Interview with Mark Carty
Mark Carty is Senior Multimedia Developer at The Learning Rooms in Ireland. Mark is certified Web Accessibility Specialist (WAS).
Why did you become certified?
Over the last few years, accessibility has come to the fore as a key focus of my career with The Learning Rooms. WAS certification was the ideal pathway for me to develop my personal and professional interest in digital accessibility into a recognised qualification.
Accessibility strongly influences our work in the digital learning space. Alongside this, having a certified team member signals to our clients that we understand their accessibility needs and are a trustworthy development partner.
What has the certification meant to your career/to you personally?
I achieved WAS certification in 2022 and since then it has given me the confidence to advocate for learners and advise on accessibility matters with colleagues and clients. It has opened my eyes to the transformative power that digital tools and resources can offer, while also giving me a deeper appreciation of the barriers that can hinder or block access.
Preparing for the WAS exam and gaining certification was an important personal achievement that I am extremely proud of. I learned so much throughout the process and I continue to gather knowledge and new skills through professional development with IAAP and other leaders in the accessibility space. There is always something new to learn and I plan to renew my WAS certification this year.
What would you say professional certification means for society/our community at large?
Professional certification ensures a consistent standard of trusted knowledge. It also means that reliable expertise can be accessed wherever it is needed. As the worldwide community of certified professionals grows, word spreads about the importance of accessibility and it becomes part of more conversations. These conversations then lead to more accessible products and services and improved experiences for all.
On a more local level, the approach of the European Accessibility Act presents a huge opportunity for certified individuals to collaborate with organisations to improve accessibility for their customers and users.
Any additional thoughts on IAAP membership?
It’s an exciting time to be a member of the IAAP community as the world of accessibility grows and evolves along with emerging technologies and updated standards. I am proud to be counted among a global community of accessibility professionals working together towards the same goal.
What is WAS?
The Web Accessibility Specialist (WAS) is an IAAP technical Professional Certification that quantifies and represents a Candidate’s expression of their “current” hands-on technical digital accessibility proficiency.
IAAP, led by volunteer accessibility leaders, develops and maintains WAS to help build benchmarks of experience in the technical accessibility profession.
The Web Accessibility Specialist (WAS) is one of various certification that IAAP - International Association of Accessibility Professionals has created for accessibility professionals. Find out more in the IAAP website.