1) Dennis Lembree has been involved in web accessibility for over 15 years. He created Web Axe, a popular podcast and blog, and Accessible Twitter, an accessible version of Twitter. 2) He has a background in communications and got his start in web accessibility out of a belief in equality and fairness for people with disabilities. 3) Over his career, he has lived in several states and worked for various companies, and along the way learned about web accessibility through on-the-job training and personal projects.

1. Confessions of a Web Accessibility Author, Developer John Slatin AccessU Austin, TX | May 17, 2011 Dennis Lembree

3. Fairness, Taxi

4. Michigan to Florida

5. Web Axe

6. Accessible Twitter

7. Concerns

8. Lessons Learned

9. Quiz

10. Contact Info

12. From Michigan; now in California; also lived in Florida.

14. Motorcycling

15. ‘ 80s music (DJDen on Blip.fm)

16. Star Wars

17. Judge Judy

19. Recent freelance writer for DesignFestival.com.

20. Day job at Research In Motion (RIM) – maker of BlackBerry.

23. Windows main desktop computer.

24. MacBook Pro laptop.

25. Android tablet (Samsung Galaxy).

26. Ubuntu (Linux) on old Dell laptop.

30. Deaf, HOH, or hearing.

31. Memory loss or good memory.

32. Native language, second language, low reading level.

33. Mouse, keyboard, single switch, or head wand.

34. Modern browser, IE6 or text-only.

35. 800x600 or 1680x1050.

36. JavaScript or no JavaScript.

37. 14.4 kbps dialup or broadband.

40. Has “bells and whistles” but can’t accommodate all customers. Sound familiar?!

41. Tweet

44. Travel to the water company to pay a bill.

46. Deputy Mayor Stephen Goldsmith

47. Taxi and Limousine Commissioner David Yassky

49. Poor environment?

50. Poor education?

51. Poor training?

53. Raised in Dearborn, Michigan.

54. University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI) 1992.

55. Four years at Entertainment Publications, Inc. (Troy, MI).

57. BA in Communications, Advertising/Public Relations.

59. Several jobs in marketing, tech writing, and web development.

60. Yes, I worked at Disney. No, I didn’t play Mickey Mouse.

61. It’s really, really humid.

62. Fun for weekend trips and theme parks!

63. Entrance to Tomorrowland

66. Mostly government and military contracts.

67. Section 508 went into effect in June 2001, just after starting at Carley Corp.

68. As first web developer at Carley, took on task of learning and implementing Section 508.

70. Learn basics of web accessibility.

72. Usability

73. Standards

76. We got pregnant.

78. http://webaxe.blogspot.com

81. Mike Pfeiffer of Most People Are DJs (alternative music podcast)

84. Michigan State University

87. Co-founder with Ross Johnson.

88. Still active: May 26th meeting on PhoneGap.

89. Ross and I no longer have active roles.

91. Denis Boudreau

92. Jennison Asuncion

93. Karen Mardahl

94. Mike Gifford

95. Paul Boag

96. Steve Grobschmidt

97. Terrill Thompson

98. Tom Babinszki

100. Jeremy Keith

101. Andrew Kirkpatrick

102. Paul Boag

103. Patrick Lauke

104. Everett Zufelt

105. John Foliot

106. Mike Cherim

109. New Section 508 Web Site

111. “ Only 3 websites out of 76 government and public body websites certified by a third-party were accessible, while none of the commercial websites out of 24 that had self-declared could be considered accessible”

114. Assistive Technology Boogie - fun, and it's accessible Flash!

115. "Man With Small F" (The Inaccessible PDF Song) by Terrill Thompson.

116. Inaccessible song by Daniel Davis.

117. Listen to the Web Axe theme song!

119. Sharron Rush

120. Panel of people with disabilities on how they experience music, dance and media through rich internet experiences and events made accessible through the use of assistive technologies.

122. So many comics and infographics still do not have alternative text.

123. Fun examples of how to write.

125. Man in Foursquare t-shirt pointing at pee on floor: "I'm peeing here."

126. Man in Slideshare t-shirt, arms raised: "Why I am Great at Peeing."

128. Great Wedding Plans (never built)

129. My Client Time

131. http://www.AccessibleTwitter.com

138. Irony: Class-action lawsuit against Disney for inaccessible websites around same time.

141. (And usually Seesmic on mobile)

144. Lack of proper headings.

145. Lack of keyboard access, focus.

146. Redundant title attributes (pet peeve).

147. Missing alternative text in comics (and infographics).

150. HTML5 Accessibility Chops: the alt decision

153. Always consider all types of users; be inclusive.

154. Use different types of technologies.

155. Relationships rule; personal growth.

156. A great user experience is ultimate goal; not complying with checklists and validation tests.

157. Try, try again.

158. Take your significant other to a foreign country with you when you have the chance.

165. @webaxe http://WebAxe.blogspot.com

166. @accessibleTwitr http://AccessibleTwitter.com