Open to opportunities

Derrick Wohletz

@derrickwohletz

Message

Results-driven accessibility engineering leader ensuring Section 508 and WCAG-compliant digital experiences.

United States

Message

What I'm looking for

I am seeking a role where I can lead accessibility strategy, implement automation, mentor teams, and embed inclusive practices across the SDLC in a collaborative, impact-driven organization.

I am an accessibility engineering and QA/QC leader with over 10 years of experience ensuring digital products, web applications, and documents meet Section 508 and WCAG 2.1 standards. I have led enterprise-wide accessibility initiatives across federal agencies and large enterprises, implemented automation to reduce manual testing time by over 40%, and developed training and validation frameworks that improved organizational accessibility maturity.

I specialize in accessibility testing and remediation (web, PDF, documents), accessibility automation, and embedding accessibility across the SDLC. I mentor and lead cross-functional teams, drive process improvements, and deliver measurable improvements in compliance, defect resolution, and user inclusion.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Principal Digital Accessibility Engineer

Current

Optum

Sep 2017 - Present (8 years 4 months)

Led PDF accessibility team to develop and deploy Section 508, WCAG 2.1, and PDF/UA compliant templates across enterprise platforms, introducing automation that reduced manual testing time by over 40% and improved remediation throughput.

Section 508 PDF Accessibility Automation JAWS NVDA Jira

Senior 508 Contractor

ITC Infotech

Nov 2016 - Sep 2017 (10 months)

Led PDF accessibility design and testing for UHG/Optum, implemented standardized WCAG 2.1 and Section 508 testing frameworks and automation to streamline template creation and accelerate delivery timelines.

Section 508 PDF Accessibility Automation QA&QC Remote Collaboration Jira

Senior 508 Content Remediation Analyst

MetroStar Systems

Nov 2014 - Oct 2016 (1 year 11 months)

Developed enterprise 508/WCAG testing frameworks and automated/manual protocols for web, mobile, and documents; led cross-functional teams through SDLC and delivered DOT FMCSA intranet with full Section 508 compliance.

Section 508 PDF Remediation JAWS NVDA SDLC QA&QC

508 Consultant

CGI Federal

Sep 2011 - Nov 2014 (3 years 2 months)

Contributed accessibility implementation for major federal platforms (including Healthcare.gov), led accessibility testing and remediation, and collaborated with architects to optimize front-end code for sustained compliance.

Section 508 Accessibility Testing JAWS JavaScript QA&QC

Testing Task Lead

Milvets

Nov 2010 - Sep 2011 (10 months)

Led Section 508 rehabilitation specialists through SDLC to deliver compliant federal web assets, executed QA/QC for PDF remediation, and developed accessibility training and creative assets aligned with accessibility best practices.

Section 508 PDF Remediation JAWS QA&QC Adobe Photoshop

Quality Assurance Analyst

Carney, Inc.

Jun 2007 - Oct 2010 (3 years 4 months)

Directed QA and digital asset creation within Agile teams, developed e-learning applications and accessibility testing processes using Flash/HTML/JavaScript, and improved onboarding through accessible training content.

QA&QC Accessibility Testing Flash HTML JavaScript Photoshop E Learning Development

Computer Mentor

Star Lab

Jul 2006 - Jun 2007 (11 months)

Mentored students in software development and assistive technology, developed and tested educational software with integrated Section 508 compliance, and created documentation and training materials to improve lab practices.

Assistive Technologies Software Testing Documentation Technical Support Training