Accessibility Auditor

The Accessibility Officer is the central champion and governor of Furever Pawridise's internal accessibility policy. You will be responsible for the strategic implementation, auditing, and continuous improvement of accessibility practices across all departments and throughout the entire event lifecycle. From initial venue selection to post-event feedback, you will be the expert voice ensuring we not only meet but exceed our commitment to creating barrier-free experiences for our community, including individuals with both visible and non-apparent disabilities.

Requirements

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Governance & Policy Stewardship:

Act as the primary owner and champion of the Furever Pawridise Internal Accessibility Policy.

Chair the cross-departmental Accessibility Working Group to foster innovation and ensure accountability.

Advise senior leadership on accessibility best practices, compliance requirements, and budget allocation for accessibility initiatives.

Develop and manage the Community Accessibility Advisory Council, ensuring the voice of the disability community is central to our planning.

2. Event Lifecycle Integration & Auditing:

Pre-Event:

Lead comprehensive accessibility audits of potential venues against the AODA Design of Public Spaces standard and universal design principles.

Audit all digital assets, including the main website, registration pages, and promotional materials, for WCAG 2.1 AA/AAA conformance.

Review and approve vendor contracts (ticketing, A/V, security) to ensure their services and platforms are fully accessible.

Collaborate with the programming team to ensure presentations, staging, and content delivery are designed inclusively from the start.

During Event:

Serve as the on-site accessibility lead and the final point of escalation for any accessibility-related issues.

Conduct real-time audits of the event environment, from signage clarity to the proper functioning of assistive listening devices.

Oversee the on-site Accessibility Desk, ensuring staff are empowered and equipped to provide exceptional support.

Post-Event:

Lead the accessibility-focused portion of all post-event debriefs.

Analyze attendee feedback from surveys and direct communication to identify systemic barriers and areas for improvement.

Prepare detailed post-event accessibility reports with actionable recommendations for future events.

3. Training & Organizational Development:

Design and deliver mandatory, role-specific accessibility training for all staff and volunteers, covering topics from disability etiquette to our specific on-site services.

Create and maintain a library of accessibility resources, guidelines, and best practices for all departments.

4. Compliance & Reporting:

Ensure Furever Pawridise is fully compliant with all requirements under the AODA and other relevant legislation.

Maintain all required public-facing documentation, including the multi-year accessibility plan and accessibility statement.

Qualifications & Experience

Required:

3+ years of professional experience in a role primarily focused on accessibility and inclusion.

Expert-level knowledge of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), its standards (IASR), and the Canadian Human Rights Act.

Deep technical understanding of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, with proven experience conducting digital accessibility audits.

Demonstrated experience performing physical accessibility audits of buildings and public spaces.

Proven ability to design and deliver effective training programs to a diverse audience.

Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and advocacy skills with the ability to influence change across an organization.

Strong project management skills and the ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

Assets (Preferred Qualifications):

Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC) and/or Web Accessibility Specialist (WAS) designation from the IAAP.

Direct experience in the event management or hospitality industry.

Lived experience as a person with a disability is highly valued.

Experience using assistive technologies (e.g., JAWS, NVDA, Dragon NaturallySpeaking).

Experience establishing and facilitating community advisory panels.

About the Company

Furever Pawradise is a Toronto-based, non-profit organization dedicated to celebrating and empowering the vibrant anthropomorphic arts (furry) community. Our core mission is to create a premier annual event that provides a dedicated platform for artists to showcase their creativity, for community members to forge lasting connections, and for all of us to channel our collective passion into philanthropic good for local charities.

Our organization is built on a foundation of six core values: Creativity & Expression, Community & Inclusivity, Empowerment, Generosity & Impact, Integrity & Trust, and Joy & Celebration. Joining the Furever Pawradise team means becoming part of a passionate, collaborative, and dedicated group of people who believe in the power of community and creativity.

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