WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.780 Being as profound, we're going to be talking about  accessibility for the next two days. However,   00:00:06.780 --> 00:00:11.640 as he mentioned, we're also going to be  now looking at the humanistic approach,   00:00:11.640 --> 00:00:19.560 not just accessibility but also looking at equity,  equal equity, and also a global approach overall   00:00:19.560 --> 00:00:25.740 when it comes to humanistic accessibility.  So please make sure that you have, again,   00:00:25.740 --> 00:00:32.100 some way of capturing all of this information  or the key parts of this information so that   00:00:32.100 --> 00:00:37.140 way you can utilize this information and take  it back to your own teams later on. Alright,   00:00:37.140 --> 00:00:42.060 so next we have Mr. Mike Donnelly.  Mr. Donnelly, are you available? 00:00:44.340 --> 00:00:48.724 >> Yes, sir, I can hear you loud and clear, sir. 00:00:48.724 --> 00:00:54.654 >> So next up we have Mr. Mike Donnelly, who is the Deputy Chief Data Officer 00:00:54.654 --> 00:00:59.556 for the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Chief Information Officer. 00:00:59.556 --> 00:01:03.651 So, Mr. Donnelly, if you  like, you can take it away. 00:01:03.651 --> 00:01:06.227 >>> Thanks, Vince. 00:01:06.869 --> 00:01:13.241 So, um, you know, and I was really honored when,  uh, Nicshan asked me, uh, to speak to you all today. 00:01:13.241 --> 00:01:19.200 Um, he said he was going to tell a joke  before I spoke, but then he just introduced me, 00:01:19.200 --> 00:01:27.780 um, so I guess, uh, good morning, everybody. Um,  I really want to thank, uh, this team, Nicshan,   00:01:27.780 --> 00:01:33.900 Ribkha, and all of you for giving this opportunity  to speak today, and I want to welcome all of you,   00:01:33.900 --> 00:01:39.720 first the employees, contractors, you know, agency  partners, uh, so this year's accessibility.   00:01:40.620 --> 00:01:46.440 It's a privilege of mine to address you all  on the topic of accessibility and usability   00:01:46.440 --> 00:01:54.060 and information. This issue lies at the heart  of our commitment to inclusivity and ensuring   00:01:54.060 --> 00:01:58.482 that the technology we developed and procure is  accessibility. 00:01:59.586 --> 00:02:05.522 Today, I want to highlight the pivotal role that data-driven decision-making and customer experience 00:02:05.522 --> 00:02:13.380 ways of propelling us towards the future for accessibility and usability for the forefront of our digital landscape. 00:02:14.400 --> 00:02:19.920 So before we talk about where we are going, it's  good to identify where we are and how we got here.   00:02:20.760 --> 00:02:29.040 So at DHS, accessibility has always been and  is a top priority. Each year, we train over 20,000   00:02:29.040 --> 00:02:34.680 individuals in accessibility, equipping them  with the knowledge and skills necessary to create   00:02:34.680 --> 00:02:41.880 inclusive digital experiences. Additionally,  our accessibility helps us provide support to   00:02:41.880 --> 00:02:48.660 a stack on 30,000 customers, guiding them on  how to build and maintain accessible products.   00:02:49.500 --> 00:02:54.300 We understand that an inclusive environment  goes hand in hand with an accessible one.   00:02:55.020 --> 00:03:01.620 We strive a great quote. I believe that the  success we've had in accessibility is visibility.   00:03:01.620 --> 00:03:10.320 Why is it integrating data-driven against ice  to every aspect of our decision, whether it's in   00:03:10.320 --> 00:03:17.160 the design development process or in shaping our  accessibility policies and standards. Data guides   00:03:17.160 --> 00:03:24.000 us forward to solutions that are rooted in  real-world experiences. It allows us to prioritize   00:03:24.000 --> 00:03:29.880 accessibility enhancements, allocate resources,  additionally, and achieve tangible results.   00:03:30.900 --> 00:03:37.380 However, data-driven decision-making is  not abandoned itself. It is merely the   00:03:37.380 --> 00:03:43.980 foundation upon which we build exceptional and  meaningful customer experiences. Accessibility   00:03:43.980 --> 00:03:50.220 and usability must be intrinsically linked to  the customer journey, and it's through a holistic   00:03:50.220 --> 00:03:56.760 approach to customer experience that we can truly  unlock the full potential data-driven discipline.   00:03:58.020 --> 00:04:05.280 In the years ahead, our approach to accessibility  must transcend mere compliance with regulations.   