Stephen Lowe Email & Phone Number

Bethesda, Md, Us

Herndon, Va

I provide end-to-end accessibility consulting to a variety of clients, including financial institutions, software developers, insurance companies, federal and local government entities, e-learning firms, and retailers. I perform detailed accessibility assessments of websites and applications (WCAG 2.0 and 2.1) as well as documents (PDF/UA) that include detailed recommendations on how to remediate issues. I also work with client personnel at every phase of the SDLC (designers, developers, content providers, quality assurance testers, and management) to incorporate accessibility into all processes that contribute to the life cycle.Other responsibilities include the following: • provide training to groups and individuals in accessible content creation, PDF accessibility, and general document accessibility• create training materials• create Accessibility Conformance Reports (VPATs) based on accessibility assessments• perform screen reader assessment testing for websites and applications.

Bethesda, Md

As part of the In-House Accessibility Consulting Team, I provide digital accessibility guidance to teams across Wells Fargo. I work with designers, developers, content experts, and management to ensure that accessibility concerns are recognized, understood, and addressed for digital properties at all phases of the SDLC. I evaluate web sites and applications for WCAG compliance, reporting all violations and providing detailed recommendations for remediation with code samples.

Working as a temporary contractor through Spectraforce, I provided web accessibility guidance to teams across Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) that developed and maintained public-facing websites and other digital content. • Collaborated with development teams, business owners, and other stakeholders to ensure that new or revised functionality and content of BCBSNC’s public-facing web pages and applications complied with WCAG 2.0 and Section 508 guidelines.• Audited existing BCBSNC websites to document accessibility issues and work with developers to remedy all WCAG 2.0 violations. • Reviewed and remediated all PDF materials before they are posted on BCBSNC websites to ensure compliance with the PDF/UA standard.• Worked with BCBSNC staff and contractors to expand understanding of accessibility guidelines and to incorporate accessibility into development and production processes.

• Audited commercial and federal websites for WCAG 2.0 and Section 508 compliance using ZoomText and other assistive technology on Windows and Mac.• Documented accessibility issues and potential solutions to those issues.

Rockville, Md

During my 21 years at ICF, I led or contributed to a variety of contracts with a broad range of clients. My major areas of focus were project management, assistive technology and disability issues, web development, web accessibility, and content strategy/management. Began as a research assistant at Macro International (acquired by ICF in 2009) and advanced to project management within 5 years. As a senior project manager, I managed a portfolio of federal, state, and commercial contracts totaling over $1.5 million annually. I led diverse teams (up to 20 people) that included developers, designers, subject matter experts, information architects, UX/UI specialists, and social media professionals. Major accomplishments include:• Led development of the AbleData website into an internationally recognized provider of reliable information on assistive technology products for people with disabilities. Built audience to over 4 million unique visitors annually and managed three redesigns, including migration into a custom CMS and adoption of responsive design.• Provided accessibility testing and remediation (Section 508 and WCAG 2.0) of web content/apps and documents for Federal and commercial clients. • Chaired Working Group 12 of ISO Technical Committee 173/Subcommittee 2, which created the 2016 revision of ISO 9999, the international standard for the classification of assistive products. • Managed IT portfolio of Child Welfare Information Gateway, adhering to CMMI Level 3. Developed content strategy for new Gateway site and led cross-functional team that redesigned the site and migrated content into Mura CMS. • Managed redesign and implementation of CMS for reNewJerseyStronger.org website, supporting New Jersey’s Superstorm Sandy recovery programs. • Received NIH Plain Language Award for fact sheet series on radiation therapy side effects.• Managed over 20 large and small successful proposal efforts.Details of individual projects are provided in Project profiles.

Silver Spring, Md

I managed the campaign of Tod Sher, candidate for the Maryland House of Delegates. Duties included:• Developing and executing campaign strategy• Managing campaign finances and reporting to State elections office• Coordinating fundraising activities with party staff• Recruiting volunteers • Scheduling and coordinating daily activities of candidate and volunteers• Writing press releases and communicating directly with media• Writing and designing campaign literature.

Gaithersburg, Md

Managed a staff of 4 abstractors and 1 editor. Streamlined abstracting and editorial procedures to increase the efficiency of production process.Responsible for writing, editing, and production of 3 publications:• Congressional Record Abstracts: A daily newsletter of legislative business, indexed by subject, chronicled in the Congressional Record. There were several published editions that were delivered to corporate and private subscribers. The abstracts also appeared in the commercial on-line database, Dialog, and the Library of Congress database, Scorpio.• Federal Register Abstracts: A daily newsletter providing abstracts of all federal administrative and regulatory actions listed in the Federal Register. Indexed by subject, the abstracts also appeared in the Dialog database.• Federal Index: A monthly softbound directory of abstracts from the Congressional Record, Federal Register, and the Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents. Indexed under an expanded list of over 1000 topics. Congressional and federal actions were also cataloged by bill number. Also produced an annual edition.Began as an abstractor in 1985. Promoted to editor in 1986 and senior editor in 1988.