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Hello! My Name is

Boutros AbiChedid

Senior Web & Document Accessibility Engineer, Web Developer & Designer, Software Engineer

I Code. I Design. I Solve Problems.
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About Me

About Me

Hello! My name is Boutros AbiChedid. I am a Web and Document Accessibility Expert. I specialize in the development of complex enterprise level solutions. I am a creative thinker with strict attention to detail. I have 2 years of document accessibily and 16 years of Web accessibility experience using a combination of manual testing and automated tools at different stages of development: design, development, pre-live and post-live stages. I also have experience in Web development, Web design and product design experience. I also have an additional 7 years of traditional programming and software development. I aim to Achieve high website standards and governance by focusing on Web Accessibility, Document Accessibility, Quality Assurance (QA), User Experience and Performance.

I am a strong believer that an organization can achieve full inclusion and complies with disability laws by making accessibility a part of everyone's role, through training and building accessibility compliance into the development and procurement processes.

My mantras: design for everyone & test early and often.

My Core strengths in the following areas:

  • Web Accessibility Standards - WCAG 2.1, WAI-ARIA 1.1, ADA Section 508, UUAG 2.0 and ATAG 1.0
  • Document Accessibility Standards
  • Drupal and WordPress platforms with a focus on delivering robust, clean, efficient and maintainable solutions.
  • Web standards documentation - Accessibility, QA, Best Practices, Web Development, SEO and Web Performance
  • Document Accessibility standards documentation
  • User experience and user interface design
  • Troubleshooting high-end technical issues

You Found The Right Person

If you are looking for…

  • Professionalism, meticulous attention to detail and a passion for quality.
  • Strong work ethics.
  • Solid programming and coding skills.
  • Appreciation for clean, elegant, simple code and documentation.
  • Outstanding interpersonal skills and positive, customer-focused attitude.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  • Superb documentation skills.
  • Strong analytical and proactive in problem-solving and troubleshooting skills.
  • Efficiency, and getting the job done right.
  • Ability to prioritize and multi-task.
  • Someone who is reliable and dependable.
  • Someone who is self-motivated, a quick learner, and always have a curious mind.

Testimonials

I had the pleasure of working directly with Boutros on the LED Signage Web Calculator while I held the position of applications engineer at OSRAM SYLVANIA SSL division. I found Boutros to be very helpful, dependable, and easy to work with. He is very organized, thorough with his work, a dedicated hard working and talented Web developer with excellent work ethics. In short, Boutros is great to work with and I highly recommend him. I am confident he would be a valuable asset for any organization interested in WEB and IT consultance.
Popa Puiu
Osram Sylvania

I worked with Boutros, as a graduate student colleague over a period of about two years. We were Masters Degree students in the Engineering Department of the Electrical and Computer Engineering program, at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Boutros was also a Graduate Research Assistant, while majoring in Control Systems, and we often worked on projects together for our Advisor. As such, I was able to closely observe his conduct over a sustained period of time.

In my opinion, Boutros was an excellent student, paying keen attention to his work, and maintaining high standards. He has also demonstrated a high degree of ethical responsibility, paying close attention to detail, with consistent and highly reliable results.

In my opinion, Boutros would be a major asset to any company or organization who might engage his services.

Dalton Nelson
University of Alabama
Excellent work, Boutros! It is obvious from the high quality of your work and your questions that you not only understand the mechanics, but also their logical underpinnings.
Patricia O.
PHP course

Services

  • Custom Programming

    Web & Document Accessibility

    I am a Web and Document Accessibility Expert. I have 2 years of document accessibily and 16 years of Web accessibility experience using a combination of manual testing and automated tools at different stages of development.
  • Custom Programming

    Custom Web Programming

    I do custom coding for your Website. I also develop custom Web application and advanced Web programming specific to your needs. Let me know what you need!
  • Web development

    Web Development

    I can develop a high-quality, well structured Website customized to your needs. I also maintain your Website.
  • Web Usability

    Usability

    In addition that your Website must be functional and reliable, it also must be intuitive and easy to navigate. I design Websites with the end-user in mind.
  • Website design

    Web Design

    I can custom design a Website for you from Scratch, or I can redesign your existing Website to run more efficiently, be more appealing and generally achieve more. I am passionate about a design that is simple and unique to you.
  • Identity and branding

    Branding

    An identity is the most important part of any company. I Design Logos and Business Cards unique to your needs.
  • Drupal and WordPress CMS

