U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Government Website

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Safely connect using HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. About DHS
  3. Site Links
  4. Accessibility
  5. DHS Accessibility Day 2024

DHS Accessibility Day 2024

Image
Virtual Event DHS Accessibility Day 2024 April 23-24 10am to 4pm Eastern CX at DHS

Wow, time went fast! Let's do this again! DHS Accessibility Day 2024 - a two day, virtual event - is designed for anyone who believes that everyone deserves equal access to information and services, enriching customer experience. Our jam-packed schedule includes thought-provoking discussions, interactive workshops, and inspiring keynote speakers who will share their stories and expertise on the latest accessibility trends and best practices on accessibility and customer experience.

This free, virtual, two-day event will be hosted on Microsoft Teams from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, April 23 and Wednesday, April 24, 2024.

The event is only available to federal employees and federal contractors within the United States Government.

Whether you're a seasoned accessibility professional or just starting out, you'll leave feeling energized and equipped with the knowledge and tools you need to create a more inclusive world. So mark your calendars and join us for DHS Accessibility Day 2024 - it's an event you won't want to miss!

Please contact Accessibility@hq.dhs.gov for questions or if you need more information.

Time / Category Session

10:00 - 10:10 AM

Remarks

Event Opening

Vince Prentice
Senior Accessibility Specialist & Emcee
DHS Customer Experience Directorate (CXD)

10:10 - 10:20 AM

Remarks

Remarks

Dana Chisnell
Executive Director
DHS Customer Experience Directorate (CXD)

10:20 – 10:50 AM

Remarks

Keynote Remarks & Fireside Chat

Clare Martorana
Federal Chief Information Officer of the United States (OFCIO)

Cassie Winters
OFCIO Accessibility Lead

10:50 – 11:00 AM

Break

Break

11:00 - 11:15 AM

Remarks

Remarks

Nicshan Floyd
Deputy Executive Director
DHS Customer Experience Directorate (CXD)

11:15 - 11:30 AM

Remarks

Remarks

Timothy Monaghan
Accessibility & Language Services Division Director
DHS Customer Experience Directorate (CXD)

11:30 - 11:45 AM

Remarks

Remarks

Shoba Sivaprasad Wadhia
Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL)

11:45 AM - 12:15 PM

Presentation

Bridging the Gap: How CX & Accessibility Work Together

Nicshan Floyd
Deputy Executive Director
DHS Customer Experience Directorate (CXD)

12:15 - 12:45 PM

Break

Lunch

12:45 - 1:15 PM

Presentation

What is Accessible Plain Language?

Sharon Attipoe-Dorcoo
Senior Human-Centered Designer
DHS Customer Experience Directorate (CXD)

1:15 - 2:00 PM

Activity

Your Worst Idea First: Accessibility Edition

Dominique Wheeler
IT Accessibility Specialist
DHS Customer Experience Directorate (CXD)

2:00 - 2:15 PM

Break

Stretch Break

2:15 - 2:45 PM

Presentation

What is U.S. Access Board?

Bruce Bailey
Accessibility Specialist
U.S. Access Board

2:45 - 3:30 PM

Presentation

Usability Testing Demystified by Customer Experience

Christopher Patten, Senior Human-Centered Designer
James Cook, Content Specialist
DHS Customer Experience Directorate (CXD)

3:30 - 4:00 PM

Remarks

Accessibility in Enterprise Solutions

Karla Rodriquez
UX/CX Lead
DHS Solutions Development Directorate (SDD)

4:00 PM

Remarks

Closing Remarks

Vince Prentice
Senior Accessibility Specialist & Emcee
DHS Customer Experience Directorate (CXD)

Time / Category Session

10:00 - 10:05 AM

Remarks

Introduction

Vince Prentice
Senior Accessibility Specialist & Emcee
DHS Customer Experience Directorate (CXD)

10:05 - 10:15 AM

Remarks

Remarks

Christopher Bartz
DHS Deputy Chief Information Officer (DCIO)

10:15 - 11:00 AM

Presentation

Beyond Disability Design: The Three Dimensions of Accessibility

Dr. Sherman Gillums, Jr.
Supervisory Program Specialist
FEMA Office of Disability Integration and Coordination (ODIC)

11:00 - 11:15 AM

Break

Stretch Break

11:15 AM – 12:00 PM

Panel Discussion

Similarities & Differences in Resourcing Initiatives in Customer Experience and Accessibility

Moderator: Joseph Key, DHS CXD Compliance & Integration Specialist

12:00 - 12:30PM

Break

Lunch Break

12:30 - 1:30 PM

Panel Discussion

Exploring the Office of Human Capital's Mission of Enhancing the Human Experience and Support People with Disabilities

Moderator: Robert Borka, Deputy Director for DHS Office of Program Accountability and Risk Management (PARM) and Senior Executive for Deaf & Hard-of-Hearing DHS Employee Association

Panelists:
Vernell Sutherland, DEIA Chief for TSA
Ulysees Gilbert II, DEIA Chief for FEMA
Wil Santiago, ICE Chief Diversity Officer

1:30 - 1:45 PM

Break

Break

1:45 - 2:15 PM

Panel Discussion

Ensuring Access For Persons Who Are Limited English Proficient (LEP) Across DHS

Rebekah Tosado, Section Chief, Anti-discrimination Group
Kimberly Bandy, Senior Policy Advisor
DHS Office of the Civil Rights & Civil Liberties (CRCL)


2:15 - 3:00 PM

Presentation

Deep Dive in the Trusted Tester Update & Document Processes

Tonya Hill, Cliff Soon & Loriann Girard
Accessibility Specialists
DHS Customer Experience Directorate (CXD)

3:00 - 3:45 PM

Presentation

Office Accessibility and Getting Ready for Microsoft Office 365's Copilot

Dean Halstead
Microsoft Accessibility Lead

3:45 - 4:00 PM

Remarks

Closing Remarks

Bruce Bailey
IT Accessibility Specialist
U.S. Access Board

DHS is dedicated to making all events accessible, including virtual ones.

​Sign Language (ASL)

DHS is committed to providing a team of three American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters for the entire two-day event. For most sessions lasting up to 30 minutes, one interpreter will be visible on screen. During panel discussions, it's possible a team of at least two interpreters may work in sync on the screen. If an active interpreter encounters technical issues, standby interpreters will be available to promptly step in, ensuring uninterrupted and effective communication facilitation.

Captioning (CART)

DHS will provide real-time captioning services (CART) by employing a certified machine stenographer, as known as a court reporter. The captions will be integrated into Microsoft Teams, but DHS will also provide a separate hyperlink (URL). This allows users to access captions in an independent browser window and customize the viewing experience according to their preferences. Microsoft Teams will continue to offer Automated Speech Recognition (ASR), also referred to as "live captions." Viewers can effortlessly switch between ASR captioning and CART captioning as desired.

Accessible Electronic Materials

DHS will make accessible electronic materials available in advance for the Blind or Low-Vision Community.

Keyboard Shortcuts and Assistive Technology

Microsoft has created a useful article detailing how to utilize keyboard shortcuts for easier navigation during a Teams meeting. To access the Microsoft Teams keyboard shortcuts article, please click here.

Last Updated: 05/02/2024
Was this page helpful?
This page was not helpful because the content