00:04:06.240 --> 00:04:12.900 Not saying compliance isn't important, but we  all must strive for a higher standard, a standard   00:04:12.900 --> 00:04:16.920 that places the customer at the  center of our design process.   00:04:17.940 --> 00:04:24.720 By adopting a user-centered approach, we  all can ensure that our technology is not   00:04:24.720 --> 00:04:30.960 only accessible but also highly  usable, meaningful, and engaging. 00:04:31.800 --> 00:04:34.500 So how do we do that? What do we focus on?   00:04:35.340 --> 00:04:41.400 You ask me, I believe that continuing success  for accessibility rests on three specific areas:   00:04:42.360 --> 00:04:46.740 innovation, personalization,  and proactive engagement.   00:04:48.540 --> 00:04:56.100 First, with innovation, I think we must embrace  emerging technologies and leverage them to   00:04:56.100 --> 00:05:02.280 create revolutionary solutions that break down  barriers and enhance the customer experience.   00:05:03.180 --> 00:05:09.360 Technologies such as artificial intelligence,  machine learning, and natural language processing   00:05:09.360 --> 00:05:14.760 hold tremendous potential in making our  systems more accessible and intuitive.   00:05:15.600 --> 00:05:20.820 We need to study how we can leverage  these amazing capabilities to provide   00:05:20.820 --> 00:05:25.200 our customers with innovative tools  that meet their emerging needs.   00:05:26.640 --> 00:05:35.700 Second, personalization. We live in an era of  personalized experiences where customers expect   00:05:35.700 --> 00:05:40.800 tailored solutions that cater to their  individual preferences and requirements.   00:05:41.520 --> 00:05:47.640 In the realm of accessibility, personalization  means going beyond generic accommodations,   00:05:48.480 --> 00:05:56.183 providing customizable options that empower each user to adapt the technology to their specific needs. 00:05:56.793 --> 00:05:59.027 Whether it's adjusting font sizes, 00:05:59.027 --> 00:06:02.404 color contrasts, or input methods, 00:06:02.404 --> 00:06:08.460 personalization ensures that all our systems  are not just accessible but truly inclusive. 00:06:09.360 --> 00:06:15.720 Lastly, proactive engagement. We need to  transition away from being reactionary   00:06:15.720 --> 00:06:21.840 to having a more anticipatory and proactive  mindset. We must be proactive in identifying   00:06:21.840 --> 00:06:29.040 and addressing accessibility challenges before  they manifest. By conducting thorough research,   00:06:29.040 --> 00:06:34.740 involving individuals with disabilities in  the design process, and leveraging data,   00:06:35.340 --> 00:06:42.300 we can gain insights into potential barriers  and eliminate them. Proactive engagement   00:06:42.300 --> 00:06:47.460 also means continuously seeking feedback  from our customers, incorporating their   00:06:47.460 --> 00:06:52.560 input into our design iterations, and  staying attuned to the evolving needs. 00:06:53.460 --> 00:06:59.220 So I want to thank all of you and thank you for  your time and attention. I would ask that we all   00:06:59.220 --> 00:07:05.460 continue to champion accessibility, customer  centricity, and data-driven decision-making   00:07:05.460 --> 00:07:12.360 in all our endeavors. Together, we will shape  the future for accessibility and usability and   00:07:12.360 --> 00:07:18.960 not just goals but the very essence of our  information technology that I speak. Thanks. 00:07:24.960 --> 00:07:30.780 Alright, thank you very much, Mr. Donnelly,  for those very inspirational words. Hopefully,   00:07:30.780 --> 00:07:37.380 everybody took something from that presentation  that Mr. Donnelly presented to us. Some of the   00:07:37.380 --> 00:07:42.600 key things I took away were discussing those three  major points: Innovation, especially dealing with   00:07:42.600 --> 00:07:50.220 AI, which we all know artificial intelligence is  taking over the world, and we have to figure out   00:07:50.220 --> 00:07:56.820 a way how to leverage that within our world of  accessibility. Personalization, definitely got   00:07:56.820 --> 00:08:01.740 to figure out how to personalize the experience  for individuals to make things more accessible   00:08:01.740 --> 00:08:07.860 and usable, AU. And proactive engagement,  try to figure out ways of how to fix problems   00:08:07.860 --> 00:08:12.240 before they become a problem in the beginning.  So again, thank you again, Mr. Donnelly, for   00:08:12.240 --> 00:08:21.500 that presentation. That was excellent. Alright,  up next we have Miss Abuja Bale from CRCL.