.png)
ECPAT-USA
With a mission as serious as child trafficking prevention, information shouldn’t be hard to find. This project focused on improving clarity, navigation, and accessibility to help users quickly locate the resources they need.
By refining the site’s structure and content flow, we aimed to make an already impactful organization even more effective online.
via Rutgers MBS Externship Program
The MBS Externship Program
.png)
The Project
During my time in the Rutgers Externship Exchange Program, I had the opportunity to work with ECPAT-USA, a nonprofit dedicated to ending child trafficking and exploitation. This three-month experience allowed me to apply my growing UX skills in a real-world setting, collaborating with faculty advisors and industry professionals.
​
This externship gave me hands-on experience with WordPress, accessibility tools such as Axe DevTools and NVDA, and usability testing methods. I also learned how to juggle deadlines, communicate with a cross-functional team, and stay adaptable, all skills that became incredibly valuable as the project grew.
I worked on the Routes to End Child Trafficking Collaborative, a project designed to help transportation leaders and riders recognize and report signs of human trafficking. The goal was simple but meaningful: make sure necessary research and resources were organized clearly, easy to navigate, and accessible to everyone who needed them.​
​
​Most of the work focused on improving ECPAT’s WordPress research site by updating content, enhancing usability, improving accessibility, and ensuring sensitive information was handled safely and respectfully.
My Role
My role blended UX, content strategy, and light development. Some of the tools and skills I used included:
​
WordPress (page templates, structure, plugin configuration, content updates)
​
Figma (mapping workflows and planning page structures)
​
Axe DevTools & NVDA (for accessibility audits)
​
Optimal Workshop (for usability evaluations)
​
UX writing (clarifying labels, improving page copy, simplifying instructions)
​
I also spent much time thinking through the user journey, especially for partners who needed to log in, access research, and navigate the site without confusion.
Key Contributions
Partner Registration & Access –
I created a “Become a Partner” request flow that lets users apply for access to restricted research. Admins were notified instantly, could approve requests with one click, and approved partners received an automated email with login instructions.
​
Impact: The once-confusing partner approval process became smoother, faster, and more user-friendly for both partners and admins.
​
Content Control & Navigation –
I set up permission-based access so only approved partners could view certain materials. Logged-in users were automatically redirected to a clean, centralized “Research Presentations” hub.
Impact: Partners no longer wasted time searching for what they needed; everything they were approved for was organized in one place.
​
Accessibility Improvements –
Ran accessibility checks with Axe DevTools and the NVDA screen reader, fixing issues such as color contrast, heading hierarchy, ambiguous link names, and missing landmarks. I also helped ensure the site aligned better with WCAG guidelines.​
​
Impact: The site became much more inclusive, easier to navigate with assistive tech, and more consistent for users with visual or cognitive disabilities.
​
Usability Refinements –
Using feedback gathered through Optimal Workshop, I helped identify pages where users struggled to find information or understand next steps. We reorganized content, simplified navigation, and clarified instructions around partner access.
​
Impact: Users were able to move through the site with less confusion, reducing friction and improving overall confidence in the site’s structure.
Takeaways
My externship with ECPAT-USA was an eye-opening experience that deepened my understanding of what UX design looks like in a real nonprofit setting. I learned how small design decisions, like more transparent labels, stronger hierarchy, or improved accessibility, can make a huge difference for users who rely on these resources.
​
Throughout the project, I built hands-on skills in WordPress development, accessibility testing (Axe DevTools + NVDA), usability evaluations, and content restructuring. Collaborating with a cross-functional team also strengthened my ability to communicate openly, gather feedback, and navigate a project with multiple moving parts.
​
One of the biggest lessons I took away was the importance of designing for diverse audiences, especially when the work supports a mission as meaningful as child protection. Ensuring the site was both informative and accessible underscored the importance of creating digital experiences that are inclusive and easy to use for everyone.
​
Beyond technical skills, this externship helped me grow my problem-solving, communication, time management, and project coordination abilities. Balancing priorities, incorporating user insights, and iterating quickly taught me how to stay flexible and focused.
​
​Overall, this experience reaffirmed my passion for human-centered, mission-driven design. Moving forward, I’m excited to bring these skills into future UX projects and continue creating work that is both functional and meaningful.