Bixal

Over a year ago, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released memorandum M-23-22, urging federal agencies to put digital-first experiences at the forefront while emphasizing the crucial need for online accessibility. At Bixal, our dedicated accessibility team works to break down federal resource barriers by leveraging these guidelines to inform and support our client recommendations.     Yet, as valuable as the memo is, it comes with a challenge—it's an unfunded mandate. So, how can agencies facing limited staff and resources meet these accessibility requirements?      To help bridge this gap, we’ve developed a practical 6-step checklist based on OMB M-23-22, designed to guide teams on their accessibility journey. We understand that time and resources are tight, which is why our checklist prioritizes actions that deliver the most significant impact with the least effort.      Learn more in our full blog post by digital accessibility manager, Amy Cole, M.A., Trusted Tester, CPACC, UXC and digital accessibility specialist Angelina Smith, CPACC, TTv5, and discover how we can all work toward making federal services more inclusive and accessible for everyone. 

The extroverted learner in me always gets energized by American Evaluation Association conferences, and #eval24 did not disappoint! So good connecting with fellow evaluation friends - partners, clients, and colleagues both present and past. Lots to process, but my initial quick takes: 1) The effects of the US Evidence Act are really starting to be seen across Federal agencies as more offices unveil and update evaluation policies and learning / evidence agendas. How will this push innovation at more mature evidence agencies like #USAID? How can agencies that share spaces such as foreign affairs programming collaborate? 2) Speaking of foreign assistance programming, the USAID Democratization, Rights, and Governance teams continue their push for more rigor and clearer standards in complexity-aware #MEL. This field has come a long way in the past decade. Now, can these standards make it in the real world when they collide with fast timelines and other resource limitations? #CAMEL Honorable mention as well for the growth of cost analysis work at USAID, where the Office of the Chief Economist has lots of great #education work to build on. 3) Everyone wants to talk about #AI. Many more sessions this year and they were packed. Still, lots of talk about what AI can do, less in the way of practical examples. And not yet enough attention to how AI can both counter and fuel biases, particularly around #gender and #inclusive #develoment. My biggest AI question this year is where are we in the Gartner Hype Cycle? How far are we from the peak of inflated expectations and how long till the trough of disillusionment? As a leader in the technology space, I’m looking forward to partnering with my Bixal colleagues to work on the tools and resources that can get us to the slope of enlightenment and ultimately that coveted plateau of productivity! Thank you to everyone who made it a great week - see you next year in Kansas City!

We're proud to announce that Bixal has been recognized as a bronze-level Drupal Certified Partner through the Drupal Association! This achievement is a testament to the passion and expertise of our technology team, and to our mission of delivering impactful, open-source solutions that support our clients and their communities.     Our deep engagement with the Drupal community —through cohosting monthly meetups and contributing to Drupal core and modules —has been a driving force behind Bixal’s journey. We are grateful for the community's support and are excited to continue giving back.      Let's continue our journey together, fueled by innovation, inclusivity, and a shared vision for a better tomorrow.    Read more about this exciting partnership in our full announcement.    #CertifiedDrupalPartner #Drupal #ThisIsBixal 

I had the absolute pleasure of attending the NuAxis Innovations "Applying CX to Real Customer Problems" last night with Carla Briceno of Bixal. And I was blown away. What a cool way to experience HCD through the art of collaboration and problem solving. I had a blast! Special thank you to Rangena Hotaki for the photo and Amanda Chavez for leading the teams through such an enjoyable experience. And to Raza S. Latif for welcoming me with open arms. Looking forward to what's next. #govcon #govcom #contrastandco #bixal

Incredible start at American Council for Technology - Industry Advisory Council (ACT-IAC) Imagine Nation ELC. With Dave Wennergren ACT-IAC's CEO and Bixal's senior VP of consulting services Malcolm Harden delivering the first few awards of the night

If you need guidance on tackling the directives in the OMB M-23-22 memo, check out the article and downloadable resource written by Angelina Smith, CPACC, TTv5, and me. We guide you through the accessibility actions you can take with the least effort and biggest gains. ♿ #accessibility #FederalAccessibility #a11y

Bixal is proud to sponsor the American Public Health Association’s annual meeting and expo in Minneapolis!    We're excited to take part in one of the largest public health gatherings and will be represented by monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) director, Jessica Cargill, project director Rachelle Johnsson Chiang, DrPH, principal communications specialist, Amie L. Nisler, MPH, and interim vice president of data, Annie Schwartz.    Visit us at booth #1007 to learn about Bixal’s work in the public health sector and chat with our experts. Stay tuned for insights and updates from the event!     Learn more at https://lnkd.in/eUGeWnV. 

Join us at the upcoming GovAI Summit in Arlington, Virginia, where Bixal's senior director of solutions, Uday Kumar, will lead a transformative session on the role of AI in government operations!      "The Role of AI Agents in Transforming Federal Agency Tasks and Workflows" will explore the potential of AI agents to revolutionize how federal agencies operate in a roundtable format. Uday will examine practical applications, ethical considerations, and the significant potential for AI to improve service delivery and policy implementation within federal agencies.      Learn more about Uday’s session and RSVP for the summit at https://lnkd.in/gFxihvKG. We hope to see you there!

We're looking forward to attending the American Evaluation Association's Evaluation 2024 next week in Portland, Oregon! Tessa Ahner-McHaffie, MPH, our senior MEL specialist, will present an abstract on our partnership with WomenLift Health, focusing on women's leadership research. Together, we seek to uncover the unexplored terrain of women's leadership, riddled with methodological challenges, funding gaps, and diverse perspectives. At our Birds of a Feather session, let's bridge these gaps and explore key questions such as: • What research exists on women's leadership and what are the gaps in our understanding? • How can we ensure an inclusive and cross-sectoral approach to women's leadership literature? Stay tuned for more insights from Evaluation 2024 in the coming days! For more details, click here: https://lnkd.in/gPXDUmDM

We're excited to share that Bixal's senior director of solutions, Uday Kumar, will present at the upcoming Amazon Web Services (AWS) DMV Community Day!      Join us at this dynamic event featuring a lineup of exceptional speakers, including Uday, who will be leading a session on "The Promise of AI Agents in Driving Operational Excellence." This is an excellent opportunity to gain valuable perspectives and expertise in the realm of AI and operational efficiency.     Explore the full agenda and secure your spot for the event here: https://lnkd.in/gJh7qP99