What My Mother’s Stroke Taught Me About Digital Accessibility

When Accessibility Became Personal

My mother suffered a stroke shortly before her 50th birthday. After a lengthy hospital stay and months of rehabilitation, it was hard seeing her struggle with everyday tasks that we often take for granted. 

While she was able to maintain some independence, she had to rely on technology more than she ever had before. She lost a lot of dexterity in her hands and walking could be difficult. I was able to show her that her mobile device could be used for much more than phone calls and sending texts. She quickly graduated to a tablet and was soon using it to read books, shop online for grocery pick-up, and play games to help sharpen her motor skills. 

Seeing Technology Through a New Lens

As her confidence with technology grew and I watched her regain independence through a screen, I saw the digital world through her eyes. To most, websites are tools for information or entertainment. To my mother, it was a bridge back to the world that she knew.

She recently passed away unexpectedly. As I’ve reflected on her life, I realize that her journey became my driving force. My passion for digital accessibility isn't just a professional interest; it’s a way of honoring the resilience she showed every single day.

When I joined DSGa six years ago, I knew very little about digital accessibility and web development. I had worked with a small local government in West Virginia before and had helped a few small businesses in the area get their websites up and running. I understood the basics, but did not realize the responsibility that comes with government digital services.

As I was introduced to Siteimprove and began analyzing data, I began to understand the hidden components that make up a user’s experience. I learned that accessibility is governed by standards and guidelines, many that take place behind the scenes in the innermost parts of a website. I also noticed the importance of details that most people never see – things like descriptive alt text that allow screen readers to paint a picture for someone with visual impairments or the hierarchy of heading levels that give guidance to someone navigating a website by keyboard.

It isn’t about how pretty the colors look together or if the font size of the correct header is too large. It’s about the user on the other side of the screen and making sure that services are accessible by everyone. 

Disabilities aren’t always noticeable in a physical sense, but they're always present in how people interact with our sites.

From Awareness to Action

As I gained more knowledge and awareness,  I explored opportunities for personal growth and I found the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP), an organization of professionals that are dedicated to promote and improve accessibility for people impacted by disabilities. I knew that empathy alone wasn't enough; I needed to back it up with the knowledge of the standards that make an inclusive world possible.

During my studies for the CPACC (Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies) exam, I learned about the many different types of disabilities that a large percentage of the world’s population has to live with. When I read through all of the laws and regulations that have been put in place to ensure that everyone has equal access, it made me even more proud of the work I do.

Earning my certification was a big highlight of my career, and I was so proud to tell my mom that I had done it. After learning about the millions of people who rely on us to get the “hidden” details right so that they’re able to access the information that she needed, I felt like I was keeping a promise – a commitment to ensure that “digital” never means “divided”.

Building a Community of Practice

My daily interaction with accessibility has shifted from sharing updates about our efforts in our monthly newsletter to identifying and solving issues as Support Desk Lead. I often serve as the bridge between our customers and our development team, ensuring that there’s an awareness of accessibility issues on the platform. In our monthly Accessibility Compliance Working Group meetings, I see the power of collaboration as state agencies come together to share what we’ve learned as we work toward compliance. We aren’t just maintaining websites; we’re building a community of practice dedicated to equitable access.

I often find myself speaking with folks who are struggling to complete a time-sensitive task or find a document that is hiding in the backend of the website. In those moments, I don’t just see a "ticket" or a technical glitch. I see a person who might be in a situation just like my mother’s. I remember the frustration in her eyes when a button wasn’t labeled correctly or when a page timed out before she could finish typing.

Being able to provide assistance to someone through a digital barrier gives me so much pride. Whether I am providing resources on an accessibility standard or walking someone through a content update, it all goes to benefit our constituents. Helping people is at the heart of everything that I do.

A Lasting Impact

I’m proud to use my skills in service of something bigger than myself. Whether I’m collaborating with the working group to set new standards or helping a single user through Service Desk, the goal remains the same: to make our interactions with the government as frictionless and dignified as possible.

My mother’s journey taught me that technology has the power to restore what was lost. My job is to make sure that power is available to everyone, regardless of their ability. At the end of the day, accessibility isn't just about code — it's about making the state work better for every Georgian, one click at a time.

Related to: 

• Accessibility
• Accessibility Guidance