We’re excited to announce a partnership with Unlocked Freedom Access (UFA), an accessibility consultancy founded by Kevin Andrews in Washington, D.C. Kevin has been a strong supporter of Equalify and brings a wealth of experience as both a user of assistive technology and a leading advocate for web accessibility.
Kevin’s Journey: From Using Tech to Advocating for Others
Kevin, born blind, started using assistive technology at 8 years old with JAWS 3.7, a screen reader that opened up the internet for him at a young age. By 12, he was using a BrailleNote device to access the internet outside his home. This early experience with technology sparked his lifelong commitment to accessibility.
In 2017, Kevin moved from being a user to an advocate, working directly with people with disabilities in the University of California system. He saw that many lacked the same opportunities he had. His work led him to start the San Jose/Silicon Valley Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) and get involved in accessibility advisory meetings for Santa Cruz metro.
Later, Kevin shifted to IT work at Georgetown University in D.C., helping launch the university’s flagship website and resolving accessibility issues with the Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education. He is now a certified web accessibility specialist and recently founded Unlocked Freedom Access to continue his advocacy and consulting work.
Equalify’s Work with UFA
Kevin’s blend of technical expertise and advocacy makes him an ideal partner. Equalify works closely with Kevin and UFA to validate our own accessibility efforts, ensuring that our platform continues to meet high standards.
We also regularly publish “Equalify Snippets,” a video series exploring accessibility topics.
Stay tuned for more as we continue to drive forward web accessibility with partners like Kevin!