Events & Activities

On May 18, Global Accessibility Awareness Day, the San Francisco Mayor’s Office on Disability will hold a community experience webinar featuring a panel of people with diverse disabilities. The mission of Global Accessibility Awareness Day is “to disrupt the culture of technology and digital product development to include accessibility as a core requirement”. People with many different types of disabilities, some not obvious to others, are affected by the accessibility (or lack of it) of a website. For people who work on designing or developing websites, it’s easy to get immersed in accessibility standards, requirements and checklists without understanding what users with disabilities experience. This webinar will feature a panel of people with disabilities in conversation, describing how they use and navigate the web, how their assistive technologies work, what digital barriers they encounter and what accessibility means to them. Use this link to register in advance for this webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__cIJLeM0RYe5T_5Pa0zklA Sign language interpreters will be provided. To request any other accommodations, send an email to mod@sfgov.org

Celebrate this year’s Global Accessibility Awareness Day by attending Deque’s three-hour virtual training event. You’ll learn what digital accessibility is, why it’s important, how people with disabilities navigate the web, and how you can champion accessibility to make a difference in your organization today. This training is intended for all audiences; including policymakers, management, content creators, developers, designers, testers, and everything in between. This event is divided into three components, which include plenty of time for Q&A. Attendees will learn:

1. What is digital accessibility and why it matters -Building the business case for digital inclusion -How people with disabilities use digital technologies -Involving people with disabilities in the development process
2. First-hand lived experiences and barriers faced by people with various disabilities -Challenges faced and lessons learned – the A11y Rules podcast experiment
3. Next steps: building for accessibility by leveraging technology -Getting started – leveraging automated tools for inclusion -Getting ahead – keyboard navigation as a key foundation for inclusion -Practical next steps to make a difference (not just on GAAD!)

Join us as we observe Global Accessibility Awareness Day and talk about the real-world experience of blind users on the web. In this session, we’ll:

• Learn from the real-life experience of blind users of screen readers.
• Understand the most common frustrations blind users have with their experience of the web.
• Dig into some of the differences between manual testing and real-world use.
• Discuss design system goals for including accessibility in future monthly calls.

This event is best suited for: Designers and developers of all levels, leadership. Speakers:

• Dan Williams – Product Lead, USWDS
• Amy Cole – Accessibility Specialist, USWDS
• Eric Yarberry – President & CEO, World Services for the Blind

Canada is recognized as a global leader in digital accessibility, most recently with their introduction of the Accessible Canada Act. Like all countries, Canada has an imperfect history when it comes to accessibility and inclusivity, but what can others learn from Canada in how to operationalize an accessible ecosystem? How can other countries build inclusive practices into their culture and legislation? On Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), join us as David Berman, an internationally recognized expert in inclusive design and strategic communications, discusses Canada’s history of leadership in accessibility, as well as predicting where the puck is heading regarding regulations and emerging standards that can benefit everyone within and beyond its borders. David will share experiences and insights that will help you leave no one behind online … while enjoying the “Accessibility Dividend” for all.

Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) is an annual event that aims to raise awareness about the importance of digital accessibility for people with disabilities. This year, on May 18th, Transmedia Catalonia is organizing a webinar at 2:00 pm to mark the occasion. We will launch the second edition of the Green Digital Accessibility conference, which is a unique combination of digital accessibility and sustainability. During the webinar speakers will present their research on different aspects of accessibility and sustainability, including universal design, easy-to-read content, and accessible and sustainable events. So if you’re interested in learning about digital accessibility and sustainability, make sure to join the Transmedia Catalonia webinar on May 18th at 2:00 pm. Get ready to be inspired and gain a deeper understanding of the importance of making our digital world accessible to everyone!

What is it like to work in accessibility as a person with a disability? In honor of Global Accessibility Awareness Day, join industry professionals from Fable, Spotify, and Salesforce in a thoughtful roundtable discussion of their experiences. Moderated by Nikki Nolan, listen to panelists reflect on how to balance the emotional investment involved in accessibility work, current barriers, wins, losses, and more. Learn how you can build out an inclusive and accessible culture on your team and at your organization, and why you should make it a priority. Featured panelists: 1) Natalie Patrice Tucker, Senior Accessibility Lead at Spotify 2) Tamas Geczy, Web Accessibility Engineer at Spotify 3) Crystal Preston-Watson, Senior Digital Accessibility Analyst at Salesforce 4) Samuel Proulx, Accessibility Evangelist at Fable Questions encouraged! Auto-captioning will be utilized for the livestream. Recording will be remediated by Rev for captions and transcription and sent to all registrants once processed.

Customers interact with businesses via digital means countless times per day and that content needs to be accessible to People with Disabilities. You’re a small business, though – what does digital accessibility even mean and where do you start? In this live virtual workshop, we’ll take you step-by-step through some of the most common ways digital content becomes inaccessible, and you’ll learn how you can make your small business more digitally accessible to ALL customers. This workshop includes: – Interactive Q&A sessions, – A fillable workbook to keep honing your skills, and – An inclusive language guide.

The Office of Educational Technology (OET) and the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services (OSERS) have partnered to host a webinar in honor of Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) – May 18, 2023. Join the webinar to learn how South Carolina’s Department of Education implemented accessibility initiatives for their staff, educators, and families. This event will include ASL interpreters and auto-closed captioning. If you need additional accommodations to attend this event, please describe what you need in the comments when registering. *Examples are not endorsements. The opinions expressed in any of these materials do not necessarily reflect the positions or policies of the U.S. Department of Education.

If you’re interested in data, statistics or analysis then you may have come across a data dashboard or some other sort of interactive analytical content online. In the UK Government Analysis Function we support analytical teams across government to make their content more accessible. So, as part of Analysis in Government Month we are running a session where an accessibility tester will assess a few different types of data dashboards and other interactive content. We will discuss issues and possible improvements that could be made. Tickets are still available on Eventbrite, but they are selling out fast!

On the occasion of Global Accessibility Awareness Day, we are hosting a free webinar on the crucial topic ‘Why Cybersecurity should be Digitally Accessible.’ It is important to have this webinar as technology becomes increasingly a part of our everyday lives. Cybersecurity has become a vital concern for individuals, businesses, and governments worldwide. The rapid rise in cybercrime and data breaches has made safeguarding our digital lives more critical than ever. However, with the increasing use of digital technology, accessibility to cybersecurity measures is becoming an issue. In this webinar, we will discuss the importance of making cybersecurity measures digitally accessible to everyone. We will look at how current cybersecurity practices are excluding people because the processes and tools are not always accessible and create difficulties for those who don’t have the necessary skills or knowledge to protect themselves adequately. We will delve into how we can make cybersecurity more accessible, including through better user interfaces, training and education, and technological advancements. We will explore how these measures can help individuals, businesses, and governments protect against cyber threats. Our panel of cybersecurity experts will provide insights and valuable information on how the field of cybersecurity can become digitally accessible so everyone can be equally secure. If you’re an individual who wants to protect your online presence, a business owner looking to secure your company’s data, or a government official concerned about the security of your nation’s critical infrastructure, this webinar is for you. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from cybersecurity experts and discuss why cybersecurity should be digitally accessible. Register now to reserve your spot and get ready to enhance your digital security!