What is a typical day like for a Bootcamp participant?
That depends on what point we're at during the Bootcamp! There's a mix of synchronous and asynchronous work, so after orientation week, participants work on reading and engaging with module content, having full or small group meetings or individual check-ins, and working on assignments or projects to test and apply the module knowledge.
How flexible is the scheduling?
During the Bootcamp, we ask for a commitment of 20-25 hours per week. To enable us to efficiently schedule synchronous activities, 15 of those hours get selected by the participant from four options of pre-determined schedules. The remaining 5-10 hours per week are asynchronous independent work. We do our best to accommodate the scheduling needs of our students within the regular working hours.
What kind of applicant are you looking for?
We're not looking for tech skills or accessibility skills out of the gate – the Bootcamp covers the foundational digital accessibility knowledge you'll need, with each module (from the Bootcamp to the further tiers of the program) building on top of the last one. Successful participants are driven and disciplined (skills needed to thrive in a digital, remote environment); as well as clear communicators, with a strong passion for learning and for inclusivity.
How does the program support students in building a career in accessibility afterward? Do participants often transition into full-time accessibility roles after college?
We've had many participants transition into full-time accessibility roles after college, but not exclusively. The point of our program isn't necessarily to create accessibility specialists but to give professionals-in-the-making accessibility knowledge, so they can become inclusive designers, engineers, developers, and so on. Our hope is that with the knowledge and experience gained through the Bootcamp, you can apply that to whatever field or role you end up at: there is no space that does not need to be made accessible.
That being said, we support our participants' journeys by giving them access to curated content created by our in-house experts; and that, tied with the mentorship aspect of the program, covers all the fundamental knowledge you need during the Bootcamp, and more specialized experiences through projects and other opportunities as some participants move through the other tiers of the program. During the Bootcamp, too, there are plenty of opportunities for connections with our guest speakers or partners, alongside getting to know many industry professionals here at AFB itself.
Can anyone who finishes the Bootcamp apply for the next tiers of the program?
Yes. Anyone who successfully completes the Bootcamp becomes eligible for Work Study, the second tier of our program, as long as you continue to meet the eligibility criteria. You can read more about it on the Work Study page.
