Michael Cooper

Experience

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  University of Denver

  Sept 1993 - Aug 1997

  Disability Services Technology Specialist and Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Coordinator

  * Coordinated accessibility accommodations for students and employees with disabilities.* Managed data from a campus accessibility survey to help prioritize building improvements.* Provided technical expertise for the library of assistive technologies, and instructed students in their use.* Produced accessible formats of materials for students, with early adoption of the emerging Web for this purpose.

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  CAST -- Center for Applied Special Technology

  Jun 1998 - Aug 2002

  Bobby Product Manager and Technical Designer

  * Managed continued development of Bobby, the first Web accessibility evaluation tool. Collaborated with developers of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0 to ensure Bobby’s tests harmonized with the WCAG 1.0 guidance.* Supported the organization to use XML and XSLT technologies in a early digital book format with support to implement UDL principles in content.* Developed ways to apply Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles to early web design capabilities.* Developed content and design for the organization’s early web site, to provide content both about and as an example of UDL principles. Show less

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  Watchfire

  Aug 2002 - Jun 2006

  Accessibility Product Manager

  * Led the redevelopment of the Bobby product developed at CAST (see below) into Watchfire’s WebXM tool.* Continued to provide industry leadership in the development of web content accessibility testing approaches and helping define testability of accessibility guidelines.* Worked with customers to understand their business needs, support deployment of the product, provide best practices training, and design and implement customizations as needed.

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  W3C

  Jun 2006 - Jul 2023

  * Provided content, editorial, and technical expertise reflected in the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 and Accessible Rich Internet Applications (WAI-ARIA) 1.0.* Managed the processes of obtaining wide review and obtaining consensus in various types of publications, and provided technical and editorial quality assurance.* Helped contribute accessibility features or guidance to many web technologies through systematic review and comment on specifications, and direct engagement with groups developing them.* Supported mainstream understanding of accessibility needs by helping to conceive and develop a set of widely referenced Accessibility User Needs documents that provide details of accessibility requirements.* Provided strategic leadership identifying the impacts of technology changes and emerging user needs.* Helped conceive and incubate the project that is now W3C Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 3.0, with a new approach recognizing changes in technology in the past decade.* Engaged with representatives of diverse user groups, finding ways to authentically understand perspectives, advocate with less-heard voices, and contribute to mutual understanding in group discussions.* Represented the organization via keynote and other presentations at academic and industry conferences. Show less

  • Accessibility Strategy and Technical Lead

    Apr 2023 - Jul 2023

  • Web Accessibility Specialist

    Jun 2006 - Jul 2023
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  Aihal Accessibility

  Jan 2024 - now

  Proprietor

  Working on contracts where I can provide unique value that will meaningfully support your organization's mission. I bring 25 years of digital accessibility experience and combine that with a critical thinking approach in development of technical solutions, implementation of tools, and writing meaningful guidance.

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  Metaverse Standards Forum

  Sept 2024 - now

  Accessibility Working Group co-chair

  The “Accessibility in the Metaverse” working group seeks to generate insights, identify risks, and recommend strategies and best practices to ensure that virtual environments, experiences, and interactions are accessible to all, regardless of abilities or disabilities. The group will also explore the accessibility needs of metaverse content creators and developers in addition to end users and how accessible experiences benefit the organizations creating them. By promoting accessibility, we can achieve interoperability and full participation across metaverse experiences for everyone. I bring my experience in managing distributed groups and my knowledge of how accessibility standards are formed to help this group in its ambitious mission. Show less