a11ysig – ISOC LIVE NOTICEBOARD

2:13 pm on September 1, 2026 · 2026 (277), a11ynyc (77), a11ysig (75), accessibility (84), design (7)

RECAP 1 SEP 2026 – A11yNYC – Building Slack’s simplified layout mode – Chris Xu, Lena Wang, and Kaili Liang

September 5, 2026September 1, 2026 by ISOC Live

VIDEO | AUDIO | RECAP | ARCHIVE | PERMALINK

On Sep 1, 2026, the Accessibility NYC Meetup (A11yNYC) hosted a meetup ‘Building Slack’s simplified layout mode‘.

Slack is a powerful hub for work and communication, but its dense and complex interface can be a barrier for users with motor, vision, and cognitive disabilities. To help more people use Slack effectively, Simplified Layout Mode was introduced on desktop and web. This preference transforms Slack into a single-column layout that is easier to navigate and has fewer distractions. Slack engineers Chris Xu, Lena Wang, and Kaili Liang demoed Simplified Layout Mode and discussed its evolution from an accommodation request by an ALS advocacy group to a feature that benefits multiple audiences.

The meetup was webcast live via a partnership with the Internet Society New York Accessibility SIG.

SPONSORS: AKQA, Deque, Evinced, Equal Entry, Aira

#A11yNYC #A11y #disability #Slack

8:12 pm on August 31, 2026 · 2026 (277), a11ynyc (77), a11ysig (75), accessibility (84)

WEBCAST 14 OCT 23:30 UTC – A11yNYC – 17 Years on Wheels, 20 years at Google: Subways, Wheelchairs and Maps – Sasha Blair-Goldensohn

August 31, 2026August 31, 2026 by ISOC Live

LIVESTREAM | MEETUP | REAL TIME TEXT | ADD TO CALENDAR | PERMALINK

On Wednesday, 14 October 2026, at 7:30pm–8:30pm EDT (23:30–00:30 UTC), the Accessibility NYC Meetup (A11yNYC) hosts a meetup ‘17 Years on Wheels, 20 years at Google: Subways, Wheelchairs and Maps‘.

In 2009, a dramatic accident in Central Park profoundly altered Sasha Blair-Goldensohn‘s life trajectory, as he instantly became 1 in 4 people worldwide living with significant disabilities. Ever since, he’s navigated the world in a wheelchair, relearning what it means to be a New York father, Google Maps engineer, and athlete. He now leads Google Maps accessibility and disability innovation projects, helping people worldwide find accessible places and routes. He is also a disability rights activist with the Elevator Action Group for New York City subway accessibility.

The meetup will be webcast live via a partnership with the Internet Society New York Accessibility SIG.

SPONSORS
AKQA, Deque, Evinced, Google, Equal Entry, Fable, Aira

#A11yNYC #a11y #Accessibility #DisabilityRights

4:16 pm on August 11, 2026 · 2026 (277), a11ynyc (77), a11ysig (75), disabilility (1)

RECAP 4 AUG 2026 – A11yNYC – From paramedic to aphasia advocate

August 11, 2026August 11, 2026 by ISOC Live

VIDEO | AUDIO | RECAP | ARCHIVE | PERMALINK

On 4 August 2026, the Accessibility NYC Meetup (A11yNYC) hosted a meetup ‘From paramedic to aphasia advocate’.

In this inspiring and educational presentation, Avi Golden shared his personal journey from working as a critical care and flight paramedic to becoming a stroke survivor living with Broca’s aphasia. Through photographs, personal stories, and firsthand experiences, Avi explained what aphasia is, how it affects communication, and the daily challenges faced by people living with the condition.

The meetup was webcast live via a partnership with the Internet Society New York Accessibility SIG.

#A11y #disability #aphasia

6:18 am on May 12, 2026 · 2026 (277), a11ysig (75), accessibility (84), ai (66), ally (2), dcad (1), gaad (7), igf (239)

WEBINAR 21 MAY 14:00 UTC – GAAD Event – From Access to Agency: Rethinking Digital Inclusion for Persons with Disabilities in the Age of AI

May 28, 2026May 12, 2026 by ISOC Live

VIDEO | RECAP | PERMALINK

On May 21, 2026 at the Internet Governance Forum Dynamic Coalition of Disability and Accessibility (IGF-DCAD) and the Accessibility Special Interest Group (A11ySIG) commemorated Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) 2026, via a webinar conversation with Dr. Vint Cerf titled ‘From Access to Agency: Rethinking Digital Inclusion for Persons with Disabilities in the Age of AI ‘

Over the past decade, global policy discourse has increasingly focused on expanding “internet access” as a cornerstone of digital inclusion. Yet for persons with disabilities, connectivity alone does not translate into meaningful participation. A user may be connected, possess a device, and have basic digital skills—and still remain excluded due to inaccessible design, incompatible platforms, or poorly implemented technologies. This gap calls for a conceptual shift: from access to agency.

At the same time, the rapid integration of artificial intelligence into digital ecosystems is reshaping how users interact with technology. AI-powered tools—such as automated captioning, voice interfaces, and assistive agents—hold transformative potential. However, they also introduce new risks, including bias, unreliable outputs, and inaccessible design layers that may deepen exclusion if left unaddressed.

Against this backdrop, accessibility must be reframed not as a technical afterthought, but as a governance, rights, and development issue—central to debates on AI, digital public infrastructure, and inclusive innovation.

GUEST
Dr. Vint Cerf – Chief Internet Evangelist, Google

HOSTS
Dr. Muhammad Shabbir – Co-cordinator, IGF-DCAD
Judith Hellerstein – Co-cordinator, IGF-DCAD

7:59 am on November 24, 2024 · a11ynyc (77), a11ysig (75), verizon (11)

WEBCAST DEC 3 – A11yNYC – Verizon’s Accessibility Technology & Innovation Lab – Fred Moltz

December 6, 2024November 24, 2024 by ISOC Live

On Tuesday December 3, 2024 the Accessibility NYC Meetup (A11yNYC) hosted a meetup ‘Verizon’s Accessibility Technology & Innovation Lab‘. Fred Moltz, Chief Accessibility Officer at Verizon, will give an overview of their Accessibility Technology & Innovation Lab, which was launched on Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) 2024.