accessibility

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

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Red-to-orange gradient event graphic for the A11Y NYC Meetup. A yellow-and-blue circular A11Y NYC Meetup logo appears at upper left, above large white text reading “Building Slack’s simplified layout mode,” followed by “Chris Xu, Lena Wang, and Kaili Liang.” Three circular speaker headshots are arranged on the right. Sponsor logos run along the bottom left, with the Accessibility SIG, Internet Society New York Chapter logo at bottom right identifying the livestream provider.

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

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Dark green event title card with the yellow-and-blue A11Y NYC Meetup logo in the upper left and a circular headshot of Sasha Blair-Goldensohn in the upper right. Large white text reads “17 Years on Wheels, 20 years at Google: Subways, Wheelchairs and Maps,” with his name below. Sponsor logos run along the bottom, and the Accessibility SIG of the Internet Society New York Chapter is credited for the livestream.

Dark green event title card with the yellow-and-blue A11Y NYC Meetup logo in the upper left and a circular headshot of Sasha Blair-Goldensohn in the upper right. Large white text reads “17 Years on Wheels, 20 years at Google: Subways, Wheelchairs and Maps,” with his name below. Sponsor logos run along the bottom, and the Accessibility SIG of the Internet Society New York Chapter is credited for the livestream.
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

10:57 am on July 15, 2026 · 2026 (277), a11y (127), a11ynyc (77), accessibility (84), design (7)

RECAP JUL 7 2026 – A11yNYC – The worldviews we build with: Why good design starts in the spirit

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Promotional graphic for an A11Y NYC Meetup event on a dark purple background. At top left is the yellow-and-black A11Y NYC Meetup logo. Large white text reads, “The worldviews we build with: Why good design starts in the spirit.” Below is the speaker name, “Elina Ashimbayeva.” On the right is a circular portrait of Elina Ashimbayeva smiling, wearing glasses and a blue top, against a purple background. Along the bottom are sponsor logos for AKQA, Deque, Evinced, Equal Entry, Fable, and Aira. At bottom right, white text reads “Livestream by Accessibility SIG Internet Society New York Chapter” beside the SIG logo.

Promotional graphic for an A11Y NYC Meetup event on a dark purple background. At top left is the yellow-and-black A11Y NYC Meetup logo. Large white text reads, “The worldviews we build with: Why good design starts in the spirit.” Below is the speaker name, “Elina Ashimbayeva.” On the right is a circular portrait of Elina Ashimbayeva smiling, wearing glasses and a blue top, against a purple background. Along the bottom are sponsor logos for AKQA, Deque, Evinced, Equal Entry, Fable, and Aira. At bottom right, white text reads “Livestream by Accessibility SIG Internet Society New York Chapter” beside the SIG logo.
VIDEO | AUDIO | RECAP | ARCHIVE | PERMALINK

On 7 July 2026, the Accessibility NYC Meetup (A11yNYC) hosted a meetup ‘The worldviews we build with: Why good design starts in the spirit‘.

For good or bad, every product shipped carries a worldview. Drawing on indigenous learnings from Aotearoa New Zealand, and examples from accessibility and AI design, Elina Ashimbayeva explored what happens when worldview work is treated as foundational rather than optional.

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

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

#A11yNYC #Accessibility #Design #AI

10:53 pm on June 9, 2026 · 2026 (277), accessibility (84), ai (66), disability (2), glasses (1), XR (11)

WEBINAR 14 JUL 17:00 UTC – XRA – AI Glasses: Empowering Disability and Reshaping Privacy

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Promotional graphic for an XR Association community discussion titled “AI Glasses: Empowering Disability and Reshaping Privacy.” The design features a blue and purple abstract digital background with the XR Association logo at top left. Centered white text reads “XR Community Discussion,” above a large red banner containing the event title in bold white capital letters. The date “July 14, 2026” appears at the bottom in white text.

