Including

everyone

One of my first professional design projects massively failed an accessibility review. I was mortified. Since then, I’ve not only sought to become educated in accessible design, but to help others get started.

2019
"Start the conversation", NYC in-person event
  • Hosted event with seven interactive stations, each with a different way to engage with digital content from a new perspective.
Screenshot of GAAD website and photos from the event
2020
"Keyboard Navigation Basics", online event
  • Covid inspired our first virtual event, which I co-hosted with CIO Engineering Manager, John T.
2021
GAAD Challenge
  • Led international group of volunteers in six months of planning.
  • Partnered to launch the “GAAD 2021 challenge”, seven 15-minute online activities to introduce alternative ways to interact digitally.
  • Designed unique branding & tagline “Global Accessibility Action Day”.
  • Created new GAAD internal website, Slack poster & promotion package.
GAAD website screen and image of learning plan
2022
Coordinated 6 events globally
  • Co-hosted “Top 5 Ways to Make Your Internal Website More Accessible” with Phill J., Accessibility Executive.
  • Increased volunteers, and added three new countries hosting events.
2023
Coordinated 8 events globally
  • Partnered to create new events with the Consulting group, external client Caption First, and the Boston Accessibility Meetup group.
  • Updated artwork with new gif logo.
GAAD website, Slack poster, and LinkedIn advert
2024
Specific focus on AI
  • Hosted first external speaker, Jutta Treviranus, Director, Inclusive Design Research Center, and Professor of Design at OCAD University, Toronto.
  • Updated branding with lighter color, following new Carbon direction.
2025
Trained a new leader, 10 events globally
  • I partnered with a seasoned volunteer who moved into the lead position to oversee team deadlines and event hosting.
  • Documented full planning timeline, created updated outline for executive press pack, Slack poster artwork, and 2025 website.
Visual of learning plan and Slack posters from the campaign
IDPWD website and presentation cover

2022

Led first global celebration of IDPWD with six international events.
  • Created new web page and marketing package.

2023

Hosted first event for Blindness Awareness Day, October 2023.
  • Led team of volunteers to host 3, and promote seven, international events for IDPWD.

2024

Chaired team with two signature online, and six in-person events.
  • Hosted “Inclusive tech – Making GenAI accessible for everyone”.
2020
“Introduction to Accessibility AMA” with Dabby P., CIO Sr UX Research & Design, Nick V., Creative Developer, and John T., Engineering Manager.
2021
Co-hosted “Design for all” with Dabby P., CIO Sr UX Research & Design.
2021
Selected for Spark internal design festival, co-hosted “A journey to inclusive design” with Dabby P., CIO Sr UX Research & Design.
2022
Selected for UXPA International, San Diego, California.
  • Presented “Introduction to Inclusive Design: How to Start Designing Accessible User Experiences” to conference attendees.
2023
Co-hosted “Inclusive design” with Randy H., demonstrating how screen readers work, and considerations when designing.
2024
Hosted “Accessibility with CIO Clients - how to begin implementing accessibility practices in your team”.

I am impressed, enlightened and delighted by the work you’re doing to raise awareness and make progress in this important area. The presentation was highly polished, and the examples were incredibly impactful. I felt sad to be reminded that we are unintentionally excluding users when we overlook accessibility...I particularly liked that you’re breaking down the content into smaller, digestible pieces (‘because we’re all busy’).

Danielle S.
Director, CIO Ways of Working

Thank you so much for leading the planning of IDPWD! You have done such a thorough job to make sure we have a variety of events and activities and to ensure recognition of the IBMers around the world hosting them. I also appreciate your accessible design guidance as I update our IDPWD publisher celebration page. Now let's celebrate accessibility and this important day for the PWDA Community!

Diane D.
Global PWDA Leader

Thank you for being such an amazing partner in bringing a focus on accessible and inclusive design at IBM. You're a wonderful coworker and a fantastic advocate. You enabled me to do more for accessibility than I'd ever done before. Continue being awesome, Arin!

Dabby P.
CIO Sr UX Research & Design

Thank you for all the hard work on IDPWD, GAAD, and keeping the topic alive. You really do have a design skill. And you're fun to work with! Hope to see you in NYC or Austin one day.

Phill J.
Accessibility Executive, IBM Accessibility Team