2024 Retrospective

Overview

• 🥇 acknowledgements: “amazing”, “super knowledgeable”, “an absolute asset”
• 🥈 accomplishments: mentor to several members of the team, joined internal accessible code repository initiative, promoted to SME/IL (subject matter expert/industry lead) status within consultant role for a specific client, co-ran team accessibility workshops
• 🥉 technical skills: WCAG 2.2 and EAA
• ♾️ other: lots of industry and personal changes, reinvigorated an interest in baking and cooking

What’s happened since last year?

The tech industry saw massive layoffs, disproportionaltely affecting accessiblity-adjacent roles. The very start of 2023 also began with the announcement that Level Access would merge with Userway. I and many others have feelings about this, but at minimum it was an interesting way to start the year.

The year continued with additional budget and economical tightening throughout all industries. With everything going on externally, 2024 became a year where focusing on mental health would be very important - for both me and my family.

Other things of note:

• Monster Hunter Now rekindled the hype and social experience of Pokemon Go! in getting my friends and I to explore our city
• I learned how to make risotto
• Friends and I went to a craft expo and I got into visible clothes mending
• Continuing on my new hobby and interest in espresso, in 2024 I started experimenting with latte art

Photo Highlights

Lots of Change

Change should have been the word of 2024, good or bad there was plenty of it. Among the leading reasons is AI. Part of a multi-team goal within Level Access was to experiment with what AI is capable of in the accessibility space, investigate the ethics of its use, and then (as a department) help establish appropriate governance. Teams trained internal LLM models, established guidelines and documentation, and gave objective and critical feedback during the process.

Edit: It is my hope, looking at 2025 and coming up to 2026 that Level Access continues to challenge the accessibility space. The jump into AI adoption certainly caused a disruption (internally and within the industry). While I do not support overlays and many AI-first software as long-term accessible solutions I hope the company settles into its new model for the better.

“Mel is super quick to take initiative and problem solve”

“Thank you Mel for coaching me on mobile testing and helping me feel more confident in my work”

“She is always going out of her way to support the team towards growth and success!”