    Drupal & WordPress

    I develop Drupal and WordPress Websites for your business or personal needs. I want you to easily update your Website with content without any coding experience.
  • Web standards

    Web Standards

    My code adheres to the best practices in Web standards. W3C standards is a factor I always keep in mind while developing Web content. I am a believer in the accessible Web and ensure that all of my work passes Section 508 and the WCAG 2.1 guidelines for accessibility.
  • SEO - Search Engine Optimization

    Search Engine Optimization

    Search Engine Optimization is another factor that I always keep in mind while developing your Website. Search Engine Optimization ensures your target customers will find your Website through organic search results.
  • Mobile Web Design

    Mobile Optimization

    I hand-code Websites with consideration to mobile devices. I guarantee that your Website will work well on any computer or on any portable device. I follow the Responsive Web design approach. Go ahead, take a look at this Website on your mobile device or tablet.
  • Web Analytics

    Analytics

    Analyze, Optimize, and Grow: I use Web analytics to analyze your Website´s traffic, interpret your data and optimize your Internet marketing strategy to grow your sales. Your target audience is important, but your visitors are just as critical.

Resume

Education

My education does NOT end. I am a Life-Long learner and I am intellectually very curious. Feel free to download a PDF version of my latest Résumé.

2020

5 Accessibility Curriculum Certificates at Deque University and WebAIM
View List.

2020

25 Accessibility courses completed at Deque University
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2019

4 Accessibility courses completed at Deque University
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2018

4 Web and Accessibility courses completed at Udemy, Udacity and Code School
View List.

2016

16 Web and Accessibility courses completed at Lynda.com
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2015

30 Web and Accessibility courses completed at Lynda.com
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2014

3 Web development courses completed at Lynda.com.
View List.

2011

Certificate in Web Business at eClasses online school.
View transcript | View Certificate.

2010

Certificate in Web Graphics and Multimedia at eClasses online school.
View transcript | View Certificate.

2008

Certificate in Web Programming at eClasses online school.
View transcript | View Certificate.

2008

Certificate in Web Technologies at eClasses online school.
View transcript | View Certificate.

1996

MS, Electrical Engineering (MSEE), University of Alabama at Birmingham. Birmingham, AL.

Thesis: Experiment Design for Modeling And Control Strategies of Escherichia Coli Fermentation Process; 1996, 125 pages.

1994

MS, Health Physics (MSHP), Georgia Institute of Technology.
Atlanta, GA.

1993

Bachelor, Electrical Engineering (BEE), Georgia Institute of Technology. Atlanta, GA.

Hire Me

Exceptionally focused, organized, hard-working, detail-oriented and dependable. An easy communicator with an uncompromising work ethic. Highly motivated, always intellectually curious and a life-long learner.

There are designers that make it look pretty, coders that make it work, but for a lasting success, you need the two working together. This is exactly what you get when you hire me, you get both sides of the coin. I code. I design. I solve Problems.

Profile

(August 1, 2020) For the past year, I was the Accessibility Lead at the Law School Admission Council (LSAC).

Before I joined, LSAC had non-existent Accessibility (A11y) guidelines, procedures or knowledge. I changed that…

  • Manager role: coaching and supporting team members and provided direction and leadership.
  • Influential in establishing the Accessibility Department.
  • Coordinated with the Legal department to provide a budget for the Accessibility department for the 2021 FY.
  • Go-to Resource for Accessibility across the organization.
  • Created Accessibility Policies and Guidelines and communicated across the organization.
  • Advised all boundaries on Accessibility matters in a proactive and reactive approach.
  • Coordinated and consulted with External vendors.
  • Integral Part of the Hiring process for new team members for expertise on Accessibility.
  • Created a new 7-page Accessibility reference section and integrated it in the LSAC portal.
  • Wrote 3 Accessibility Checklists to be used across the organization. Checklists are used as self-contained compliance checks. Checklists are for PDF, MS Word and Digital Web Products.
  • Conducted company wide training courses on document Accessibility (MS Word & Adobe Acrobat). Each course spans 2 full-days and is extensive in presentation materials, references and practical examples.
  • Integrated Siteimprove tool for continuous monitoring of websites. Generated custom reports on Accessibility and Quality.
  • Created custom VPAT specific for LSAC based on WCAG 2.1 Level AA Conformance. Meant to assist LSAC employees and external vendors in developing or procuring accessible digital products.
  • Wrote the Accessibility Vision and Action plan with the aim to build a culture of Accessibility awareness across the organization.
  • Converted countless documents (Excel, MS Word, PDF and PowerPoint) into an accessible format for Online publishing. Supported all departments with document Accessibility issues.
  • Created company wide guidelines for “Accessibility Integration and Review Process”: for Electronic Documents; for Websites, Web pages, Web Applications, Web forms; for Procurement of Digital Assets; for monitoring and handling emails submitted online.
  • Created a detailed Accessibility remediation plan for the thousands of existing PDF, Excel and Word files posted online.

