Case Study: Establishing the IRS Accessibility Advocate Office

Overview
Joshua was selected as one of the first members to stand up the IRS Accessibility Advocate Office within the Enterprise Case Management Office. The office was created to strengthen accessibility practices across ECMO’s system development and project management life cycle, ensuring that ADA compliance, user experience, and responsible design were integrated from planning through deployment.

The Challenge
Accessibility practices across ECMO were decentralized and inconsistent. Teams lacked a unified standard, documentation varied, and developers and project managers did not have a clear point of contact for accessibility guidance. Leaders needed a centralized function that could provide structure, governance, and reliable support, while also preparing the organization for future modernization efforts.

Joshua’s Role
Joshua helped shape the office from the ground up. He contributed to the operating model, governance approach, communication channels, and review processes. He also served as a primary SME for developers, project managers, and internal customers seeking clarity on accessibility expectations. When questions required deeper research, Joshua led the effort to locate reputable guidance and return actionable answers.

What He Built
Governance and decision pathways that embedded accessibility review into ECMO’s development and project cycles
A structured backlog of accessibility tasks and remediation items for development teams
Standardized job aids, templates, and reference materials for teams across ECMO
A document review process ensuring accessibility compliance before releases advanced
SME support channels that provided reliable answers for developers and PMs
Coordination processes aligning ECMO leadership, technical teams, and product owners
A communication rhythm that improved visibility, transparency, and shared understanding
Foundations for a sustainable accessibility function that strengthened ECMO’s readiness for modernization

The Impact
Accessibility became a consistent, integrated expectation rather than an after-the-fact check
Leaders gained a clearer view of operational needs, risks, and priorities
Development and project teams adopted standardized practices that improved product quality
The organization increased its capability to design, test, and deploy accessible systems
The office Joshua helped establish created lasting structure and positioned ECMO for long-term inclusion and modernization efforts

The establishment of the Accessibility Advocate Office reflects Joshua’s approach to leadership: creating structure where teams need it most and building systems that make organizations more capable, aligned, and prepared for long-term change.