Promotional graphic for an XR Association community discussion titled “AI Glasses: Empowering Disability and Reshaping Privacy.” The design features a blue and purple abstract digital background with the XR Association logo at top left. Centered white text reads “XR Community Discussion,” above a large red banner containing the event title in bold white capital letters. The date “July 14, 2026” appears at the bottom in white text.
REGISTER | ADD TO CALENDAR | PERMALINK

On Tuesday, 14 July 2026, at 13:00-14:30 EDT (17:00-18:30 UTC), the XR Association hosts a community discussion webinar ‘AI Glasses: Empowering Disability and Reshaping Privacy‘. As AI-powered glasses become more capable and widely adopted, they present both new opportunities and important questions. This discussion will explore how smart glasses are enhancing accessibility and independence for people with disabilities while examining the evolving tensions between utility, privacy, and social norms, as well as exploring ethical design, responsible innovation, and policy safeguards that can help shape the future of this technology.

SPEAKER
Andrew Eiche – CEO (Chief Executive Owl), Owlchemy Labs

#AIGlasses #Accessibility #XR #Privacy

10:56 am on June 1, 2026 · 2026 (277), accessibility (84), disability (2), un (41), undesa (1)

HYBRID 8-11 JUN 14:00 UTC – 19th Conference of States Parties to the Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities – COSP19

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Blue promotional banner for the United Nations Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, taking place 9–11 June 2026. The design features the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs logo and text at the top right. On the left is a large circular multicolored emblem made of green, orange, red, and light blue curved lines surrounding a stylized human figure. On the right, large white and light-blue text reads “Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.” The background uses layered blue circular wave patterns.

Blue promotional banner for the United Nations Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, taking place 9–11 June 2026. The design features the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs logo and text at the top right. On the left is a large circular multicolored emblem made of green, orange, red, and light blue curved lines surrounding a stylized human figure. On the right, large white and light-blue text reads “Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.” The background uses layered blue circular wave patterns.
ADD TO CALENDAR | PERMALINK

On 9-11 June 2026 the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) will convene the 19th Conference of States Parties to the Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (COSP19) at United Nations Headquarters in New York under the theme: ‘CRPD at 20: Celebrating and consolidating achievements and shaping the next phase of implementation in a changing world,’ marking the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), the landmark treaty that transformed the global understanding of disability, from a charity and medical model to a human rights-based approach grounded in dignity, equality, autonomy and full participation.

Main Conference Sessions

All main sessions stream live at webtv.un.org/en with interpretation in all 6 UN official languages, International Sign, and closed captions.

Monday 8 June 2026 — Civil Society Forum

14:00–17:00 UTC – Civil Society Forum (Morning Session) WEBCAST
International Disability Alliance
Civil Society Coordination Mechanism

19:00–22:00 UTC – Civil Society Forum (Afternoon Session) WEBCAST
International Disability Alliance
Civil Society Coordination Mechanism

Tuesday 9 June 2026 — Day 1: Opening & General Debate

14:00 UTC – Opening Ceremony & General Debate WEBCAST
Moderator: H.E. Jayantha Jayasuriya – President, COSP19; Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN

Wednesday 10 June 2026 — Day 2: Roundtables 1 & 2

14:00 UTC – Roundtable 1: Creating a world free from exploitation, violence and abuse for all persons with disabilities WEBCAST

~17:00 UTC – Roundtable 2: Resilient societies: strengthening care and support systems to ensure the empowerment, autonomy and independence of all persons with disabilities WEBCAST

Thursday 11 June 2026 — Day 3: Roundtable 3, Elections & Closing

14:00 UTC – Roundtable 3: From participation to representation: enhancing accessible civic engagement, leadership and advocacy in political and public life WEBCAST

~17:00 UTC – Election of CRPD Committee Members & Closing Session WEBCAST

Side Events — Webcast (In-Person with Live Stream)

All webcast side events stream via UN WebTV. Links go to the specific search result for each event.

Monday 8 June 2026

14:00–15:15 UTC – Care, Knowledge, and Rights: Advancing the Leadership of Indigenous Persons with Disabilities WEBCAST
RIADIS (Latin American Network of Non-Governmental Organizations of Persons with Disabilities and their Families)
International Disability Alliance
Permanent Mission of Mexico to the UN
Global Network of Indigenous Persons with Disabilities
Permanent Mission of Guatemala to the UN
Permanent Mission of Canada to the UN
Permanent Mission of Australia to the UN

17:15–18:30 UTC – CRPD at 20: Its Evolving Impact on Other International Human Rights Instruments WEBCAST
Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the UN
Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Center for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Switzerland
Disability Rights International
Validity Foundation
Permanent Mission of Costa Rica to the UN