Prior to Law School Admission Council and for 1 year, I was the Drupal Technical Lead and Solutions Architect at a small company, IT Trailblazers, working mainly with Pfizer. As part of my role, I provided Enterprise level Drupal solutions and Architecture for large-scale Drupal projects. Guided technical discussions with clients, both technical and non-technical. Involved in pre-sales discussions for new projects. Developed customized technical presentations to High Level Executives. Focused on the web industry’s best practices and authored company wide web standards for QA, SEO, Accessibility, best practices, web development and web performance.

Prior to IT Trailblazers and for 2 years, I was the Senior Web Developer at Campbell Soup Company, responsible for all aspects of front-end and back-end development of Campbell’s public facing websites and API’s. Also I managed third party providers and contractors and ensuring for their adherence to Campbell’s web development standards and processes. I also supported Campbell’s digital marketing efforts for the successful achievement of intended business outcomes. I developed Campbell’s web development standards and processes and integrated Accessibility standards into Campbell’s online presence.

As part of my responsibilities at Campbell’s, I enforced accessibility standards for new websites, mitigated accessibility violations on existing public facing websites and trained co-workers and vendors on the relevant accessibility standards and authored technical standards documentation and procedures. I am thoroughly familiar with the use of assistive technologies across multiple platforms, including screen readers, screen magnification, read aloud tools and eye-gaze tracking. In addition, I am personally committed to digital accessibility since a family member depends on such assistive technology.

Prior to Campbell Soup Company, I was the IT Application/Web Developer for the Office of Creative Services department at Rutgers University, responsible for programming and maintaining the department’s multi-site Drupal Content Management System (60+ Websites). Collaborated with and provided technical support to peers and other staff members and project managers. Fixed technical issues and integrated new features as they arise through the department’s Web Support ticketing system.

Prior to Rutgers University, I was the Web Developer and Web Designer for the Princeton Neuroscience Institute and for the Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics. Both of these websites were designed and developed by me at that time.

At Princeton University, I was the solo-developer wearing multiple hats: Web Programmer, Web designer, Content Editor, User-Friendly Website Architect, SEO, Web Accessibility Specialist, and Web performance optimizer. I consider myself to be intellectually very curious and a “life-long” learner.

Prior to Princeton University, I was the Website Developer and Designer for few months for Creative Marketing Alliance, where I developed interactive creative online products including website maintenance and enhancements and custom coding.

Prior to Creative Marketing Alliance, I was a freelance WordPress Developer, Web developer, Web designer and Software Engineer running my Web development company, Blue Olive Online. I specialized in building WordPress Websites and other-type of Websites with functionality. My Websites are creative and built on solid technological foundations and compliance considerations. I develop Websites with great aesthetics and pure simplicity. A successful website attracts its users to further explore it. I also did custom WordPress coding.

Testimonials

Certain code paths called an as-of-yet undefined function. Function now defined earlier. Thanks to Boutros for reporting the issue and helping to debug.

William K.
WordPress plugin

Dear Boutros. Thank you very much. I appreciate very much your detailing all the work and hours that went into the creation of the Website. The Website looks great. I will be happy to make referrals to you.

Father Francis
Saint Ann Maronite
What a wonderful Website to show the world our parish! Kudos to its creator and blessings to its viewers. May this site prosper with many memories and may its servers never crash.
Alice S.
Saint Ann Maronite

Skills

Web Accessibility 90%

Document Accessibility 85%

Drupal 7 85%

WordPress 85%

HTML5 | XHTML 86%

PHP 81%

Photoshop 82%

SQL 87%

Drupal 8 & 9 60%

CSS3 | CSS2 86%

Less | Sass 84%

JavaScript 82%

jQuery 82%

SEO 82%

XML 91%

C | C++ 68%

Projects

Thanks for checking out my sample work!

Contact Me

Boutros AbiChedid

If you want to contact me, you can email me directly at: meATboutrosabichedidDOTcom – Remember to change the bolded Capital-Letter words with the appropriate symbols - OR you can fill out the Contact form below.