You don't need to dump everything you know. You need to show that you understand the concept and can talk about it naturally. Less is more if it's clear and grounded in specifics.
Digital accessibility matters because about 1 in 4 Americans has a disability, and most of those disabilities are invisible. When digital products aren't accessible, those people lose access to banking, healthcare, job applications, government services — things most people take for granted. For organizations, it's not just the right thing to do — it's a legal requirement under the ADA and Section 508, and it opens up a massive user base they'd otherwise lock out.
Universal Design comes down to seven principles developed by Ronald Mace in 1997. The idea is simple: if you design for the full range of human ability from the start, the result works better for everyone. Curb cuts are the classic example — designed for wheelchair users, but now used by people with strollers, delivery carts, bikes. In education, Universal Design for Learning adds a layer — it asks whether the curriculum itself is creating the barrier, and it gives teachers three tools: multiple ways to present information, multiple ways for students to respond, and multiple ways to keep learners engaged.
| Term | What It Stands For |
|---|---|
| IAAP | International Association of Accessibility Professionals |
| CPACC | Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies |
| ICT | Information and Communication Technology |
| WCAG | Web Content Accessibility Guidelines |
| ADA | Americans with Disabilities Act (1990) |
| EEOC | Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (enforces ADA Title I) |
| DOJ | Department of Justice (enforces ADA Title II) |
| UD | Universal Design |
| UDL | Universal Design for Learning |
| CRPD | Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN, 2006) |
| ACA | Accessible Canada Act (2019) |
| AODA | Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (2005) |
| CVAA | 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (2010) |
| WIPO | World Intellectual Property Organization (administers Marrakesh Treaty) |
| WAI | Web Accessibility Initiative (W3C) |
| ICF | International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (WHO) |
| BRF / BRL | Braille-ready formats for accessible books (Marrakesh Treaty) |
You know the material. The interview is 30 minutes. Lead with the headline, back it with a fact, connect it to real people. Don't memorize scripts — understand the concepts well enough to talk about them naturally. That's what they're looking for.