Eric Felder
Sacramento,CA
Summary
Accessibility leader and subject matter expert with 10+ years of hands-on digital accessibility expertise and product development experience. Proven track record designing and implementing accessible solutions for complex user interactions across web, mobile, and AI-powered applications. Expert in WCAG 2.1/2.2 AA standards, manual and automated testing methodologies, and translating accessibility requirements into practical design solutions. Passionate about embedding accessibility into product development culture and building truly inclusive experiences that serve all users. Certified Section 508 Trusted Tester and CPACC professional with deep knowledge of assistive technologies and pragmatic approach to solving complex accessibility challenges.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Accessibility Specialist
WRMA
07.2024 - Current
- Led comprehensive accessibility compliance efforts for federal and state government products, establishing standards and practices across projects using WCAG 2.1/2.2 AA and Section 508 frameworks.
- Designed and conducted detailed accessibility audits combining manual testing (JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, TalkBack keyboard-only navigation) with automated tools (Axe, Wave, Lighthouse) to identify complex accessibility issues.
- Authored detailed Accessibility Conformance Reports (ACRs) and VPATs for software and web applications, translating technical findings into actionable remediation guidance for product and engineering teams.
- Partnered with cross-functional design, product, and engineering teams to develop accessible design solutions for complex user interactions and components, ensuring feasibility and quality.
- Delivered customized training sessions to development teams on accessibility best practices, ARIA implementation, semantic HTML, and screen reader compatibility, building accessibility expertise across the organization.
- Developed comprehensive remediation plans following audits, prioritizing issues by impact and feasibility while maintaining collaborative relationships with stakeholders.
- Championed accessibility integration into design systems and development workflows, helping teams shift toward accessibility-first thinking.
Section 508 Compliance Specialist
WRMA
08.2020 - 06.2024
- Conducted comprehensive audits of federal websites and applications for Section 508 compliance, with particular focus on screen reader usability and keyboard-only navigation for users with disabilities.
- Provided strategic guidance to federal and state agencies on accessible digital content creation (PDFs, videos, mobile applications) aligned with HHS Accessibility Standards.
- Tested multimedia content for accuracy of closed captions, transcripts, and synchronized audio descriptions to meet federal compliance requirements.
- Collaborated with cross-agency teams to identify and remediate accessibility barriers in critical systems, applying user-centered approach to problem-solving.
- Designed and implemented processes for ongoing accessibility maintenance, ensuring compliance as standards and technologies evolved.
Digital Accessibility Specialist
Access Ingenuity
02.2020 - 08.2020
- Conducted comprehensive audits of federal websites and applications for Section 508 compliance, focusing on usability for screen reader and keyboard-only users.
- Provided detailed guidance to federal and state agencies on creating accessible digital content in alignment with HHS Accessibility Standards.
- Tested multimedia content to ensure accurate captions, transcripts, and synchronized audio descriptions met federal requirements.
- Collaborated with cross-agency teams to address accessibility barriers in critical systems using a user-first approach.
Email Marketing Developer
KOICA
02.2018 - 01.2020
- Designed and implemented accessible HTML email templates ensuring compliance with ARIA landmarks, semantic coding best practices, and EN 301 549 standards.
- Reviewed campaigns for accessibility and legal compliance, optimizing for assistive technology users across diverse global audiences.
- Conducted A/B testing on subscription lists exceeding 100,000 recipients, maintaining accessibility standards while optimizing user engagement.
- Collaborated with stakeholders to ensure all email content adhered to accessibility guidelines, enhancing usability for users with disabilities.
- Developed strategies to improve campaign performance while maintaining WCAG 2.1 AA compliance and European directives for inclusivity.
Associate Front-End Developer
Marketing Direct
03.2014 - 12.2017
- Developed responsive front-end components using JavaScript, React, and Redux that adhered to WCAG standards and were equally usable by all users.
- Built interfaces optimized for keyboard navigation and screen reader compatibility, embedding accessibility from the start of development.
- Conducted detailed testing and validation of designs to maintain compliance with Section 508 and state-level accessibility mandates.
Education
Master of Science - Instructional Design and Technology
California State University, Fullerton
Fullerton, CA07.2022
Bachelor's Degree - Anthropology
University of California, Riverside
Riverside, CA08.2012
Skills
- Accessibility Expertise: Section 508 Compliance, WCAG Standards, Accessible Document Creation, Assistive Technology Testing (JAWS, NVDA)
- Technical Proficiency: JavaScript, React, Redux, Nodejs, HTML, CSS, SQL, PostgreSQL, Express, Ruby on Rails, C#
- Mobile & Web Accessibility: Accessibility Testing for iOS and Android, Mobile-Friendly Design Compliance, Responsive Web Design
- Digital Accessibility Auditing: AI-powered and manual website audits, VPAT preparation, mobile and web accessibility compliance
- Certification & Standards: CPACC Certified, Section 508 Trusted Tester, IAAP Certified Professional, Authoring Accessible PDF Documents
- Training & Education: Accessibility Training Development, Workshops on Inclusive Design Practices
- Design & Multimedia: Adobe Creative Suite, Graphic Design, Photo Editing
- Communication & Collaboration: Client Relations, Cross-Functional Team Leadership, Stakeholder Communication
- Languages: English (Native), Spanish (Professional Proficiency)
- Community Engagement: Volunteer Mentorship for Sacramento Society For the Blind, Accessibility Advocacy for Be My Eyes
Accomplishments
- A11y Tester reached 1000+ downloads in first 6 months, with a current 5-star rating; added 5 new accessibility testing features based on user feedback, making professional-grade mobile testing accessible to indie developers and small teams.
- Developed and delivered accessibility curriculum to 120+ engineers across federal agencies; follow-up audits showed 45% reduction in accessibility defects in subsequent projects.
- Automated accessibility testing workflow using Axe API, reducing manual audit time from 40 hours to 12 hours per project while maintaining detection accuracy.
- Established an accessibility SME review board standardizing compliance standards and creating shared remediation roadmaps that improved inter-agency efficiency.
- Shifted compliance-focused culture to accessibility-first mindset; built accessibility requirements into design system from inception, reducing defect discovery timeline from post-launch to pre-launch phases.
Certification
- Section 508 Trusted Tester (Certified by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security).
- IAAP Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC) (Certified by the International Association of Accessibility Professionals)
- Certification in Disability and Accessible Design (Certified by the University of Michigan)
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
Spanish
Full Professional
Timeline
Senior Accessibility Specialist
WRMA
07.2024 - Current
Section 508 Compliance Specialist
WRMA
08.2020 - 06.2024
Digital Accessibility Specialist
Access Ingenuity
02.2020 - 08.2020
Email Marketing Developer
KOICA
02.2018 - 01.2020
Associate Front-End Developer
Marketing Direct
03.2014 - 12.2017
Master of Science - Instructional Design and Technology
California State University, Fullerton
Bachelor's Degree - Anthropology
University of California, Riverside