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, audio description controls, and caption behavior.
I worked directly with engineers, legal teams, designers, and content producers to ensure the standards were both comprehensive and practical. I also designed the documentation system to be modular so teams, vendors, and partners could adopt it at scale. Finally, I open-sourced a version through VideoA11y.org, which has since been adopted informally by several major players in the entertainment industry.
From Internal Guide to Industry Resource
What started as internal documentation at Spectrum grew into a resource shared across the entertainment industry. The standards set consistent patterns for captions, audio description, screen reader navigation, and inclusive UI design. They bridged advocacy and implementation by giving both teams and the wider accessibility community practical tools to drive change.
Outcomes That Moved the Industry Forward
The framework became more than rules. It evolved into community-driven guidance shaped by real users with disabilities, and it challenged the industry to do better. By writing the standards in clear, accessible language, I gave teams the confidence to act quickly. These standards now influence how leading entertainment companies approach accessibility at scale.
Lessons I Carried Forward
This project proved that accessibility is more than a technical layer. It is cultural infrastructure that defines how people experience storytelling. By grounding the framework in empathy, user research, and cultural nuance, I created something dynamic and empowering. My ability to imagine inclusive futures, write them clearly, and scale them across industries pushed accessibility forward—because I took the first step.