17:15–18:30 UTC – Disability and Digital Transformation – Ensuring Equitable Digital Futures WEBCAST
Korean Association for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities (KSRPD/RIKOREA)
Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea to the UN
UNICEF
International Disability Alliance
KOICA
Asia-Pacific Disability Forum
Disability Committee of the Development Alliance Korea

17:15–18:30 UTC – From disability card to disability management information systems for inclusive social protection, care and support WEBCAST
UNICEF
Lao PDR Disability Development Division, Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare
Sierra Leone Ministry of Social Welfare
London School for Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Centre for Inclusive Policy
Humanity and Inclusion
UK FCDO

19:00–20:15 UTC – Regional Leadership in Integrated Care: Innovations from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the Arab States WEBCAST
World Bank Group
Government of Saudi Arabia
UNICEF
Government of Egypt
League of Arab States
Civil Society Partners

Tuesday 9 June 2026

14:00–15:15 UTC – CRPD at 20: Are we any closer to Independent Living for All? WEBCAST
Permanent Representation of Belgium to the UN
European Network on Independent Living

14:00–15:15 UTC – Preparedness, Protection and Response for Persons With Disabilities in Times of Emergency WEBCAST
Israeli Mission to the UN
Beit Issie Shapiro

15:30–16:45 UTC – Health, Rights, and Inclusion: Addressing the Needs of Aging Autistic Individuals WEBCAST
Permanent Mission of the Bahamas to the UN
Permanent Mission of Malta to the UN
Autism Research Institute (USA)
Commission for the Rights of Persons with Disability – Malta

17:15–18:30 UTC – 20 Years Since the Adoption of the CRPD – Reflecting on Progress to Date and Strengthening Partnerships for Future Implementation WEBCAST
Permanent Mission of Japan to the UN
Japan Disability Forum
International Disability Alliance
Permanent Missions of Italy, Mexico and New Zealand to the UN
Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Permanent Mission of Australia to the UN

17:15–18:30 UTC – Consolidating Achievements for Inclusive Societies: Shaping the Next Phase of Implementation to Ensure the Empowerment, Autonomy and Independence of all Persons with Disabilities WEBCAST
Permanent Mission of Greece to the UN
UNDESA

19:00–20:15 UTC – Shaping the Future of Disability Inclusion: From CRPD at 20 to the Global Disability Summit 2028 WEBCAST
International Disability Alliance
State of Qatar Ministry of Social Development and Family

19:00–20:15 UTC – Supported decision-making of persons with disabilities – Best practices of legislative reforms and delivery of support services at international level WEBCAST
Permanent Mission of Cyprus to the UN
European Union

19:00–20:15 UTC – The role of the private sector in creating inclusive care and support for persons with disabilities WEBCAST
International Labour Organization
European Parliament
UNICEF
OHCHR

20:45–22:00 UTC – Advancing Disability-Inclusive Education: From Commitment to Transformation WEBCAST
UNESCO
Rehabilitation International
Permanent Mission of Kenya to the UN

20:45–22:00 UTC – Citizen Data on Residential Institutionalization for Persons with Disabilities WEBCAST
CBM Global Disability Inclusion
Permanent Mission of Finland to the UN
Sweden
Lithuania
International Disability Alliance
Disability Rights International
UN Collaborative on Citizen Data

20:45–22:00 UTC – Representation that Matters: Enhancing Active Citizenships for Young People with Disabilities WEBCAST
Permanent Mission of Denmark to the UN
Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing, Denmark
Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Faroe Islands
UNICEF
Nordic Council of Ministers

Wednesday 10 June 2026

14:00–15:15 UTC – Deinstitutionalisation under the CRPD: Perspectives and Practice WEBCAST
Permanent Mission of Slovenia to the UN
Human Rights Ombudsman of Slovenia
Swedish Institute for Human Rights
German Institute for Human Rights

14:00–15:15 UTC – Sporting Talents in the Life Project WEBCAST
Permanent Mission of Italy to the UN

15:30–16:45 UTC – Co-Creating Inclusive Care Economies: Innovations and Global Best Practices for Disability-Inclusive Support System WEBCAST
Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the UN
National Council on Disability Affairs, Philippines

