Accessibility Certification Goal

After graduating from Bridgewater State University in 2016, I was ready to put education behind me and enter the working world. I had the pleasure to hold a number of exciting jobs before taking my current position at Perkins School for the Blind. While there, I have realized that there is a strong need for more people to gain knowledge of accessibility best practices in the digital world. Having participated in a variety of accessibility testing scenarios, it quickly became clear that I possess much of this knowledge with a few gaps.I set out to fill these gaps in my knowledge and received a scholarship to take courses in digital accessibility. These courses allow me to take two certification exams and become a certified professional in the digital accessibility field. While succeeding in the courses has come naturally to me, I face one major issue; there is a cost for taking each exam, and that cost is $425.My current financial situation does not allow for this expense, but I know that achieving this certification will greatly assist me in reaching my career goals. These goals include using my marketing and writing skill to consult on projects relating to accessibility, which will ultimately help create a more user friendly digital world for all. If all goes to plan, my short-term goal is to sit for one exam in the fall and one in winter. During and after this time, I plan to continue enhancing my technical knowledge through online courses so as to better assess the apps and websites I will no doubt encounter.It is my hope to raise about $900 so I can take both exams, ($425 each) and cover any related transportation costs. Any additional funds raised will go towards furthering my technical knowledge and bettering myself in this field. In advance, I'd like to thank you all for contributing and sharing. Remember that any effort made is useful and greatly appreciated.