The AccessU 2025 class schedule includes one day of Pre-Conference Workshops followed by three days of live training and Q&A sessions. All times listed are US Central Time.
Note: This schedule is near final and may be subject to change due to circumstances beyond our control.
Types of Sessions
AccessU 2025 is a hybrid event. All General Conference sessions and most Pre-Conference Deep Dive Workshops will be available on-site and to virtual attendees. Most instructors will present in-person in Austin, TX, and we will indicate which instructors will present virtually.
- Deep Dives are Pre-Conference full-day workshops. Only attendees who purchase Premiere or Pre-Conference tickets will have access to these workshops.
- General Sessions are 90-180 minute sessions.
- Some sessions will include pre-recorded materials played at the beginning of the session, followed by the instructor leading participants in a practice activity and/or Q&A session.
- Demonstrations: Presenters will demonstrate a product, service or technology.
- Unconference: Conference attendees suggest and vote on topics during the week; top 6 will selected for facilitated discussion on Thursday.
- Evening and social events are also listed on the Conference Activities page (coming soon) of this website.
Thanks to our AccessU 2025 Sponsors!
Current & Upcoming Sessions:
Monday, May 12, 2025: AccessU 2025
9:00 AM
to 4:00 PMMon, May 12
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Track: Design & User Experience
Accessibility for Designers Trustee 203
taught by: Miranda Capra
More Information about Accessibility for Designers
This class will help web and app designers create accessible designs. It will walk through common design patterns and examples drawn from years of coaching teams on creating usable and accessible designs. Session Detail for Accessibility for Designers
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Track: Testing
Do the Guidelines Apply to My Product? Trustee 117
taught by: Helen Burge
More Information about Do the Guidelines Apply to My Product?
Who of us have heard: “accessibility doesn’t apply to my digital product!” I have, and found it is mainly due to a lack of knowledge. In this talk we will go through common misconceptions and how accessibility can be applied. Session Detail for Do the Guidelines Apply to My Product?
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Track: Interactive & Emerging Technologies
Inclusive Data Visualization with ParaCharts Trustee 112
taught by: Doug Schepers & co-presented by: Simon Varey, Josh Fennell
More Information about Inclusive Data Visualization with ParaCharts
Data visualizations like charts are often challenging to make accessible. We'll describe dataviz problems and solutions, and introduce ParaCharts, a new data visualization tool that makes it easy to create and publish charts on your website that are fully accessible to people with a wide variety of disabilities. Session Detail for Inclusive Data Visualization with ParaCharts
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Track: Organizational Strategy
Navigating Digital Accessibility for Educators Trustee 104
taught by: Jan McSorley & co-presented by: Shira Goldberg, Desiree Simeone, Jennifer Holloway
More Information about Navigating Digital Accessibility for Educators
Participants will gain skills to engage Ed Tech vendors as partners in ensuring the accessibility of digital tools. Highlights include interpreting vendor documentation, running simple accessibility checks on products, and leveraging collaboration to integrate accessibility into organizational procurement workflows. Session Detail for Navigating Digital Accessibility for Educators
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Track: Testing
Simplifying Mobile Accessibility Trustee 113
taught by: Mark Steadman
More Information about Simplifying Mobile Accessibility
Mobile accessibility can be a very difficult space to navigate. Let's make it easier to dive right in! From common terms, breakdown of application accessibility, and building up accessibility on mobile development teams, this session will help build the foundation to ensure your mobile applications are accessible. Session Detail for Simplifying Mobile Accessibility
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Track: Design & User Experience
Usability Testing with People with Disabilities Trustee 214
taught by: Elisa Miller
More Information about Usability Testing with People with Disabilities
Learn how usability testing provides important feedback for the development of your products. Session Detail for Usability Testing with People with Disabilities
5:30 PM
to 8:00 PMMon, May 12
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Track: Social & Networking
AI is the Future of Accessibility Hyatt Regency
taught by: Karl Groves
More Information about AI is the Future of Accessibility
AI is everywhere. Soon it will be everywhere-er. Currently, there is a lot of hype about what AI can do (or not) and what the potential harms may be. Using information gleaned from current AI research, this presentation will discuss the ways that AI will impact accessibility within our lifetimes. Session Detail For AI is the Future of Accessibility
Tuesday, May 13, 2025: AccessU 2025
8:30 AM
to 10:00 AMTue, May 13
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Track: Testing
Automating Digital Accessibility: How AI Can Streamline WCAG Compliance Trustee 216
taught by: Michael Bervell & co-presented by: Jason Tan
More Information about Automating Digital Accessibility: How AI Can Streamline WCAG Compliance
As AI continues to advance, how much of digital accessibility remediation can be automated? This session explores the capabilities and limitations of AI in automating WCAG compliance, showing how organizations can leverage AI-powered tools to streamline accessibility workflows while maintaining human oversight. Session Detail for Automating Digital Accessibility: How AI Can Streamline WCAG Compliance
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Track: Interactive & Emerging Technologies
