Hi, I'm Lance Thunder.

My elite ability to spot accessibility issues and then offer elegant, simple web accessibility solutions is my greatest asset. Even among industry experts, I’m recognized as one of the best. And I am humble too.

In 2021, I made the move to the private sector, first with Allyant and then Level Access. Working for these two industry giants meant navigating accessibility challenges every single day. Highlights of this experience include working with popular brands listed on the Future 500 and financial institutions. Since then, I have been involved in over 200 accessibility projects that included websites, mobile apps, PDFs, and even a few desktop applications.

Working for the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry as a digital media website specialist was my first big break. My primary responsibility was maintaining the Government's most heavily trafficked intranet site. The site served as a one-stop-shop for emergency management operations, so it was crucial that the layouts were intuitive, downtime was minimal, and everything was backed up.

My reputation as a digital guru quickly spread, and eventually, I was involved in nearly every part of my branch. The scope of my duties included social media management, graphic design, print design, and software development. As time went on, more and more of my effort went into accessibility remediation until it became the sole focus of my role.

Contract work is tough, and I am no stranger to being a mercenary. It can be difficult to find good clients, and even harder to build a reputation for producing high-quality work. Over the years, I've done web development, copywriting, social media management, training, graphic design, project management, and even writing copy.

In the past, my clients have ranged from local non-profits and one-person start-ups to multimillion-dollar corporations. While I've moved away from this kind of work in recent years, I am always open to new opportunities if the work is interesting.

In a previous life, I was a digital marketing specialist. By a twist of fate, I found myself employed by the Rotary Club of Sault Ste. Marie, an organization dedicated to helping local children with physical disabilities. My main responsibilities revolved around coordinating communications for fundraising events—I was great at it. By leveraging trends in social media, we broke multiple fundraising records that still stand to this day.

This work was my first glimpse into the challenges that disabled people face. It left a lasting impression on me that would have a huge impact on the trajectory of my personal and professional life.

My time in education was busy but dry. Here are the highlights:

• IAAP certified web accessibility specialist
• Algoma University - Bachelor of Business Administration specialized in Marketing
• Sault College - Electrical Engineering Technologist Diploma
• Sault College - Electronics Club Member
• Algoma University Senate Member
• Algoma University Board of Governors Member
• Algoma University Student's Union President