Roberta J. Oare, CPACC, has established herself as an expert in the digital space, with a career spanning three decades. She currently serves as the owner of Beyond the Limits LLC, where she develops an interactive game designed to educate children about digital barriers. From 2017 to 2024, she was a product manager and account manager at ITX Corp., where she played a pivotal role in managing product development and client relationships. Prior to this, she served as director of solutions at Brand Networks from 2016 to 2017, leading strategic initiatives to enhance brand visibility and engagement, and as a technical project manager and senior software engineer at CenturyLink from 2004 to 2013.
Ms. Oare’s career also includes key roles as a system engineer at General Code from 2003 to 2004 and as IT manager of US operations at Screenvision from 2001 to 2003. Earlier, she was a senior database analyst and software developer at Nortel Networks from 1996 to 2001, following her role as a software system engineer at Millbank Corporation from 1995 to 1996. In light of her impressive undertakings in the field, she was recognized as a finalist for The Emerging Technology Women’s Award in 2021 and a finalist for Rochester Business Technology Woman of the Year.
In addition to her professional achievements, Ms. Oare is actively involved in industry-related organizations such as the Association of Product Professionals and the International Association of Accessibility Professionals. Her commitment to accessibility is evident through her leadership in establishing a working group focused on accessibility issues within her organization, which led to several team members obtaining certifications in accessibility core competencies.
Ms. Oare’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in computer science from the State University of New York Brockport, completed in 1995. She has also earned numerous certifications, including CPACC certification from the International Association of Accessibility Professionals, IAAP certified professional in accessibility core competencies, certified change management professional from Designing for Change, innovating with data from IDEO U, IAAP CPACC certification preparation from Deque Systems Inc., and leading complex projects from IDEO U. Additionally, she holds a certified scrum master credential from Scrum Alliance and is a registered yoga practitioner.
Reflecting on her path, Ms. Oare’s passion for technology began early, having written her first lines of code at just six years old. After 30 years in the software industry, she founded Beyond the Limits LLC to address challenges in digital education. She believes in introducing foundational technology concepts earlier in the education system, ensuring future professionals understand the responsibilities of software development. What began as a children’s book evolved into an interactive online adventure paired with hands-on consulting services, fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills in young learners.
Ms. Oare’s most notable achievement was leading an accessibility initiative within her organization. Collaborating with leadership and UX teams, she established a working group to educate and address accessibility challenges in development processes. Her efforts led to company-sponsored certifications for six team members, strengthening their expertise in accessibility standards, compliance, and testing. Through her leadership, the initiative fostered a more inclusive digital environment, emphasizing user-friendly navigation and the elimination of accessibility barriers in web development.
Outside of her professional endeavors, Ms. Oare is passionate about yoga and is a registered yoga practitioner. She is also a wine and spirit enthusiast and practices Reiki. Her dedication to community service is reflected in her volunteer work with charitable organizations and her sponsorship of programs like Kids Over the Years. Looking to the future, Ms. Oare aims to make a meaningful impact on children’s lives by raising awareness about accessibility and fostering community unity. She believes that success is measured not only by professional achievements but also by personal growth and inclusivity. Through education and empowerment, she strives to inspire children to embrace their similarities and contribute positively to society.