Schedule of Classes

9:00 AM
to 4:00 PMMon, May 12

• 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

• 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?

• 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

• Track: Organizational Strategy

  Navigating Digital Accessibility for Educators Trustee 104

  taught by: Jan McSorley, Shira Goldberg & co-presented by: Desiree Simeone, Jennifer Holloway, Debra Fitzgibbons

  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

• 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

• 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

• Track: Social & Networking

  The Future of Accessibility Hyatt Regency

  taught by: Karl Groves

  More Information about The Future of Accessibility

  Reception and Keynote talk Session Detail for The Future of Accessibility

8:30 AM
to 10:00 AMTue, May 13

• Track: Development

  Clarification on Colors Trustee 216

  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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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?

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• Track: Testing

  Introduction to the Screen Reader Ropes 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 Ropes 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 Ropes Course: Demystifying Screen Reader Use for Manual Testing

• 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

• 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

• 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

• Track: Organizational Strategy

  What Does the Disability Community Really Want from Organizations to be Accessible? Trustee 113

  taught by: Dan Goldstein & co-presented by: Pina D'Intino

  More Information about What Does the Disability Community Really Want from Organizations to be Accessible?

  The International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP) 's Business Accessibility Criteria (BAC)Program, a program that expresses in detail what the disability community expects from businesses for true accessibility and inclusion. Covering 14 different business topics, the BAC is an interactive program that aids organizations tackle their accessibility plans through guided tasks and recommendations ensuring that accessibility is integrated and sustained long term. Session Detail for What Does the Disability Community Really Want from Organizations to be Accessible?

10:15 AM
to 3:00 PMTue, May 13

• Track: Marketing & Advocacy

  W3C WAI Office Hours (5/13) Trustee 205

  taught by: Shawn Lawton Henry & co-presented by: Kevin White

  More Information about W3C WAI Office Hours (5/13)

  W3C WAI Staff would love to connect and get your input on developing resources (including WCAG 3), the WAI website, and how WAI can help you make the digital world more accessible. Would you join us for 20-30 minutes in Room 205? Feel free to drop in any time during AccessU. Or to schedule a time, please email wai@w3.org with subject: [AccessU time]. Session Detail For W3C WAI Office Hours (5/13)

1:00 PM
to 2:00 PMTue, May 13

• 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

• Track: Interactive & Emerging Technologies

  Accessible Communication using Infographics, Charts and Graphs Trustee 112

  taught by: Chad Hester & co-presented by: Eduardo Meza Etienne

  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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

2:15 PM
to 5:30 PMTue, May 13

• 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

• 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

4:00 PM
to 5:30 PMTue, May 13

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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!

• 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

• 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

8:30 AM
to 11:45 AMWed, May 14

• 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

• 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"

• 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)

• 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

8:30 AM
to 10:00 AMWed, May 14

• Track: Testing

  Automating Digital Accessibility: How AI Can Streamline WCAG Compliance Trustee 211

  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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

10:15 AM
to 11:45 AMWed, May 14

• 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

• 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

• 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

  There are ways of building websites which “play nice” with automated accessibility checkers, and ways that don’t. This talk will teach you how to get the most coverage out of your automated accessibility checker. Session Detail for “Automated Checker Friendliness”: How To Maximize Efficiency In Your Automated Accessibility Testing

• 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

• 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

• 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

10:15 AM
to 3:00 PMWed, May 14

• Track: Marketing & Advocacy

  W3C WAI Office Hours (5/14) Trustee 205

  taught by: Shawn Lawton Henry & co-presented by: Kevin White

  More Information about W3C WAI Office Hours (5/14)

  W3C WAI Staff would love to connect and get your input on developing resources (including WCAG 3), the WAI website, and how WAI can help you make the digital world more accessible. Would you join us for 20-30 minutes in Room 205? Feel free to drop in any time during AccessU. Or to schedule a time, please email wai@w3.org with subject: [AccessU time]. Session Detail For W3C WAI Office Hours (5/14)

1:00 PM
to 2:00 PMWed, May 14

• Track: Social & Networking

  Disability Sparks Innovation Jones Auditorium (Ragsdale Hall)

  taught by: Zuby Onwuta

  More Information about Disability Sparks Innovation

  Celebrating Accomplishments of Tech Innovators who are Disabled Session Detail for Disability Sparks Innovation