Creating Accessibility Checks for Artificial Intelligence Trustee 112
taught by: Helen Burge
More Information about Creating Accessibility Checks for Artificial Intelligence
When it was highlighted some accessibility gaps in current code outputs, I was given a license to Windsurf to create checks to help build accessible code. This talk will run through my learning curves to help others create accessible code with AI. Session Detail for Creating Accessibility Checks for Artificial Intelligence
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Track: Organizational Strategy
Scaling Accessibility the Easy-ish Way Trustee 113
taught by: James Green
More Information about Scaling Accessibility the Easy-ish Way
Learn how to add or scale Digital Accessibility within your org. Based on nearly 20 years of experinece in this industry, James Green will share methods, resources, and tips to get Accessibility going well for your team. Session Detail for Scaling Accessibility the Easy-ish Way
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Track: Development
The Many Lives of a Notification Trustee 214
taught by: Sarah Higley
More Information about The Many Lives of a Notification
Learn when and how to craft live regions that enhance screen reader experience rather than detracting from it, with practical examples and real user feedback. Session Detail for The Many Lives of a Notification
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Track: Documents & Templates
Using EPUB to Retire the PDF Trustee 203
taught by: Darrin Evans
More Information about Using EPUB to Retire the PDF
In this session we will demonstrate the advantages EPUB files have over PDF's when it comes to accessibility and usability. You will be introduced to the free WordToEPUB application from the DAISY Consortium and we will get hands-on practice with creating EPUB's from structured accessible MS Word Documents. Session Detail for Using EPUB to Retire the PDF
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Track: Testing
What's in an Accessible Name? Trustee 116
taught by: Wesley Estes
More Information about What's in an Accessible Name?
Have you heard the term "Accessible Name", or maybe been informed you need to provide (or adjust) an Accessible Name on content you created, but found yourself wondering what exactly is an Accessible Name? Why is the Accessible Name important? Session Detail for What's in an Accessible Name?
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Track: Organizational Strategy
Your Internal Accessibility Program Needs a Maturity Model Trustee 117
taught by: Robert Carr
More Information about Your Internal Accessibility Program Needs a Maturity Model
You've been put in charge of your organizations accessibility program, but what are you supposed to do and how do you figure out where you need to focus your efforts? Look no further than an Accessibility maturity model, a roadmap to your internal accessibility efforts. Session Detail for Your Internal Accessibility Program Needs a Maturity Model
8:30 AM
to 11:45 AMTue, May 13
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Track: Marketing & Advocacy
Flipped Classroom: Challenge #1 on AI Trustee 104
More Information about Flipped Classroom: Challenge #1 on AI
Challenge 1 : How we can use and shape AI so it benefits people with disabilities? Session Detail for Flipped Classroom: Challenge #1 on AI
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Track: Design & User Experience
Nonvisual Design Tools & Techniques Trustee 215
taught by: Lauren Race & co-presented by: Chancey Fleet
More Information about Nonvisual Design Tools & Techniques
While alt text is an established approach to image accessibility, tactile graphics are a powerful inclusive design tool that allow for spatial exploration through touch. In this session, we will gain a deeper understanding of tactile graphics as an alternative to alt text, learning design methods and standards while engaging in hands-on design activities using tactile graphics equipment. Session Detail for Nonvisual Design Tools & Techniques
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Track: Development
POSH Foundations: Building Accessibility with Semantic HTML Trustee 211
taught by: Natalie MacLees
More Information about POSH Foundations: Building Accessibility with Semantic HTML
Plain Old Semantic HTML or POSH is the foundation of accessible design, setting the stage for usability and inclusivity. Learn how to break down designs into semantic HTML and use it to build robust and accessible digital experiences. Session Detail for POSH Foundations: Building Accessibility with Semantic HTML
10:15 AM
to 11:45 AMTue, May 13
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Track: Design & User Experience
Accessibility on Aisle Three: Discussions of Digital and Physical Accessibility Practices in Grocery Retail Environments Trustee 203
taught by: Audrey Reinert & co-presented by: Vanesa Ayon
More Information about Accessibility on Aisle Three: Discussions of Digital and Physical Accessibility Practices in Grocery Retail Environments
This talk will focus on how the application of accessibility practices and Universal Design principles combined with digital innovation benefit both customers and employees in large retail chains. We will specifically focus on how a large grocery retailer can incorporate these practices into daily operations while increasing customer satisfaction. Session Detail for Accessibility on Aisle Three: Discussions of Digital and Physical Accessibility Practices in Grocery Retail Environments
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Track: Interactive & Emerging Technologies
AI as an A11y: Rapid Co-Creation, Design & Prototyping Inclusive Apps Trustee 214
taught by: Kelly Goto & co-presented by: Joni Martinez
More Information about AI as an A11y: Rapid Co-Creation, Design & Prototyping Inclusive Apps
