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Talk

IAAP Standards and Certification

1:10 pm - 1:55 pm · Discovery room

This session introduces how the International Association of Accessibility Professionals supports the accessibility workforce through membership, certification, and professional development programs. Three members of the IAAP leadership team will present on the resources and pathways available to practitioners and organizations. Rachel Paul, Membership Director, will share how IAAP membership connects professionals to the resources, peers, and community they need to grow in accessibility. Samantha Evans, Certification Director, will explain how IAAP credentials like CPACC, WAS, and CPWA help organizations identify qualified practitioners and how the certification program continues to evolve alongside the field. Sam Sundermann, Operations Manager, will cover how IAAP programs, including the Education Training Database and the Speakers Bureau, support the professional development of accessibility practitioners around the world. Practitioners considering IAAP membership or certification, hiring managers looking for recognized credentials, and organizations building accessibility capacity will leave with a clear picture of what IAAP offers and how to use it.

Speakers

Speaker

Samantha Evans

Certification Director, IAAP, International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP)

Sam Evans is the Certification Director at the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP), where she has led the certification team since 2016. With more than 20 years of experience leading, growing, and managing associations and non-profit organizations, Sam brings deep expertise in change management and value proposition development. She holds an MBA in Marketing and International Sales and a BA in Political Science from Kennesaw State University. Sam has earned ASAE's Certified Association Executive (CAE) certification and The Institute for Credentialing Excellence's Certified Credentialing Professional (ICE-CCP) certification.

Speaker

Sam Sundermann

Operations Manager, IAAP, International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP)

Sam Sundermann is the Strategic Operations Management Coordinator at the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP). She joined IAAP in 2020 and is responsible for the IAAP Education Training Database (ETD) and Speakers Bureau, as well as coordinating social media content. Sam also works on the M-Enabling Summit as registration coordinator and assists with certification programs and new IAAP initiatives.

Speaker

Rachel Paul

Membership Director, IAAP, International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP)

Rachel Paul is the Membership Director at the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP). She brings nearly 20 years of diverse marketing and communications experience, including product and channel management at a Fortune 500 company, social media strategy, and account management. Rachel holds an MBA in Marketing from Ashland University and a BA in Political Science from Ohio University. She has contributed to several non-profit boards and committees, including the Cleveland Sight Center, Seedlings Braille Books, and the Foundation for Retinal Research.