Nell Chitty

Background

About Nell Chitty

Nell Chitty is a Digital Media and Design Specialist with Strategic Public and Employee Communications at the City of Toronto where she specializes in accessible digital document design and media. She is a certified Registered Graphic Designer and has a Master of Design in Inclusive Design from OCAD University. At the City of Toronto, Nell is the accessibility contact for Strategic Communications’ Innovation Working Group, was a member for the Employee Disabilities Network steering committee during its inaugural year, and has represented the City as a guest speaker at the Elevate Tech Fest and the University of Guelph’s Accessibility Conference. Nell was a volunteer on the organizing team behind #a11yTO, one of the largest digital accessibility Meetup groups in the world, from 2015 to 2021.#a11yTO holds regular Meetups, an annual camp, and three conference in Toronto, now part of #a11yTO Week. She has also volunteered as a guest teaching assistant for the AODA certification at Ryerson University where she shared her passion for accessibility with students. Nell became interested in inclusive and accessible design while witnessing the accommodations and lifestyles changes her family members made to adjust to their aging eyesight. This prompted Nell to dedicate her fourth year Bachelor of Design thesis in Fashion Communications at Ryerson University to designing a typeface for people with vision loss. After working in the Montreal fashion industry within sales and marketing, Nell returned to Toronto to pursue her Master of Design in Inclusive Design in the program’s first cohort at OCAD University. Nell researched areas relating to art, design, and disability while studying how we can create more inclusive digital environments for individuals’ unique needs. As part of her Master’s at OCAD, Nell’s Major Research Project (MRP) looked at how designers can reduce user fatigue through changes in the visual user interface of eye controlled computers. Her MRP was completed in 2013. Nell is on the Diversity and Inclusion Committee with RGD Canada and sits on the organizing committee for the Friends of St James Park where she is active in her local community. Nell is active on social media and as a photographer documenting her interest in travel, nature, food, and culture.