AI is revolutionizing accessibility in design and prototyping—but are everyday apps truly inclusive? Join design ethnographer Kelly Goto and blindness rehabilitation specialist Joni Martinez as they explore AI-driven accessibility through the A11y App Review, a research initiative evaluating real-world accessibility from the start, not as an afterthought. This session will dive into screen-reader testing, co-creation, and rapid prototyping using no-code AI tools to help design and development … Session Detail for AI as an A11y: Rapid Co-Creation, Design & Prototyping Inclusive Apps
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Track: Testing
Introduction to the Screen Reader Topes Course: Demystifying Screen Reader Use for Manual Testing Trustee 116
taught by: Deneb Pulsipher & co-presented by: Akosua (Kosi) Asabere
More Information about Introduction to the Screen Reader Topes Course: Demystifying Screen Reader Use for Manual Testing
In this session you’ll finally gain the abilities you need to perform effective screen reader testing by learning and practicing the necessary functionality of the free screen reader of your choice. We’ll break down for you the commands and strategies of screen reader use, walk you through some guided and independent practice to increase your proficiency with it, and help you understand how to present your findings so your accessibility suggestions will be heeded. Session Detail for Introduction to the Screen Reader Topes Course: Demystifying Screen Reader Use for Manual Testing
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Track: Design & User Experience
Plain Language: Increasing the Accessibility of Your Content Trustee 112
taught by: Elisa Miller
More Information about Plain Language: Increasing the Accessibility of Your Content
You went to a lot of trouble to put that content online. Understanding the concepts of Plain language will help your audience find it, understand it and use it. Writing clearly makes information more accessible – and usable – for people who don’t read well, are reading in a second language, or are listening to the text. That means better informed users, happier customers, and fewer angry support calls. Session Detail for Plain Language: Increasing the Accessibility of Your Content
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Track: Organizational Strategy
Shift Left, and Up Trustee 117
taught by: Rob Carr
More Information about Shift Left, and Up
As a community, we in the digital accessibility space must advance conversations about how organizations must approach their accessibility work holistically and broadly. In this session, we will use the “shift left” concept as a jumping off point for a larger discussion about the critical need for organizational leadership to provide active facilitation rather than only supplying passive support. Session Detail for Shift Left, and Up
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Track: Design & User Experience
WCAG Unwrapped: A People's Guide to Accessible Digital Experiences Trustee 216
taught by: David Dauber & co-presented by: Robin Eckelberry
More Information about WCAG Unwrapped: A People's Guide to Accessible Digital Experiences
This interactive training aims to provide participants with a fundamental understanding of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) through a person-first approach. By exploring real-life scenarios and human experiences, participants will learn how to apply WCAG principles to create accessible digital experiences. Session Detail for WCAG Unwrapped: A People's Guide to Accessible Digital Experiences
1:00 PM
to 2:00 PMTue, May 13
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Track: Marketing & Advocacy
The 2025 AccessU Legal Update Jones Auditorium (Ragsdale Hall)
taught by: Eve Hill
More Information about The 2025 AccessU Legal Update
Digital accessibility is a civil right for people with disabilities. Join nationally-renowned disability rights attorney Eve Hill as she provides background on the legal landscape and share recent developments, trends, and upcoming activities in the digital accessibility legal space. Session Detail for The 2025 AccessU Legal Update
2:15 PM
to 3:45 PMTue, May 13
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Track: Interactive & Emerging Technologies
Accessible Communication using Infographics, Charts and Graphs Trustee 112
taught by: Chad Hester
More Information about Accessible Communication using Infographics, Charts and Graphs
Infographics, Charts and Graphs are powerful tools for visual storytelling, but they often exclude people with disabilities. This session will explore key accessibility challenges and solutions, covering design principles, color contrast, typography, alt text, and alternative access methods. Attendees will leave with practical techniques to create infographics that are both engaging and inclusive. Session Detail for Accessible Communication using Infographics, Charts and Graphs
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Track: Design & User Experience
Audio Description: On Beyond Middle Aged White Woman in a Hat Trustee 215
taught by: Celia Hughes & co-presented by: Yadira Uranga
More Information about Audio Description: On Beyond Middle Aged White Woman in a Hat
"Audio Description" became very popular during the pandemic when people started to self-describe during Zoom meetings, but very few people really understand what Audio Description is. This session will offer a deep dive into the various components that help to define what makes visual content accessible to people who are blind. Session Detail for Audio Description: On Beyond Middle Aged White Woman in a Hat
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Track: Development
Browser Extensions 101: Building Custom Tools for Accessibility Testing Trustee 214
taught by: Noel Tibbles
More Information about Browser Extensions 101: Building Custom Tools for Accessibility Testing
Accessibility testing tools often require digging into DevTools or juggling multiple extensions to get the insights you need, but what if you could build a browser extension tailored to your specific accessibility testing needs? In this session, you’ll learn how to create, debug, and distribute a simple browser extension to streamline accessibility testing for your projects. Session Detail for Browser Extensions 101: Building Custom Tools for Accessibility Testing