17:15–18:30 UTC – Financial independence in a time of disruption: ensuring social protections and improving labour force participation for persons with disabilities WEBCAST
Permanent Mission of Canada to the UN
Government of Canada

17:15–18:30 UTC – Nothing about us without us ALL: effective co-design with people with disability in all our diversity WEBCAST
Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Australian Permanent Mission to the UN
Women With Disabilities Australia
People with Disability Australia
International Disability Alliance
World Health Organization

17:15–18:30 UTC – Sustainable Peace is Inclusive: Persons with Disabilities as Contributors to Peace Processes WEBCAST
Permanent Mission of Finland to the UN
Abilis Foundation

19:00–20:15 UTC – Inclusive Sport Diplomacy: building international cooperation through Progetto Filippide experience WEBCAST
Permanent Mission of Albania to the UN
Progetto Filippide
Permanent Mission of Italy to the UN

20:45–22:00 UTC – CRPD and Refugees Rights: Have Parties fulfilled their obligations to ensure protection and safety for displaced persons with disabilities? WEBCAST
Permanent Mission of Kenya to the UN

20:45–22:00 UTC – Government Policy in Social Inclusion WEBCAST
Permanent Mission of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste to the UN
Ministry of Social Solidarity and Inclusion of Timor-Leste

Thursday 11 June 2026

14:00–15:15 UTC – Upholding the Rights of marginalized groups of persons with disabilities including women with disabilities, underrepresented groups, and intersectional identities WEBCAST
Permanent Mission of Thailand to the UN
Ministry of Health and Welfare of the Republic of Korea

15:30–16:45 UTC – Financing Disability Inclusion at Scale: Advancing Domestic Resource Mobilization and International Cooperation in the CRPD’s Next Decade WEBCAST
Permanent Mission of Cambodia to the UN
Disability Action Council of Cambodia
UNICEF
International Disability Alliance

17:15–18:30 UTC – 10 Years of Maltese Sign Language Recognition, 20 Years of the CRPD: Celebrating Deaf Identity, Language, and Human Rights WEBCAST
Permanent Mission of Malta to the UN
World Federation of the Deaf
International Disability Alliance
CBM Global Disability Inclusion
European Union of the Deaf
Sign Language Council of Malta
Deaf People Association Malta

17:15–18:30 UTC – Assistive Technology: assessing and building capacity to deliver for persons with disabilities WEBCAST
Permanent Mission of Ireland to the UN

17:15–18:30 UTC – UNDIS 2.0: Celebrating Progress, Accelerating Action on Disability Inclusion across the United Nations WEBCAST
Permanent Mission of Lesotho to the UN
South Africa
Finland
UN Disability Inclusion Strategy (UNDIS)
International Disability Alliance

17:15–18:30 UTC – World Elder Abuse Awareness Day WEBCAST
UNDESA
INPEA (International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse)
HelpAge International
International Federation on Ageing
NGO Committee on Ageing (New York)

19:00–20:15 UTC – Lessons from 20 years of CRPD Advocacy: How do we rethink partnerships between international organisations, governments and advocates to achieve change? WEBCAST
UN Economic and Social Commission for West Asia (UNESCWA)
Permanent Mission of Malta to the UN
Permanent Mission of Brazil to the UN
The Leprosy Mission International

20:45–22:00 UTC – Unlocking Global Access: Financing Assistive Technology and Navigating International Trade Systems WEBCAST
Permanent Mission of the United Kingdom to the UN
ATscale
The Global Partnership for Assistive Technology

Side Events — Webinar (Online / Virtual)

These events are held fully online. Use the registration or join links provided. Where no link is shown, contact the organiser directly.

Monday 8 June 2026

14:00–15:15 UTC – Adding a New Seat Around the Table: Overview of the Progress and Next Steps for the Movement of Refugees with Disabilities WEBINAR
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP)
Global Network of Refugees with Disabilities (GNRD)
Contact: [email protected] for access details

14:00–15:15 UTC – Who Leads? People with Disabilities and Protection in Humanitarian Contexts WEBINAR
International Rescue Committee (IRC)
Inclusion International
CBM

15:30–16:45 UTC – Policy to Practice: Guaranteeing Full Employment Access for Persons with Disabilities WEBINAR
Athletes United for Peace

