Joshua Carr, CPACC, UXC – Video Accessibility and User Experience Expert
Why Hire Joshua Carr?
With over 20 years of experience in software and a proven track record of driving video accessibility innovation, Joshua Carr is a leader in making digital entertainment more inclusive. His expertise spans multiple areas, including video accessibility, inclusive user experience, and industry compliance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). Companies seeking to enhance their platforms’ accessibility and reach a broader audience should look no further.
Joshua’s extensive work in video accessibility for major companies like Paramount, Pluto TV, and Spectrum has made a significant impact on millions of users with disabilities. His leadership and strategic guidance have led these organizations to implement cutting-edge solutions in Text-to-Speech, Audio Description, Closed Captioning, and accessible user interface design. Joshua doesn’t just ensure compliance; he elevates platforms, fostering experiences that are innovative and empowering for all users.
Expertise & Accomplishments
- Led video accessibility and inclusive design efforts at Paramount, Pluto TV, and Spectrum, advancing accessibility on platforms such as Apple, Roku, Android, and more.
- Spearheaded Spectrum’s rise to industry leadership in accessible video services, reaching over 2 million users with disabilities.
- Designed and developed innovative solutions for ARIA-based Connected TV apps, including Text-to-Speech integration, at Pluto TV.
- Created standardized documentation for video accessibility at VideoA11y.org, collaborating with partners to influence industry policy and best practices.
- Developed technical requirements and training resources for video accessibility that go beyond compliance, promoting empathy and understanding for people with disabilities.
A Leader in Video Accessibility Standards
Joshua’s work with VideoA11y.org emphasizes his commitment to open-source accessibility standards for industries that currently lack consistent guidelines, including video entertainment and emerging technologies like virtual and augmented reality. His approach to standardization is collaborative, inviting input from the community to ensure that these standards continuously evolve to meet user needs and technological advancements.
Driving Strategic Innovation
Joshua has a proven ability to advance strategic accessibility goals, whether through auditing platforms, developing cutting-edge accessible prototypes, or collaborating with product teams to integrate inclusive design into workflows. His commitment to empathy-driven user experience makes him an invaluable asset for any organization looking to improve accessibility for video platforms.
Ready to elevate your platform’s accessibility?
Joshua Carr brings a unique blend of technical expertise, visionary leadership, and a passion for inclusive design. Let him lead your video accessibility efforts and create experiences that benefit all users.
Joshua’s Most Recent Portfolio Articles
Creating Video Accessibility Standards
Why Existing Standards Weren’t Enough WCAG and Section 508 set the foundation for accessibility, but they fall short for modern video. Streaming apps, smart TVs, captions, audio description, and text-to-speech navigation create challenges those standards never imagined. Entertainment needed a clear, unified framework that addressed real-world use across platforms and devices. My Role in Building the Framework I led the effort to create the first holistic accessibility standards for video entertainment. To start, I brought together WCAG, Section 508, CVAA, and FCC rules into one unified framework. I then expanded these rules to cover modern needs like remote control navigation, [...]
Case Study: Designing an Accessible Streaming Video Player
When Streaming Isn’t Accessible Streaming is how most of us watch TV and movies, but accessibility still lags behind. Users who rely on screen readers, text-to-speech, captions, or adaptive remotes struggle with simple tasks. Pausing a show or skipping ahead often feels frustrating. Too many companies treat accessibility as a checklist instead of a design principle. Pluto TV set out to change that. The goal was a video player that not only met requirements but delivered a seamless experience for everyone. Researching Existing Gaps in the Market I led this project from the ground up. From the start, I built [...]
Video Accessibility: Removing Barriers to Inclusive Entertainment
In today’s digital age, video content is one of the most powerful and widely consumed forms of media. Whether it’s streaming a favorite show, playing an immersive video game, or catching the latest news broadcast, millions of people rely on video for entertainment, education, and information. Yet, for people with disabilities, accessing video content can still present significant barriers. Video accessibility isn’t just about compliance with legal standards—it’s about guaranteeing that everyone, regardless of ability, has equal access to the rich, multi-sensory experiences that video platforms offer. Why Video Accessibility Matters Video accessibility makes certain that people with disabilities can [...]
Accessible Video Scrubbing Controls for Connected TV
At VideoA11y, we're committed to ensuring that video content is accessible to all, including users with motor disabilities. Our recent case study focused on designing accessible video player scrubbing controls for Connected TV apps, optimizing them for diverse user needs. This study improves the usability of video scrubbing controls for remotes, while accounting for the needs of text-to-speech users for accurate script updates. Key Concepts: Accessible Video Scrubbing To better understand the impact of our proposed solutions, let’s define some key terms: Scrubbing: Fast-forwarding or rewinding through a video via a progress bar. Interval: The unit of progress movement on [...]
CTVA Video Accessibility Considerations
The Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act (CVTA) of 2023 The Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act of 2023 (CVTA) is a landmark legislative proposal that builds on the earlier 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA), addressing critical gaps left by the rapid evolution of digital technology. It proposes new standards for video accessibility, communication platforms, and video playback devices, ensuring that people with disabilities have equal access to these tools. At VideoA11y, we appreciate the care taken for this legislative proposal and are excited to support the video accessibility aspects of the document. Here’s a brief summary [...]