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Track: Organizational Strategy
Couples Therapy: How Accessibility and Design Systems Teams Can Work Better Together Trustee 117
taught by: Daniel Henderson-Ede
More Information about Couples Therapy: How Accessibility and Design Systems Teams Can Work Better Together
Just like a loyal companion, design systems can be an accessibility team’s best friend. In this session, you’ll discover how these two teams can collaborate to overcome shared challenges and achieve their common goals. Session Detail for Couples Therapy: How Accessibility and Design Systems Teams Can Work Better Together
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Track: Marketing & Advocacy
Selfish Accessibility: 2025 Trustee 113
taught by: Adrian Roselli
More Information about Selfish Accessibility: 2025
An update of my 2014 talk that takes into account the new political reality in the US. Session Detail for Selfish Accessibility: 2025
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Track: Development
SwiftUI Accessibility Techniques for Native iOS Apps Trustee 211
taught by: Paul Adam
More Information about SwiftUI Accessibility Techniques for Native iOS Apps
This session will teach developers and designers how to build accessible iPhone and iPad apps for users with disabilities. We will use the CVS Health iOS SwiftUI Accessibility Techniques open-source project on GitHub and the iOS AppStore app SwiftUI Accessibility Techs. to demonstrate how to apply WCAG to native iOS and build apps accessible to iOS Assistive Technology users. Session Detail for SwiftUI Accessibility Techniques for Native iOS Apps
2:15 PM
to 5:30 PMTue, May 13
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Track: Development
Accessible JavaScript Techniques - Interactivity Without Barriers Trustee 216
taught by: Christina Adams
More Information about Accessible JavaScript Techniques - Interactivity Without Barriers
Increasing engagement with highly interactive experiences is the new normal for websites. Mindful application of JavaScript to increase access and eliminate barriers for all users is a necessary step to ensure accessible, impactful digital experiences. Session Detail for Accessible JavaScript Techniques - Interactivity Without Barriers
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Track: Marketing & Advocacy
Flipped Classroom: Challenge #2 on Where Accessibility Belongs Trustee 104
More Information about Flipped Classroom: Challenge #2 on Where Accessibility Belongs
Challenge 2: Where does digital accessibility “belong” within organizations and how does that affect career decisions and pathways to leadership? Session Detail for Flipped Classroom: Challenge #2 on Where Accessibility Belongs
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Track: Testing
How a Native Screen Reader User Manually Tests Websites with JAWS Trustee 116
taught by: Randall Horwitz
More Information about How a Native Screen Reader User Manually Tests Websites with JAWS
During this session I will show how I manually test with JAWS as a native screen reader users. I will cover both good and bad examples of websites. Session Detail for How a Native Screen Reader User Manually Tests Websites with JAWS
2:15 PM
to 5:30 PMTue, May 13
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Track: Documents & Templates
Accessible PowerPoint Presentations Trustee 203
taught by: Mike Zapata
More Information about Accessible PowerPoint Presentations
This class teaches students the basics of preparing, designing, and delivering accessible presentations using Microsoft PowerPoint. Session Detail for Accessible PowerPoint Presentations
4:00 PM
to 5:30 PMTue, May 13
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Track: Design & User Experience
Designing for Neurodiversity Trustee 113
taught by: Kate Walser & co-presented by: Elizabeth Whitmer
More Information about Designing for Neurodiversity
Ask a team how they’ve made their product accessible, and they may be delighted to describe their approach. Probe deeper and ask that same team if they are accounting for different types of brain functioning (neurodiversity) and you may be met with a blank look. Session Detail for Designing for Neurodiversity
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Track: Interactive & Emerging Technologies
Every AI for Everyone: Where AI, Accessibility, and Open Source Meet Trustee 112
taught by: Derek Jackson
More Information about Every AI for Everyone: Where AI, Accessibility, and Open Source Meet
Over the course of the last year, Harvard University has worked with LibreChat, an open-source AI platform with the ambitious goal to make available “Every AI, For Everyone”. This session shares our accessibility journey, invites contributors to join the community and help shape in its future development, and offers a practical AI solution for organizations and individuals with limited resources. Session Detail for Every AI for Everyone: Where AI, Accessibility, and Open Source Meet
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Track: Development
Mobile Accessibility: Beyond the Basics Trustee 211
taught by: Kaelynn Davies & co-presented by: Mark Steadman
More Information about Mobile Accessibility: Beyond the Basics
Native mobile accessibility knowledge has continued to grow over the last few years, leading to small gains in accessibility, with room for vast improvement. Diving into where the basics are being met, where the gaps are now, and how to deal with complex components, we can go beyond where mobile accessibility has been. Session Detail for Mobile Accessibility: Beyond the Basics
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Track: Organizational Strategy
Show Us a Digital Accessibility Program that Works! Trustee 117
taught by: Laura Hopkins
More Information about Show Us a Digital Accessibility Program that Works!
