# Julia Petchey > Director, Digital Accessibility at the Center for Accessible Technology Location: San Francisco Bay Area, United States Profile: https://flows.cv/juliapetchey Accessibility specialist focused on digital accessibility, particularly websites and app accessibility. Additionally, experienced content strategist and instructional designer with over 15 years of experience developing educational and inclusive content for emerging new technologies and websites. Products have included an interactive reading curriculum, digital games and books, a wearable fitness tracker for kids and have been based on IP from LeapFrog, Disney, Pixar, Nickelodeon, and Cartoon Network. I have worked on a range of platforms, including IOS/Android mobile devices, LF proprietary platform, and a desktop-based interactive VR platform. I am committed to the power of interactive VR, AR, and MR in transforming education, with a focus on STEM, storytelling and language learning. ## Work Experience ### Director, Digital Accessibility and UX Research @ Center for Accessible Technology Jan 2018 – Present | Berkeley, CA Collaborate with companies, government agencies and nonprofits to design, develop and maintain inclusive websites, mobile app experiences and documentation that comply with accessibility (A11y) guidelines, with a focus on WCAG 2.1 AA and Section 508 guidelines. Conduct usability testing with testers with disabilities, using varied assistive technologies, including JAWS, VoiceOver, and NVDA screen readers, and Dragon voice input. Provide workshops and trainings to clients on accessible websites and mobile apps, and on disability awareness. ### Senior Curriculum Designer @ Springboard Jan 2018 – Jan 2018 | San Francisco, CA Curriculum design for online data science career track course. ### Director Of Operations, US @ Veative Labs Jan 2017 – Jan 2017 | San Francisco, California VEATIVE Labs offers a 400+ modular library of interactive, NGSS-aligned STEM content for middle school and high school learners developed for mobile virtual reality headsets, including a Veative all-in-one headset. Analytics on learner performance and a variety of interaction controls enable an immersive, engaging VR learning environment. Veative.com ### Director of Product Management, Education @ zSpace, Inc. Jan 2016 – Jan 2016 | Sunnyvale ZSpace creates desktop-based interactive VR STEM learning experiences and content for K-12 schools. Responsible for product development for the education market through internal development and strategic partnerships. zSpace is an immersive, interactive holographic experience using a proprietary stereoscopic LCD display and trackable eyewear. ### Senior Content and Curriculum Strategist @ AltSchool Jan 2015 – Jan 2016 | San Francisco Bay Area Worked at AltSchool with the operations team and educators to develop our curriculum strategy for K-8, with a focus on ELA and Math applications, contributing to the development of a model learning cycle, and working to define pedagogical strategy. Established relationships with content and curriculum companies for 2016 school year and beyond. ### Senior Content Producer @ LeapFrog Jan 2012 – Jan 2015 | Emeryville, CA Producer of interactive educational games, books, and toys. Collaborated with cross functional leads to launch a new line of interactive digital books and a new wearable fitness tracker for children. ### Producer @ LeapFrog Jan 2007 – Jan 2011 | Emeryville, CA Worked with art, audio, learning designer, and game designer leads to design and develop 12 interactive print books for the LeapFrog Tag and Tag Jr. technology. Titles include licenses with Disney, Pixar, Nickelodeon, and Cartoon Network. Localized products for the UK market. ### Instructional Designer @ Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Jan 2005 – Jan 2007 | San Francisco, CA Instructional Designer on Destination Reading, a school-based reading product for Grades 4-8. Destination Reading/ was adopted by states, including California, Florida and Texas and is currently utilized in schools. (Riverdeep became Houghton Mifflin Harcourt). Focus on reading comprehension strategies, think-alouds, and student responses to primary texts across multiple genre. 48 learning modules included in the full program. Worked with SMES, designers, QA, and producers to develop the program for distribution. ### English Teacher - ESL @ ELS Educational Services, Inc Jan 2004 – Jan 2005 | San Rafael, CA English as a second language instructor at ELS institute located at Dominican University. Designed curriculum and taught writing, seminar, and grammar courses to college students ### Project Manager @ Center for Accessible Technology Jan 2001 – Jan 2004 | Berkeley, CA Implemented California Endowment grant based project to increase access to assistive technology for people with disabilities in the Northern California Region. ### Director @ Persona Global, Inc Jan 1999 – Jan 2000 | Sausalito, CA Managed internal team and maintained partner relationships with a global network of management consultants. Persona publishes training programs and survey instruments for organizational change and training. ## Education ### BA Harvard University ### Educational/Instructional Technology Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey ### Master's degree in Education Stanford University ## Contact & Social - LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/juliapetchey1 --- Source: https://flows.cv/juliapetchey JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/juliapetchey/resume.json Last updated: 2026-04-08