2:15 PM
to 3:45 PMWed, May 14

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• Track: Documents & Templates

  How to Create and Remediate Microsoft Excel Files for Accessibility Trustee 113

  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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• Track: Marketing & Advocacy

  Where Policy Meets Practice: Accessibility in Education and Healthcare Trustee 215

  taught by: Christine Foushi

  More Information about Where Policy Meets Practice: Accessibility in Education and Healthcare

  Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) mandates that public entities, including educational institutions and healthcare providers, provide equal access to services for individuals with disabilities. This presentation will delve into the key requirements of Title II, focusing on its implications for both the education and healthcare sectors. Session Detail for Where Policy Meets Practice: Accessibility in Education and Healthcare

4:00 PM
to 5:30 PMWed, May 14

• Track: Keynote

  Plenary: Advancing Digital Accessibility with W3C WAI Jones Auditorium (Ragsdale Hall)

  taught by: Shawn Lawton Henry

  More Information about Plenary: Advancing Digital Accessibility with W3C WAI

  W3C's new tagline is: "Making the web work, for everyone". Accessibility is a key aspect and you play a key role. This session provides practical guidance on using W3C accessibility resources to expand your skills and your effectiveness in advancing accessibility. We invite you to share your input on how W3C can better support your accessibility efforts. In this interactive keynote session, we'll also answer your questions about W3C standards and resources. You can email your questions ahead of … Session Detail For Plenary: Advancing Digital Accessibility with W3C WAI

8:30 AM
to 10:00 AMThu, May 15

• 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

• Track: Organizational Strategy

  Building Bridges: How Design Systems Connect Accessibility, Design, Content, and Engineering Trustee 113

  taught by: Imran Khaja, Seth Hart & co-presented by: Thirumalaa Srinivas, Kristin Bonett, Brandee Dudenhoefer

  More Information about Building Bridges: How Design Systems Connect Accessibility, Design, Content, and Engineering

  Learn how the Visa Product Design System (VPDS) connects accessibility, design, content, and engineering to create scalable, inclusive, and seamless digital experiences. Session Detail for Building Bridges: How Design Systems Connect Accessibility, Design, Content, and Engineering

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• Track: Keynote

  From Today to Tomorrow: Navigating the Shifting Landscape of Digital Access Jones Auditorium (Ragsdale Hall)

  taught by: Crystal Preston-Watson

  More Information about From Today to Tomorrow: Navigating the Shifting Landscape of Digital Access

  "Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced"—James Baldwin. Crystal Preston-Watson will lead this Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) panel with friends, colleagues, and AccessU attendees. The panel will examine the current state of digital access and inclusion, reflecting on the progress made while addressing the rapidly changing path ahead. We’ll discuss the challenges and opportunities we face as a community and what we can do to keep … Session Detail For From Today to Tomorrow: Navigating the Shifting Landscape of Digital Access

10:15 AM
to 3:00 PMThu, May 15

• Track: Marketing & Advocacy

  W3C WAI Office Hours (5/15) Trustee 205

  taught by: Shawn Lawton Henry & co-presented by: Kevin White

  More Information about W3C WAI Office Hours (5/15)

  W3C WAI Staff would love to connect and get your input on developing resources (including WCAG 3), the WAI website, and how WAI can help you make the digital world more accessible. Would you join us for 20-30 minutes in Room 205? Feel free to drop in any time during AccessU. Or to schedule a time, please email wai@w3.org with subject: [AccessU time]. Session Detail For W3C WAI Office Hours (5/15)

1:00 PM
to 3:00 PMThu, May 15

• Track: Design & User Experience

  Digital Accessibility Framework Trustee 214

  taught by: Rachael Bradley Montgomery & co-presented by: Michael Cooper, J. Bern Jordan

  More Information about Digital Accessibility Framework

  The Digital Accessibility Framework is a top down look at the needs of people with disabilities within digital environments. This workshop will explain the framework, discuss ways it can guide research or standards, and gather feedback from participants to improve the model. Session Detail for Digital Accessibility Framework

• 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

1:00 PM
to 5:00 PMThu, May 15

• Track: Development

  IAAP Certification Exams Trustee 211

  More Information about IAAP Certification Exams

  1:00 - 5:00 PM: First seating and for anyone requesting extra time 3:00 - 5:00 PM: Second seating for anyone attending after the Unconference sessions (Note: there is no extra time for this seating) Session Detail for IAAP Certification Exams