UT Arlington began our current Electronic and Information Resources accessibility program in 2018. Since that time, we have published a policy and procedure, created daily processes and have made measurable progress towards reaching federal and state requirements. Session Detail for Show Us a Digital Accessibility Program that Works!
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Track: Design & User Experience
Small Changes Can Lead to Big Accessibility Improvements Trustee 215
taught by: Amy Mason & co-presented by: Bruno Torquato
More Information about Small Changes Can Lead to Big Accessibility Improvements
Surprisingly, Some of the thorniest accessibility problems experienced by users are also some of the easiest to fix. Leveraging a few easy wins can help excite our teams and our users for our accessibility journey. Session Detail for Small Changes Can Lead to Big Accessibility Improvements
4:00 PM
to 5:30 PMTue, May 13
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Track: Marketing & Advocacy
Media Messages Trustee 214
taught by: Erica Braverman
More Information about Media Messages
Media can be a great way to spread awareness of digital accessibility, but there are some things to keep in mind when selecting and sharing videos, posts, and other types of content. In this workshop, we will discuss helpful strategies for selecting, sharing, and creating effective digital accessibility media. Session Detail for Media Messages
Wednesday, May 14, 2025: AccessU 2025
8:30 AM
to 10:00 AMWed, May 14
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Track: Development
Clarification on Colors Trustee 211
taught by: Bouton Jones
More Information about Clarification on Colors
An examination of the WCAG color guidelines and success criteria as well as an explanation of what the W3C means by the phrase “contrast ratio.” This will cover tools, web sites, and techniques for selecting the right colors including a simple way to fix poor contrast ratios with simple addition and subtraction. Session Detail for Clarification on Colors
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Track: Testing
Fun Facts About Keyboarding Trustee 116
taught by: Leslie Schulz
More Information about Fun Facts About Keyboarding
You know you should be testing for keyboarding navigation. But do you know how to? How do you navigate? What should you be checking? Session Detail for Fun Facts About Keyboarding
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Track: Interactive & Emerging Technologies
"Hello Computer" - Empowering Lives Through Voice Control: My Journey Trustee 112
taught by: David Dauber
More Information about "Hello Computer" - Empowering Lives Through Voice Control: My Journey
Join Dave D., a lifelong assistive technology user, as he explores the universe of Voice Control on Mac and iPhone—no need to talk into a mouse like Scotty from Star Trek! Session Detail for "Hello Computer" - Empowering Lives Through Voice Control: My Journey
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Track: Interactive & Emerging Technologies
Level Up Your Digital Content Trustee 216
taught by: Christine Foushi & co-presented by: Ed Rubio
More Information about Level Up Your Digital Content
Explore this "new fad" called "Artificial Intelligence." How can it really help me? Can it work in remediating digital content? What about copyright and digital rights? AI isn't the end all be all, but with some human review, it's just another tool in the toolbox and we're going to explore how to leverage it. We will discuss several examples of how AI can assist including converting image to accessible HTML tables, creating contextual alt text for images, remediating table tagging for … Session Detail for Level Up Your Digital Content
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Track: Testing
PreGame: Next Generation Mobile Accessibility Remediation Trustee 203
taught by: Jason Tan
More Information about PreGame: Next Generation Mobile Accessibility Remediation
Unlock the secrets to making your mobile apps accessible to everyone. Don’t let your users be left behind—learn how to fix accessibility issues on multi-platform surfaces. Session Detail for PreGame: Next Generation Mobile Accessibility Remediation
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Track: Design & User Experience
Shifting Left: How Designers Can Drive Accessibility Before Development Starts Trustee 117
taught by: Georgette Sullivan & co-presented by: Simran Singh
More Information about Shifting Left: How Designers Can Drive Accessibility Before Development Starts
Accessibility shouldn't be an afterthought—by the time issues are caught in development, they're costly and harder to fix. Designers have a unique opportunity to shift accessibility left in the product lifecycle, ensuring that inclusive experiences are built from the start. Session Detail for Shifting Left: How Designers Can Drive Accessibility Before Development Starts
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Track: Marketing & Advocacy
WCAG, ACR, and VPAT oh my! Unlocking the ABC's of Accessibility Trustee 113
taught by: Becky Gibson
More Information about WCAG, ACR, and VPAT oh my! Unlocking the ABC's of Accessibility
Confidently enter the accessibility forest and learn the basics of digital inclusion and how it affects your employees. We will untangle the acronyms and give you the confidence and knowledge to procure the most accessible products and services to support all your employees. Session Detail for WCAG, ACR, and VPAT oh my! Unlocking the ABC's of Accessibility
8:30 AM
to 11:45 AMWed, May 14
