Michael N. Cooper

Objective

Contribute to the field of Web accessibility, thereby supporting enfranchisment of an important group in a technolgically developing world. This is in service to a commitment to ensuring that technology progresses optimally with respect to sociopolitical issues, culture, and global ecology.

Functional Summary

  • Expert in technical and user aspects of Web accessibility
  • Creative uses of emerging technologies
  • Project administration
  • Web design and development
  • Primary technology skills: HTML, XHTML, CSS, XML, XSLT/XPath, JavaScript/ECMAScript, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, RDBMS/SQL
  • Secondary technology skills: Java (including JSP, Servlets, Swing), Web server administration, internationalization, familiar with most W3C XML and HTML related specifications
  • Publishing of books, magazines, brochures, posters, music with QuarkXPress, Adobe PageMaker, Illustrator and Photoshop, and Coda Finale
  • Public speaking to small and large groups and mass media
  • Languages: English (native), French (advanced), German (intermediate)

Employment

June 06 - present World Wide Web Consortium
Web Accessibility Specialist. Team Contact to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines Working Group and the Protocols and Formats Working Group. Guide the process of development of guidelines to create accessible Web content, within this standards organization, and contribute to and review the technical work. Primary foci are guidelines for authors, and ensuring the accessibility of new technologies.
Aug 02 - June 06 Watchfire, Ottawa, ON.
Accessibility Project Manager. Led the redevelopment of the Bobby product developed at CAST (see below) into WebXM, an enterprise evaluation tool capable of analyzing and reporting on millions of pages, as well as a free online single-page service called WebXACT, in addition to continuing Bobby as a single-developer point tool. Led the enhancement of several core technologies to enable more accurate evaluation, and created an extensible framework to allow rapid development of new evaluations. To ensure evaluation accuracy, created an extremely detailed test suite containing over 1000 test cases. Introduced integration of manual evaluation supports into the automated evaluation process, and participated in the creation of a combination automated/manual issue management process. Directly implemented much of the accessibility evaluation logic. Worked with customers to understand their business needs, support deployment of the product, provide best practices training, and design and implement customizations as needed. Forged business partnerships with high-profile North American and European associations. As Member representative to the World Wide Web Consortium, worked on development of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0, led a Task Force to develop technology-specific techniques, and edited the HTML techniques.
Jun 98 - Aug 02 CAST, Peabody, MA.
Bobby Project Manager. Managed development of Bobby, a Web accessibility evaluation tool implemented in Java with Web-based and client user interfaces implemented in JSP/Servlets and Swing. Improved quality of automated evaluation, robustness of application, documentation, user support, enabled internationalization & localization. Used XML-based processes to automate development process. Primary designer. Managed a small team of developers and customer support persons. Worked with management on needs and opportunities and operated project within parameters set by management. Collaborated with external partners. Contributed to the development of Web accessibility and to the Human Computer Interaction field.
Technical Designer. Provided expertise on accessibility to all organizational projects. Pioneered organizational adoption of new technologies and the field of usability. Designed and implemented Web sites to present information using the principles of accessibility and Universal Design for Learning. Guided technical aspects of implementing an enhanced digital library for students with disabilities. Presented worldwide about research findings and development experience. Numerous media interviews (television, radio, newspaper, magazine). Represented CAST in industry forums.
Oct 97 - May 98 WGBH Teacher Center, Allston, MA.
Intern. Provided support to teachers for pedagogical issues associated with integrating information technology into the curriculum. Developed innovative uses of technology in educational settings. Maintained extensive software library. Provided professional development workshops for teachers.
Sep 93 - Aug 97 University of Denver, Denver, CO.
Disability Services Technology Specialist. Researched technology as a barrier to and an accommodation for persons with disabilities. Coordinated access and accommodations for students and employees who are disabled. Developed a computer database system for a campus accessibility survey using ADA Accessibility Guidelines, and participated in team executing the survey. Assisted students with classroom accommodations. Conducted awareness projects and educational inservices. WWW research and development.
Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Coordinator. Oversaw EEO compliance and assisted with discrimination or sexual harassment complaint resolution. Continual statistical monitoring of university's equal opportunity status. Created and operated a computer database to increase opportunity for prospective employees. Wrote and produced educational publications. Oversaw transition when department merged with Human Resources.
Sep 94 - Aug 95 Colorado Campus Compact, Denver, CO.
Member of ColoradoCorps, an initiative of AmeriCorps. Developed Service-Learning programs at member higher education institutions. Developed local and regional programs, recruited and retained volunteers, and maintained campus, state, and national connections. Contributed to growth of this organization during its first year.

Education

Jun 98 Harvard Graduate School of Education, Cambridge, MA.
Master of Education (Ed.M.). Emphasis on adminstration, community development, and technology in education.
Jun 94 University of Denver, Denver, CO.
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.). Major in Psychology, minors in Music and History.

Professional Publications

Cooper, M. (2001). Automated Evaluation of Accessibility Guidelines. In Proc Human Computer Interaction 2001.

Rejmer, P., Cooper, M., & Vanderdonckt, J. (2001). Lessons Learned From Internationalizing a Web Site Accessibility Evaluator. In Proc 3rd International Workshop on Internationalisation of Products and Systems.

Cooper, M. & Rejmer, P. (2001). Case study: localization of an accessibility evaluation. In Proc Computer Human Interaction 2001. New York: Association for Computing Machinery.

Cooper, M., Grogan, D., O'Connell, K., & Murray, E. (2001). Creating Web Sites Using Accessibility and Universal Design for Learning(TM) Principles. In Proc Technology & Persons with Disabilities 2001. Northridge, CA: California State University Northridge. Available at http://www.csun.edu/cod/conf2001/proceedings/0081cooper.html.

Grogan, D. & Cooper, M. (2000). CAST's Model of Universal Design on the Web. In Proc Technology & Persons with Disabilities 2001. Northridge, CA: California State University Northridge. Available at http://www.csun.edu/cod/conf2000/proceedings/0104Grogan.html.

Cooper, M. (2000). Bobby 4.0. In Proc Technology & Persons with Disabilities 2000. Northridge, CA: California State University Northridge. Available at http://www.csun.edu/cod/conf2000/proceedings/0246Cooper.html.

Cooper, M (1999). Evaluating Accessibility and Usability of Web Pages. In Proc Computer Aided Design of User Interfaces II. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers.

Cooper, M. (1999). Universal Design of a Web Site. In Proc Technology & Persons with Disabilities 1999. Northridge, CA: California State University Northridge. Available at http://www.dinf.org/csun_99/session0030.html.