Tuesday 9 June 2026

14:00–15:15 UTC – Autonomy, resilience and leadership: support systems and participation in decision-making spaces for persons with visual disabilities, from the local to the international level, 20 years after the CRPD WEBINAR
Uniòn Latinoamericana de Ciegos (ULAC)

14:00–15:15 UTC – Centering youth, women and gender diverse communities of persons with psychosocial disabilities in the deinstitutionalization agenda WEBINAR
Transforming Communities for Inclusion (TCI-Global)
Disability Rights Fund
Women Enabled International (WEI)
Korean Disability Forum
International Disability Alliance
European Network on Independent Living (ENIL)
Inclusion International
Disability Rights International
Validity Foundation

17:15–18:30 UTC – Services Providing Care and Support Across the Life Course for Persons with Intellectual, Multiple Disabilities and Autism: Promoting Autonomy, Participation and Inclusion WEBINAR
Federação Nacional das Apaes – Apae Brasil
Ministry of Human Rights and Citizenship of Brazil

Wednesday 10 June 2026

14:00–15:15 UTC – Access to Justice: Ensuring a Disability-Inclusive Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Humanity WEBINAR
International Disability Alliance
Initiative for Disability Inclusion in the Convention on Crimes against Humanity
International Refugee Assistance Project
Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict
Validity
Amnesty International
Fight for Right

14:00–15:15 UTC – Can Children Lead The Way For Inclusion Of Those With Disabilities? WEBINAR
Neighbourhood Community Network (NCN)

14:00–15:15 UTC – CRPD at 20: Faith Actors in Strengthening Alliances and Countering Backlash to Defend Disability Rights WEBINAR
ACT Alliance – Action by Churches Together
ACT Alliance Disability Inclusive Development Community of Practice
Felm
Diakonie ACT Austria / Brot für die Welt
Lutheran World Federation
Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network

17:15–18:30 UTC – Around the world in IMMs WEBINAR
Microsoft Teams — Meeting ID: 429 402 101 236 45 | Passcode: Yy3g9dv9
Australian Human Rights Commission
Canadian Human Rights Commission
Korean Human Rights Commission
Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines

19:00–20:15 UTC – Digital Champions – Improving Digital Safety for Persons with Intellectual Disability WEBINAR
Zoom — Meeting ID: 842 0888 3939 | Passcode: 612576
United Nations Association of Australia
Down Syndrome Australia
Good Things Australia

20:45–22:00 UTC – Deinstitutionalisation of People with Disabilities: 20 Years of the UNCRPD – From Rights on Paper to Community-Based Reality WEBINAR
Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO)
Australian Disability Development Consortium (ADDC)
CBM Australia
Transitioning Communities for Inclusion (TCI) Global

20:45–22:00 UTC – From peer support to resilient systems: strengthening youth empowerment and community-based support through peer-led approaches WEBINAR
100% Handinamique
Orange

Thursday 11 June 2026

14:00–15:15 UTC – The Autonomy Ecosystem: Convergence between Assistive Technologies and Care Systems with a Rights-Based, Intersecting, and Participatory Approach WEBINAR
RIADIS (Latin American Network of Organizations of Peoples with Disabilities and their Families)

14:00–15:15 UTC – The Role of Nonpartisan Observation in Improving Election Accessibility WEBINAR
The Carter Center
Zimbabwe Federation of Disability Organisations
Disability Rights Watch
Detroit Disability Power

15:30–16:45 UTC – Nothing About Us Without Us: Self-Advocates Moving from Participation to Representation WEBINAR
South African Permanent Mission to the UN
Down Syndrome South Africa

#CRPD #COSP19 #DisabilityRights #CRPD20

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

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Blue event banner for an Internet Governance Forum accessibility event. The graphic includes the IGF Dynamic Coalition on Accessibility and Disability logo in the upper left and a large faded GAAD logo with a keyboard icon in the background on the right. The main title reads: “From Access to Agency: Rethinking Digital Inclusion for Persons with Disabilities in the Age of AI.” The date, 21 May 2026, appears at the lower left. The a11ySIG logo is displayed in the lower right corner.

Blue event banner for an Internet Governance Forum accessibility event. The graphic includes the IGF Dynamic Coalition on Accessibility and Disability logo in the upper left and a large faded GAAD logo with a keyboard icon in the background on the right. The main title reads: “From Access to Agency: Rethinking Digital Inclusion for Persons with Disabilities in the Age of AI.” The date, 21 May 2026, appears at the lower left. The a11ySIG logo is displayed in the lower right corner.

