International Association of Accessibility Announcement

With gratitude and well-wishing from our entire team IAAP announces that Sharon Spencer, Managing Director of IAAP, has decided to retire at the end of the year.

Christopher Lee, Ph.D., who is currently G3ict’s Chief Learning Officer, will assume the role of IAAP Managing Director and will work with Sharon till the end of the year for an orderly and seamless transition.

Sharon has been involved with IAAP since its beginning. She managed the research projects in 2010-2012 which led to the creation of IAAP and then worked with the founding members to build the infrastructure and help launch the association in March 2014. Sharon guided the merger of IAAP with G3ict in July 2016 and has been Managing Director of the IAAP division since that time. During this period, she built a successful team to support the IAAP membership and launched several new programs to provide added value to its members. Her accomplishments at the helm of IAAP cannot be overemphasized as reflected by the spectacular development of IAAP’s membership and certification activities over the past two years.

Sharon’s decision to retire comes after a significant personal loss one year ago. We wish her the very best for this new chapter in her life and look forward to remaining in touch with her for the years to come.

Christopher Lee, Ph.D., who is currently G3ict’s Chief Learning Officer, will assume the role of IAAP Managing Director responsibilities effective November 1st.

Christopher Lee is an expert in accessible Information and Communication Technology as well as organizational accessibility. He was the founder and executive director of the AMAC Accessibility Solutions and Research Center, housed at the Georgia Institute of Technology, which is the largest and most extensive North American membership center for accessibility services supporting higher education institutions. Christopher is an author and international speaker in the field of learning disabilities and assistive technology. He is the recipient of many awards and recognitions including a Georgia Tech. Faculty Research Award, Harrison Sylvester Award from the Learning Disabilities Association of America, W.F. Faulkes Award by the National Rehabilitation Association, and G3ict United Nations Digital Accessibility Leadership Award. Christopher has been recognized for his work in a PBS series A Chance to Read produced by WETA and the Microsoft video/publication called Microsoft Accessible Technology.

Christopher has been involved with IAAP for several years starting in 2016 when he joined the IAAP Global Leadership Council. Most recently he developed and managed the very successful IAAP Higher Education Webinar Series and Technical Assistance program and the Higher Education Community of Practice.

We are very fortunate as an organization that Christopher Lee will be serving as Sharon’s successor. Christopher has an invaluable experience in the field of accessibility and his leadership in promoting digital accessibility will be a blessing for IAAP for the years to come.

Christopher will assume Managing Director responsibilities effective November 1. Sharon will stay through December 31st to help ensure a smooth transition. In addition, IAAP will be launching a search for a new position for an IAAP Program Manager.

Anyone interested in the Program Manager position can read more details about the position and submit their resume for the Program Manager opening through this IAAP webpage.

Please join us in wishing Sharon well in her retirement—and welcome Christopher in his new role.

Axel Leblois
CEO, G3ict

MBS Response:

“My Blind Spot offers its hearty congratulations to Sharon Spencer on the announcement of her retirement. She’s worked tirelessly at IAAP on behalf of the disability community and will be missed!

Also, our best wishes to Dr. Christopher Lee, as he leads the organization into its next chapter!”