Digital Accessibility Trainer

Digital Trainer: Accessibility for Websites and Information Systems

Experienced Instructor in training teams to improve and maintain accessibility on digital assets.

This is You

Digital Guru. You're equally comfortable creating and training to high-impact online experiences that change people s lives.

-Solution-Focused. You easily see problems in current processes and proactively find ways to solve them.

-Data Aware. You know how to use data and user feedback to directly improve experiences.

-Customer-centric. You understand UX and how to design digital journeys for real people.

-Info Junkie. You stay on top of industry news and the latest best practices for your skillsets.

-Highly Organized. You understand project planning, agile methodology, and you deliver on deadlines.

-Service-Oriented. You are passionate about public service and improving experiences for citizens.

About the Role

This Digital Accessibility Trainer role is critical to training agency teams, testers, developers, and content owners on accessibility remediation, standards, and platform usage.

The Trainer will also develop and scale accessibility learning paths, provide accessibility coaching, and empower teams to maintain compliant digital assets across the state.

Training focus areas for this role include:

Delivering foundational and advanced training on WCAG 2.2, Section 508, and ADA accessibility standards for a variety of internal and external teams.

Leading remediation walkthroughs using real accessibility defect examples and tools like Axe, WAVE, and others.

Designing learning paths and self-paced training modules for roles including testers, content editors, developers, and vendor staff.

Creating documentation, templates, and best practice guides to institutionalize accessibility standards across agencies.

Supporting the use of the State s Learning Management System (LMS) to track training, deliver content, and monitor learning progress across teams.

Your work will involve complete immersion in the State's platforms and tools so you can lead enterprise strategies that make digital information systems more accessible and make governance more manageable. You will develop clear and logical trainings that help State teams fix and maintain accessible websites, digital forms and applications, mobile apps, and other public-facing systems.

The ideal candidate knows digital content systems inside and out and knows how to develop learning paths and training assets to support them. You must be a highly experienced instructor who can understand complicated systems and turn them into simplified trainings for people with various levels of skillsets.

You will need deep expertise in the instructional field. In addition, you should have a strong command of navigating interpersonal engagements, change management, and also possess high emotional intelligence. Previous experience in the accessibility space is a big bonus.

Experiences Required for This Role

Training At least 3 years of measurable experience in the following:

Enterprise Skills Building: Experience delivering accessibility-related training or supporting enterprise compliance initiatives is strongly preferred

Training and Education: Bachelor's degree in Education, Instructional Design, Communications, or related field.

CMS Proficiency: Minimum 3 years of experience working with Sitecore or similar content management systems.

Training Delivery: Proven track record in delivering effective training programs to diverse audiences.

Content Development: Demonstrated expertise in developing content strategies and creating high-quality training materials.

Vendor Management: Experience in liaising with vendors to ensure compliance with training standards and practices.

Project Management: Strong project management skills, including the ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines effectively.

Analytical Skills: Proficiency in analyzing training effectiveness and making data-driven improvements.

Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey complex concepts in a clear and concise manner.

Knowledge, Skills, and Ability

CMS Knowledge: Thorough understanding of Sitecore or a comparable content management system (CMS), including advanced proficiency in content creation, editing, and administration. Ability to navigate CMS interfaces, troubleshoot issues, and provide comprehensive training to users at all skill levels.

Content Development Skills: Strong background in content development, with the ability to create engaging and effective training materials tailored to diverse learning styles and audiences. Proficiency in crafting clear, concise, and persuasive content that aligns with organizational goals and user needs.

Training Delivery Skills: Proven track record in delivering engaging and interactive training sessions, workshops, and seminars. Ability to communicate complex concepts in a clear and understandable manner, facilitate hands-on learning experiences, and provide ongoing support and guidance to trainees.

Technical Skills: Familiarity with project management tools and software commonly used in training and content management environments, such as Microsoft Office Suite, Teams, Jira, or similar platforms. Ability to leverage technology to enhance training delivery, track progress, and collaborate with team members effectively.

Analytical Abilities: Strong analytical skills, including the ability to assess training effectiveness, gather feedback, and measure learning outcomes. Proficiency in using data and analytics tools to identify areas for improvement, optimize training programs, and drive continuous learning and development.

Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey technical information and concepts in a clear, concise, and accessible manner. Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to build rapport with trainees, foster a positive learning environment, and address questions and concerns effectively.

Adaptability and Flexibility: Ability to adapt to changing priorities, requirements, and technologies in a fast-paced training environment. Comfortable with ambiguity and able to quickly learn new skills and techniques to meet evolving training needs and challenges.

Collaborative Approach: Team player with the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, subject matter experts, and stakeholders. Experience in fostering a culture of collaboration, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement within a training or organizational setting.

Service-Oriented Mindset: Genuine passion for supporting the professional growth and development of others. Commitment to delivering high-quality training experiences that empower individuals to succeed in their roles and contribute to organizational success.

Other Desirable Skills

• IAAP CPACC or WAS certification or equivalent experience in accessibility education preferred
• Experience training on accessibility standards and tools (Deque, SiteImprove, WAVE, Axe)
• Experience creating training for CMSs (Sitecore, Wordpress), forms, applications, authenticated portals
• Industry or platform-specific certifications in training, instructional design, or related fields.
• Familiarity with LMS platforms for delivering and managing training programs.
• Understanding of accessibility standards and best practices for digital content.
• Prior experience working within a government or public sector environment is desirable.
• Commitment to staying updated on emerging trends and best practices in digital training and content management.

Administrative Considerations

The Digital Accessibility Training Specialist will work as part of an enterprise digital service team. They will work iteratively on multiple projects using agile sprints. Work will be assigned based on items in the product backlog associated with overall digital programs and services. These tasks may be adjusted, reduced, or expanded as the projects progress through various phases. The contract employee shall be expected to maintain and provide written documentation on any work performed in conjunction with this engagement.

The engagement will be for a term of up to 12 months. All work will be performed in eight (8) hour shifts, Monday to Friday, excluding State holidays. If workflow dictates an on-site presence is not needed, consultant may work remotely. All extended remote work will need approval by Chief Digital Officer or the designated manager. Payment will be on a time and material basis and paid only for hours worked. State Agencies are in downtown Hartford and the Greater Hartford area. Local Travel Reimbursement is not provided.

Use of State Resources: If the contractor is performing their duties as a remote engagement, they will not be provided with an office space or computer hardware. Software and licenses will be provided as needed to execute and perform the duties for this program.

Security/Privacy Considerations: Information accessible by the contractor may be sensitive, confidential or subject to the Privacy Act and/or HIPAA considerations. Contractor personnel must be familiar with and comply with the provisions of appropriate regulations and/or instructions. Signing of a confidentiality agreement will be required. Daily sign-in to the facility may be required. The contractor employee must always display an access badge while present in state facilities. A background check will be required.