Accessibility and Inclusion
NSERC and SSHRC
Embedding accessibility into federal digital services
Accessibility lead on the redesign of the grant portal used by tens of thousands of Canadian researchers, embedding accessibility into the process rather than bolting it on at the end.
- Role
- Accessibility and UX Lead
- Focus
- WCAG, Portal redesign, Standards, Accessibility capability
Context
Canada’s federal research councils run a grant portal used by tens of thousands of researchers. A multi-year redesign was underway, and accessibility needed to be built into the work rather than checked at the end.
The challenge
Accessibility is frequently treated as a final review, which produces expensive rework and fragile results. The councils needed accessibility embedded into the design and delivery process, along with standards the teams could carry forward.
My role
I served as the accessibility and UX lead, responsible for meeting WCAG expectations across the redesign and for building durable standards and capability.
Approach
- Led accessibility across the portal redesign, working alongside design and development.
- Produced standards and documentation that guided ongoing digital work.
- Treated accessibility as a craft embedded in the process, not a compliance checkpoint.
Outcome
Accessibility became part of how the portal was designed and built, with standards that continued to guide the councils’ digital work after the engagement.
What I learned
Accessibility sticks when it changes the process, not just the product. Standards and shared habits outlast any single audit, which is the idea I later built Limena around.
This engagement involved confidential government or enterprise work. Detailed artifacts and outcomes can be discussed privately with client approval.
Work with me