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Track: Marketing & Advocacy
Flipped Classroom: Challenge #3 on What Defines "Success" Trustee 104
More Information about Flipped Classroom: Challenge #3 on What Defines "Success"
Challenge 3 : What defines “Success” in digital accessibility? Session Detail for Flipped Classroom: Challenge #3 on What Defines "Success"
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Track: Design & User Experience
Usability Testing with People with Disabilities (PWD) Trustee 215
taught by: Kate Walser
More Information about Usability Testing with People with Disabilities (PWD)
The best way to learn how your website or app will work for people with disabilities is to observe them using it. How do we do that? Come learn in this engaging session. Session Detail for Usability Testing with People with Disabilities (PWD)
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Track: Development
WAI (not) ARIA Trustee 214
taught by: Stacy Carston Sporie
More Information about WAI (not) ARIA
The first rule of ARIA is not to use ARIA when HTML will do. But how do you determine when HTML won't do? Join this session to learn some of the whys and why nots of using ARIA. Session Detail for WAI (not) ARIA
10:15 AM
to 11:45 AMWed, May 14
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Track: Organizational Strategy
Achieving Sustainable Accessibility Trustee 113
taught by: Alison Walden
More Information about Achieving Sustainable Accessibility
Learn how to break the remediation cycle and achieve sustainable accessibility by embedding inclusive practices into digital experience management workflows. Session Detail for Achieving Sustainable Accessibility
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Track: Interactive & Emerging Technologies
AI and Hearing: Navigating Opportunities and Challenges for Individuals with Disabilities Trustee 112
taught by: Julie Grisham & co-presented by: Karey Jo Wise
More Information about AI and Hearing: Navigating Opportunities and Challenges for Individuals with Disabilities
Panelists will present a comprehensive view of both personal and professional experiences, highlighting the impact of AI and the unique challenges and opportunities faced by the panelists. Session Detail for AI and Hearing: Navigating Opportunities and Challenges for Individuals with Disabilities
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Track: Development
“Automated Checker Friendliness”: How To Maximize Efficiency In Your Automated Accessibility Testing Trustee 211
taught by: Jeremy Gonzales & co-presented by: Dan Tripp
More Information about “Automated Checker Friendliness”: How To Maximize Efficiency In Your Automated Accessibility Testing
This presentation explores how developers can optimize their websites to pass automated accessibility checkers while ensuring a more inclusive user experience. It covers best practices, common mistakes, the importance of semantic HTML, and real-world examples to help developers build more accessible and compliant websites. Session Detail for “Automated Checker Friendliness”: How To Maximize Efficiency In Your Automated Accessibility Testing
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Track: Development
Beginning Your Accessibility Journey with WordPress Trustee 116
taught by: Joe A Simpson Jr
More Information about Beginning Your Accessibility Journey with WordPress
New to Accessibility and WordPress? In this interactive presentation, we'll cover the basics of using WordPress to build accessible websites - surveying the viability of current tools, plugins, themes, and the Full Site Editor. Session Detail for Beginning Your Accessibility Journey with WordPress
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Track: Design & User Experience
Data Visualization & Accessibility: A Framework & Method Trustee 216
taught by: Thomas Watkins
More Information about Data Visualization & Accessibility: A Framework & Method
The current state of accessibility for data visualization leaves much to be desired. Fortunately, we already know enough to evaluate the existing methods' effectiveness and imagine plans for making data insights accessible to users of all ability levels. Session Detail for Data Visualization & Accessibility: A Framework & Method
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Track: Documents & Templates
How to Create and Remediate Microsoft Excel Files for Accessibility Trustee 203
taught by: Richard Steinberg
More Information about How to Create and Remediate Microsoft Excel Files for Accessibility
This session will focus on understanding what makes Microsoft Excel data tables and charts accessible, and will include demonstrations of assistive technologies with Excel. Making Excel documents accessible ultimately improves usability for everyone, making them easier to read, access information quickly, and manage over time. Session Detail for How to Create and Remediate Microsoft Excel Files for Accessibility
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Track: Design & User Experience
Service Design for Accessibility Trustee 117
taught by: Greg Solis & co-presented by: Elisa Miller
More Information about Service Design for Accessibility
Today, there are more people involved with the design and delivery of services than of tangible products. While we hear a lot about product design, more companies are beginning to understand the value of designing their services as well. These service ‘eco-systems’ consider ‘how’ people interact with business, technology and each other. In this session, Greg and Elisa with explain the fundamentals of Service Design and show how the processes and tools can be used to make services more … Session Detail for Service Design for Accessibility
