Canada’s inclusive leadership and communication expert
Biography
An internationally-recognized expert in digital accessibility and inclusive leadership with over 25 years of experience in the field, Denis Boudreau works with leaders and executives who are stuck in “inclusive-ish” territory by building real, measurable strategies for accessibility and disability inclusion, so they can lead inclusively and with confidence.
He specializes in supporting organizations that wish to adopt more inclusive leadership and communication practices, particularly for their workforce and clients who live with disabilities, are aging, or are marginalized by technology. Offering thought leaders and communicators the means to extend the reach of their message by over 40%, he is also the author of the Amazon bestseller “The Inclusive Speaker”, published in 2023.
Over the years, Denis has supported top brands like Amazon, Cirque du Soleil, Desjardins, Facebook, Netflix, Salesforce, Victoria’s Secret, and many more to embed disability inclusion into business strategies, break down barriers, meet legal requirements, and build deeper connections with their audiences.
Credentials
- 25+ yrs of professional focus on digital inclusion of people with disabilities & the elderly
- 20+ yrs training over 25,000 people on inclusive communication and accessibility
- 15+ yrs as a leading global accessibility and disability inclusion management consultant
- #1 Amazon International BestSelling Author, “The Inclusive Speaker” (2023)
- CPWA designation – International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP)
- 2022-2025 National Director, Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS)
- 2020-2021 Chapter President, Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS)
- 2017-2019 Chapter Director, Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS)
- W3C invited expert involved with developing international accessibility guidelines
- Co-author, Quebec Government’s mandatory digital accessibility standards
- Regularly speaking at local, national and international conferences for over 20 years
Professional designations
Certified Virtual Presenter - eSpeakers
Certified Virtual Presenter Qualification (eSpeakers)
Denis is a Certified Virtual Presenter, confirming that he has developed the tools, the environment, and the skills needed to perform a high- quality remote presentation via live video. If you’re going to invest your valuable time, resources, and effort in a virtual speaker – for yourself, your team, or your client – you might as well ensure that this speaker will successfully deliver their message remotely, with as much impact as possible. This certification guarantees Denis can deliver on such a promise.
Certified Web Accessibility Specialist - IAAP
Certified Web Accessibility Specialist (IAAP – WAS)
Denis is a Certified Web Accessibility Specialist, attesting that he has internationally-recognized expertise when it comes to evaluating and auditing the degree of accessibility of existing content or objects according to published technical standards and guidelines, as well as the skillsets required to provide detailed remediation recommendations to cross-functional teams and organizations. This certification means that Denis knows and uses the relevant techniques and technologies, to help his clients achieve their goals for digital inclusion and accessibility compliance with various international standards and laws.
Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies - IAAP
Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (IAAP – CPACC)
Denis is a Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies, a designation that represents broad, cross-disciplinary conceptual knowledge about disabilities, accessibility, universal design, and accessibility-related standards, laws, and management strategies. This certification means that Denis has internationally-recognized expertise relevant to domains such as the web and other digital technologies and any domain in which thoughtful design, policy, and management can improve disability access.
Certified Professional in Web Accessibility - IAAP
Certified Professional in Web Accessibility (IAAP – CPWA)
This designation is earned by individuals who successfully pass both the Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC) and the Web Accessibility Specialist (WAS) exams. It means that Denis has internationally-recognized expertise relating to a broad, cross-disciplinary conceptual knowledge about disabilities, accessibility, universal design, and accessibility-related standards, laws, and management strategies, along with the technical expertise and hands-on experience to work with organizations on strategizing, writing, remediating, or identifying accessibility issues in code.
Did you know?
Many separate accessibility standards development processes exist in Canada. Ontario, Manitoba, and Nova Scotia all have laws that mandate creation of provincial accessibility standards. In addition, the Accessible Canada Act mandates accessibility standards that apply to organizations under federal jurisdiction. As a brand, is digital accessibility on your radar?