Phil Bratta Named U.S. Access Board’s Public Affairs Specialist

Phil Bratta has been appointed Public Affairs Specialist for the U.S. Access Board in the Office of Executive Director (OED). In this role, Bratta will design, plan, and direct the Board’s public affairs program that includes managing its external communication channels, developing informational materials, handling media relations, leading outreach activities, and serving as point of contact for legislative affairs to explain accessibility and the work of the Board. The Board’s OED is responsible for providing overall administrative leadership, overseeing the day-to-day operations, setting agency-wide priorities, ensuring that the budget is administered effectively and efficiently, and representing the Board on inter-agency committees and other official events.

Bratta has been with the Board since 2020 as its Technical Writer. In this role, he worked with subject matter experts to develop and publish technical guidance on accessibility and inclusive design, including bulletins covering the ADA and ABA Accessibility Standards. He also assisted with event programs, policy and rulemaking, website maintenance, and research, as well as managed the public affairs program.

Prior to joining the Board, he was an Assistant Professor of Rhetoric and Writing Studies at Oklahoma State University where he taught undergraduate and graduate level courses in technical and professional writing and communication, visual rhetoric and design, advanced composition, history of rhetoric, and public writing. Bratta holds a Ph.D. in Rhetoric and Writing from Michigan State University, an M.A. in English from University of Florida, and a B.A. in Cultural Studies from Columbia College Chicago.