1:00 PM
to 2:00 PMWed, May 14
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Track: Social & Networking
Overcoming Disability with Creative Abilities Jones Auditorium (Ragsdale Hall)
taught by: Zuby Onwuta
More Information about Overcoming Disability with Creative Abilities
Celebrating Accomplishments of Tech Innovators who are Disabled Session Detail for Overcoming Disability with Creative Abilities
2:15 PM
to 3:45 PMWed, May 14
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Track: Testing
Accessibility Testing for Everyone - No Tools Required Trustee 116
taught by: Becky Gibson
More Information about Accessibility Testing for Everyone - No Tools Required
You understand the importance of accessibility, but how do you express it to others? You may not have the time, knowledge, or budget to perform a full accessibility audit. This session will teach you how to do basic web accessibility testing with no special tools or technologies. Demonstrate the issues with your web assets to others. Give people an Aha moment - help them to understand the need for and commit to accessibility. Session Detail for Accessibility Testing for Everyone - No Tools Required
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Track: Interactive & Emerging Technologies
Accessible Multimedia on a Budget Trustee 112
taught by: Zoltan Hawryluk
More Information about Accessible Multimedia on a Budget
If you deal with audio and video on the web or elsewhere, ensuring it is accessible can be challenging — captions, audio descriptions, transcripts, seizure inducing content and disruptive background sounds are just some of the things we need to worry about. In this session, we will explore many low-cost to no-cost solutions that can fix many of these problems. Session Detail for Accessible Multimedia on a Budget
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Track: Design & User Experience
Decoding The CAPTCHAs Puzzle: Barriers, Solutions, and Accessibility Trustee 216
taught by: Lisan Hasnain
More Information about Decoding The CAPTCHAs Puzzle: Barriers, Solutions, and Accessibility
CAPTCHAs are widely used to distinguish humans from bots, but they often create barriers for people with disabilities. This session explores the accessibility challenges of CAPTCHAs, their impact on users, and practical solutions to make authentication more accessible. Session Detail for Decoding The CAPTCHAs Puzzle: Barriers, Solutions, and Accessibility
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Track: Organizational Strategy
Develop an Accessibility Framework Trustee 117
taught by: Shannon Urban & co-presented by: Megan McGowan
More Information about Develop an Accessibility Framework
Learn how to develop an accessibility framework for your organization. McGraw Hill School models a successful framework. Session Detail for Develop an Accessibility Framework
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Track: Marketing & Advocacy
Flipped Classroom: Challenge #4 on What Have We Overlooked Trustee 104
More Information about Flipped Classroom: Challenge #4 on What Have We Overlooked
Challenge 4: What have we overlooked/left out? Session Detail for Flipped Classroom: Challenge #4 on What Have We Overlooked
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Track: Documents & Templates
How to Make an Accessible Word Document Trustee 203
taught by: Laura Hopkins
More Information about How to Make an Accessible Word Document
Learn how easy it is to make an accessible Word Document - and how to ensure that your Word document will be an accessible PDF! Session Detail for How to Make an Accessible Word Document
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Track: Development
Talkin' Tables Trustee 214
taught by: Adrian Roselli
More Information about Talkin' Tables
Review the basics for constructing and using tables and then move on to more advanced techniques. Session Detail for Talkin' Tables
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Track: Development
Up and Coming ARIA Trustee 211
taught by: John Northup
More Information about Up and Coming ARIA
What's next in ARIA? We'll explore new and proposed ARIA attributes. Session Detail for Up and Coming ARIA
2:15 PM
to 3:45 PMWed, May 14
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Track: Organizational Strategy
Regenerative Accessibility Trustee 113
taught by: Chris Xu
More Information about Regenerative Accessibility
Lessons drawn from permaculture about how to sustainably push org change around accessibility, drawing on experience from Slack. Session Detail for Regenerative Accessibility
Thursday, May 15, 2025: AccessU 2025
8:30 AM
to 10:00 AMThu, May 15
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Track: Testing
Automated Accessibility Tooling: Hype versus Reality Trustee 116
taught by: Nicholas Cook
More Information about Automated Accessibility Tooling: Hype versus Reality
Some accessibility tooling vendors estimate that their products can catch anywhere from 30% to 80% of “accessibility issues”, but what is defined as an “accessibility issue”? How are these numbers calculated? In this talk, we’ll disambiguate hype from reality for the most common class of automated accessibility tooling, Static Code Analysis (SCA), and how new automation techniques can expand the universe of what’s possible. Session Detail for Automated Accessibility Tooling: Hype versus Reality
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Track: Design & User Experience