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

9:16 pm on May 11, 2026 · 2026 (277), accessibility (84), asg (4), gaad (7)

RECAP 21 MAY 2026 – ISOC ASG – GAAD 2026: International Conference on Digital Accessibility, Inclusion and Innovation

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Promotional banner for the webinar “GAAD 2026: International Conference on Digital Accessibility, Inclusion and Innovation,” scheduled for May 21, 2026. The design features the logos of the Internet Society Accessibility Standing Group and RegisCert at the top, with large blue and green text highlighting the conference title. A circular accessibility icon graphic appears on the lower right, displaying symbols for accessibility, captions, hearing assistance, keyboard access, and sign language. The banner uses a clean light-gray background with blue and green accents.

Promotional banner for the webinar “GAAD 2026: International Conference on Digital Accessibility, Inclusion and Innovation,” scheduled for May 21, 2026. The design features the logos of the Internet Society Accessibility Standing Group and RegisCert at the top, with large blue and green text highlighting the conference title. A circular accessibility icon graphic appears on the lower right, displaying symbols for accessibility, captions, hearing assistance, keyboard access, and sign language. The banner uses a clean light-gray background with blue and green accents.
VIDEO | RECAP | ARCHIVE | PERMALINK

On 21 May 2026, the Internet Society Accessibility Standing Group (ASG), along with partner RegisCert,marked Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) with a webinar ‘International Conference on Digital Accessibility, Inclusion and Innovation‘. All registered participants received a Digital Certificate.

01 Opening & Welcome


Bhavya Mantoo – Youth Ambassador, ASG
Dr. Ashutosh Pathak – Chair, ASG
VIDEO | AUDIO | RECAP EN / ES / FR

02 Inaugural Speech – Sally Wentworth


Sally Wentworth – President & CEO, ISOC
VIDEO | AUDIO | RECAP EN / ES / FR

03 Building a Culture of Accessibility within the Internet Society


Dan York – Senior Director, Online Trust and Safety, ISOC
VIDEO | AUDIO | RECAP EN / ES / FR

04 From Compliance to Competitive Advantage: How “Shift-up Accessibility” Promotes Effective Accessibility Governance


Dr. Sambhavi Chandrasekharan – Global Accessibility Lead, D2L
VIDEO | AUDIO | RECAP EN / ES / FR

05 From Awareness to Implementation of Digital Perspective: A Government Perspective


KVS Rao – Ex. Director, DEPwD, Government of India
VIDEO | AUDIO | RECAP EN / ES / FR

06 Information-Theoretic Foundations for Inclusive 6G-AIGC: A Bayesian Game Approach to Accessible Future Media


Dr. William Liu – Capacity Development & Outreach Officer, ASG, New Zealand
VIDEO | AUDIO | RECAP EN / ES / FR

07 Media’s Role in Driving Digital Accessibility Awareness


Shruti Pushkarna – Journalist
VIDEO | AUDIO | RECAP EN / ES / FR

08 Disability Leadership for Digital Rights


Gunela Astbrink – ISOC-ASG, Australia
VIDEO | AUDIO | RECAP EN / ES / FR

09 Vocal Accessibility – The Missing Layer?


Dr. Arpita Sen – Head, Content Generation and Digital Accessibility Research, TCS
VIDEO | AUDIO | RECAP EN / ES / FR

10 How Technology Can Help WCAG 2.2 Compliance


Shikha Jain – Capacity Development & Outreach Officer, ASG, India
VIDEO | AUDIO | RECAP EN / ES / FR

11 Panel Discussion: Accessible Platform Services Journey


Uma Bhave
Dr. Akashdeep Bansal
Bodapati Sridahr – Founder, Edqueries
Sunil Chaudhary – Pan (Accessible Nation)
Moderator: Ashutosh Singhal – Youth Ambassador, ASG
VIDEO | AUDIO | RECAP EN / ES / FR

12 Digital Inclusion in Entertainment Industry


Dipti Prasad – Co-Founder, XL Cinema
VIDEO | AUDIO | RECAP EN / ES / FR

13 Office of CCPD’s Role in Transforming Inaccessible Digital Platforms: Powers and Responsibilities


Shri S. Govindaraj – Commissioner, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Government of India
VIDEO | AUDIO | RECAP EN / ES / FR

