessibility. She brings more than 15 years of experience in web design and administration, accessibility training, graphic design, marketing, and digital accessibility coordination across more than 55 city agencies and departments. Karen’s earlier career in architecture included 2D and 3D design, universal design, human factors, and historic restoration. She also provides digital accessibility consulting, training, and content remediation services to organizations ranging from small design firms to Fortune 500 companies.

Sam Evans

Samantha, a seasoned professional, leads the Professional Certification Unit and supports the President as a strategic expert in association management. With a wealth of experience spanning over 20 years, she has been at the forefront of leading, growing, and managing associations and non-profit organizations. Samantha's career trajectory started with leading international membership associations for a decade, and she later transitioned to offering strategic consulting services to associations and non-profit organizations in change management and value proposition for branding. Her academic qualifications include an MBA in Marketing/International Sales and a BA in Political Science from KSU. She has also earned ASAE CAE and ICE-CCP certifications.