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is digital accessibility the right path for me?

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From: Victoria Chan
Date: Dec 4, 2023 7:20AM

Hi there.



Could someone be honest with me and tell me if I'm trying to fit a square
peg into a round hole? I think I need a reality check and some help
contemplating life. LOL

For those of you who work in the digital accessibility field, is it
important to have a background in web design and development?

I've been trying to freelance as a digital accessibility consultant for the
last year, but I'm not sure if this is working for me. I thought my personal
experience and the courses that I took through Deque University were enough,
but after talking to some people who have worked in digital accessibility
for some time, I recognize that I don't have the knowledge and skills that
is needed in order to perform proper accessibility audits and
implementation. I have never been tech savvy to begin with. I mean I can
easily tell if a platform is accessible based on my own personal needs and
experiences with screen readers, but I could not for the life of me explain
the problem, nor could I offer a solution. If you asked me a question about
html and css, I would be totally lost. I honestly don't remember much from
the Deque University courses, other than how different screen readers work.
I also tried to take the section 508 trusted tester certification course
through DHS, but I was completely out of my element and found it way too
overwhelming, thus I was unable to complete the program. My friend's brother
who is a business coach suggested that perhaps I could go on Upwork and try
to find somebody who knows how to implement accessibility, and I have
actually looked into it, but still... If I'm being completely honest with
myself, a tech career is not for me. I just needed something to tie me over
so that I could generate some passive income while studying to pursue my
dream career as a certified sexual health and wellness coach. What are
y'all's thoughts? I will admit that my decision to freelance as a digital
accessibility consultant was rather impulsive. I went into this with the
mindset that I'd be able to make money quickly as I've had a hard time
finding steady employment.



Thanks



Victoria