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Sheri Byrne-Haber (disabled)
Multi-award winning values-based engineering, accessibility, and inclusion leader
Sheri Byrne-Haber is a prominent Canadian-American expert in the fields of disability and accessibility, currently serving as an Audit Subcommittee Member at the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) since October 2023. She is also a Senior Staff Architect for Accessibility at VMware, where she has played a pivotal role in launching digital accessibility programs across several Fortune 200 companies, including McDonald's and Albertsons.15
Professional Background
- Accessibility Leadership: Sheri has extensive experience in accessibility, having co-chaired the W3C Maturity Model Task Force since March 2021. Her work focuses on improving accessibility practices within organizations, ensuring that they are inclusive of people with disabilities.14
- Legal and Advocacy Work: Before her career in accessibility, she worked as an attorney specializing in cases involving the rights of d/Deaf individuals. This background informs her advocacy efforts and her commitment to creating equitable environments for all.5
- Educational Credentials: Sheri holds degrees in Management Information Systems, Law (J.D.), and an M.B.A. with an emphasis on Health Care. She is also certified in various accessibility competencies, including the IAAP Certified Professionals in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC).35
Personal Insights
Sheri is a mobility-disabled individual and a mother of a deaf daughter, which has significantly influenced her passion for advocating for disability rights and accessibility. She shares her insights through her Substack blog, "Access * Ability," where she discusses topics related to disability inclusion and technology's impact on accessibility.23
Recognition
Her contributions to the field have been recognized widely; she was named a LinkedIn Top Voice for Social Impact in 2022 and received the Author of the Year award from Medium's UX Collective in 2020.5 Sheri's expertise is not only limited to corporate settings; she actively participates in various committees and panels focused on advancing accessibility standards globally.
Through her roles and advocacy, Sheri Byrne-Haber continues to be a leading voice in promoting inclusivity and accessibility for individuals with disabilities.
