#43364
Speaker(s)
- Jeff Fryer, Sr. Web & ADA Coordinator, Manitou Springs
Session Details
- Length of Session: 1-hr
- Format: Lecture
- Expertise Level: Beginner
- Type of session: General Conference
Summary
Strict cybersecurity protocols often create severe digital accessibility barriers. This session explores the tension between securing public data and maintaining WCAG 2.2 AA compliance. Jeff Fryer, Co-founder of GABAnode Lab, shares his doctoral research on the SmartCity Security-Accessibility Conflict Scanner (SCSACS). Attendees will learn how to use automated scanning to identify these conflicts and proactively harden software without sacrificing inclusion.
Abstract
As municipalities, higher education institutions, and public sector organizations rush to deploy complex "Smart City" infrastructures, a critical and often overlooked conflict is emerging. The strict cybersecurity protocols required to protect public data frequently create severe digital accessibility barriers. Standard security frameworks—ranging from complex multi-factor authentication (MFA) and aggressive session timeouts to CAPTCHAs and strict firewall rules—inadvertently lock out users with disabilities, directly conflicting with WCAG 2.2 AA criteria and ADA Title II mandates.
This session explores the inherent tension between securing digital ecosystems and maintaining a truly inclusive environment. Jeff Fryer, PhD candidate and Co-founder of GABAnode Lab, will present applied findings from his doctoral research on the SmartCity Security–Accessibility Conflict Scanner (SCSACS). We will examine how this automated tool is designed to scan environments and identify the specific intersections where security deployments and accessibility requirements collide.
Moving beyond theoretical compliance, attendees will learn how to shift their organizations from reactive remediation to proactive conflict resolution. By utilizing multi-agent production environments, public institutions can effectively "harden" their software against both security vulnerabilities and accessibility failures simultaneously. This session will provide practical strategies for bridging the communication gap between IT Security teams and Accessibility Coordinators, ensuring that the drive for a secure digital future does not leave anyone behind.
Keypoints
- Strict IT security frameworks often inadvertently violate WCAG 2.2 AA success criteria.
- Multi-agent automated scanning proactively identifies security and accessibility conflicts.
- Public institutions can secure their digital infrastructure without sacrificing inclusion.
Disability Areas
All Areas
Topic Areas
Artificial Intelligence, Campus & System-wide initiatives, Uncategorized, Web/Media/App Access
Speaker Bio(s)
Jeff Fryer
?Jeff Fryer is the Senior Web & ADA Coordinator for the City of Manitou Springs, Colorado, and a PhD candidate specializing in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance. He is the Co-founder of GABAnode Lab, a startup focused on developing accessibility and security scanning tools. Jeff's work bridges the gap between high-level policy and advanced technical automation, exploring how municipal governments can integrate seamless accessibility into the fabric of emerging secure technologies.