Critique Etiquette: How Empathic Practices Improve Communication Trustee 216
taught by: Devin O'Bryan
More Information about Critique Etiquette: How Empathic Practices Improve Communication
Designers, product managers, and engineers alike benefit from a unified means of communicating. By making empathic practices foundational to work critiques, teams can reduce confusion and evade passive-aggressive and often time-consuming interactions across disciplines and leadership tiers. Session Detail for Critique Etiquette: How Empathic Practices Improve Communication
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Track: Documents & Templates
Evaluating Digital Content for Accessibility Using the Digital Accessibility Matrix Trustee 203
taught by: Vivian Seki & co-presented by: Cynthia Edwards
More Information about Evaluating Digital Content for Accessibility Using the Digital Accessibility Matrix
Participants will learn to assess digital content for accessibility using a digital accessibility matrix. This matrix highlights the P.O.U.R. principles in relation to specific Universal Design for Learning (UDL) guidelines, detailing key elements and remediation strategies to ensure compliance with the updated Title II standard of the ADA. Session Detail for Evaluating Digital Content for Accessibility Using the Digital Accessibility Matrix
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Track: Design & User Experience
Exploratory Design: Using Exploratory Testing Principles to Create Accessible Designs Trustee 214
taught by: Josh Hetrick
More Information about Exploratory Design: Using Exploratory Testing Principles to Create Accessible Designs
Use the principles of exploratory testing to evaluate designs as you create them. By focusing on outcomes rather than success criteria, you can quickly arrive at accessible solutions as you design. Session Detail for Exploratory Design: Using Exploratory Testing Principles to Create Accessible Designs
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Track: Design & User Experience
First Things First: WordPress Accessibility & UX Foundations for Optimal Interactions Trustee 215
taught by: Joe A Simpson Jr
More Information about First Things First: WordPress Accessibility & UX Foundations for Optimal Interactions
At what point in your project cycle do you discuss how your website’s accessibility? Many make the mistake of waiting until the later stages of a site build to consider accessibility and the user's experience through desired paths on site, which is costly and inefficient. Session Detail for First Things First: WordPress Accessibility & UX Foundations for Optimal Interactions
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Track: Documents & Templates
Transforming Millions of Inaccessible Documents to HTML Alternatives Trustee 113
taught by: Jeroen Hulscher
More Information about Transforming Millions of Inaccessible Documents to HTML Alternatives
In 2023 the Dutch government started working on open-source and free to use project NLdoc: a tool that transformed .doc(x) and PDF to fully compliant HTML. It's there! Session Detail for Transforming Millions of Inaccessible Documents to HTML Alternatives
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Track: Marketing & Advocacy
Understanding the User Needs Trustee 104
taught by: Helen Burge
More Information about Understanding the User Needs
With accessibility, we all make or have made assumptions about what users want or need. In this talk I will walk through several assumptions made by me or others about users needs, and correct them from lessons learned. Session Detail for Understanding the User Needs
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Track: Interactive & Emerging Technologies
Using AI for Individualized Accommodation Trustee 112
taught by: Wayne Dick
More Information about Using AI for Individualized Accommodation
This follows performing one task (writing a research article in mathematics) by one person (me) with one disability (partial sight). It shows how ChatGPT helped my research. Session Detail for Using AI for Individualized Accommodation
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Track: Organizational Strategy
Why We Want to Buy the Magician and Not the Assistant Trustee 117
taught by: Kylie Pollock
More Information about Why We Want to Buy the Magician and Not the Assistant
So a magician and his assistant walk into a bar…. When it comes to magic everyone seems to believe that the flashy lady assistant does all the work. She draws us in and then… poof. Disappears in smoke. She is so attention seeking and dazzling that we miss what is happening with the magician, the one who brainstorms the magic, tests the magic, and delivers the magic. A magician can work magic on his own. An assistant cannot. So why does everyone get sucked in and buy the assistant? Why are we … Session Detail for Why We Want to Buy the Magician and Not the Assistant
10:15 AM
to 11:45 AMThu, May 15
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Track: Keynote
The Right to Digital Inclusion in the US in 2025 Jones Auditorium (Ragsdale Hall)
taught by: Crystal Preston-Watson
More Information about The Right to Digital Inclusion in the US in 2025
The Right to Digital Inclusion in the US in 2025 Session Detail for The Right to Digital Inclusion in the US in 2025
1:15 PM
to 2:45 PMThu, May 15
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Track: Social & Networking
Unconference Sessions Trustee 104
More Information about Unconference Sessions
Grab lunch and join one of six "unconference" sessions. Session Detail for Unconference Sessions