14 AI-Powered Accessibility for Visually Impaired Participants


Dr. Preeti Kamra – Capacity Development & Outreach Officer, ASG, India
VIDEO | AUDIO | RECAP EN / ES / FR

15 Use of Assistive Technology in Classroom for Diverse Learners


Suvasini Shrestha – Regional Lead, ASG, Nepal
VIDEO | AUDIO | RECAP EN / ES / FR

16 The Last Mile is Overhead: Why Satellite Infrastructure Is the Most Powerful Accessibility Tool We’ve Never Talked About


Kelly Colman – Chief Growth Officer, Xenesis, USA
VIDEO | AUDIO | RECAP EN / ES / FR

17 Digital Infrastructure & ICT


Dr. Chabani Agrawal – National ICT Awardee, Senior IT Educator
VIDEO | AUDIO | RECAP EN / ES / FR

18 Buddy Up Network: Inclusive Social Networking


Manisha Gandhi – Co-Founder, Buddy Up Network
VIDEO | AUDIO | RECAP EN / ES / FR

19 Closing Remarks


Abdul Moid
Dr. Bharti Kaushik – Central Institute of Educational Technology (CIET), NCERT Delhi
Rajesh Tiwari
Dr. Ashutosh Pathak – Chair, ASG
VIDEO | AUDIO | RECAP EN / ES / FR

#accessibility #AccessibilityDay #GAAD

3:16 pm on May 5, 2026 · 2026 (277), a11y (127), a11ynyc (77), accessibility (84)

RECAP 2 JUN 2026 – A11yNYC – Scaling Accessibility with Design Systems – Jesse Gardner

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Promotional banner for an A11Y NYC Meetup session titled “Scaling Accessibility with Design Systems.” The featured speaker is Jesse Gardner. The background is a dark green gradient with large white text on the left. A circular headshot of the speaker appears on the right. The A11Y NYC Meetup logo is at the top left. Along the bottom are sponsor logos including AKQA, Deque, Evince, Equal Entry, Fable, and Aira. On the lower right, it notes the livestream is by the Accessibility SIG of the Internet Society New York Chapter.

Promotional banner for an A11Y NYC Meetup session titled “Scaling Accessibility with Design Systems.” The featured speaker is Jesse Gardner. The background is a dark green gradient with large white text on the left. A circular headshot of the speaker appears on the right. The A11Y NYC Meetup logo is at the top left. Along the bottom are sponsor logos including AKQA, Deque, Evince, Equal Entry, Fable, and Aira. On the lower right, it notes the livestream is by the Accessibility SIG of the Internet Society New York Chapter.
VIDEO | AUDIO | RECAP | ARCHIVE | PERMALINK

On June 2, 2026, at  the Accessibility NYC Meetup (A11yNYC) hosted a meetup ‘Scaling Accessibility with Design Systems‘. Jesse Gardner leads the Design System and Accessibility teams for the State of New York. He shared what his teams have learned about scaling accessibility: resources and education to grow team maturity over time, manual accessibility reviews as a service, and a shared design infrastructure with built-in accessibility.

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

5:07 am on April 3, 2026 · 2026 (277), a11y (127), accessibility (84), usa (16), wcag (3)

WEBINAR 15 APR 16:00 UTC – Accessibility Jam (A11yJam)

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Banner for an event titled “Accessibility Jam (A11yJam)” by Georgetown University’s Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation. Subtitle reads “Practical paths to accessible digital government services.” Date shown: April 15, 2026. On the right is a line-style illustration of a computer screen with accessibility icons (person symbol, captions, audio, cursor).

Banner for an event titled “Accessibility Jam (A11yJam)” by Georgetown University’s Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation. Subtitle reads “Practical paths to accessible digital government services.” Date shown: April 15, 2026. On the right is a line-style illustration of a computer screen with accessibility icons (person symbol, captions, audio, cursor). REGISTER | ADD TO CALENDAR | PERMALINK

On Wednesday, April 15, 2026 from 12:00-15:00 EDT (16:00-19:00 UTC) the Digital Government Network at the Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation at Georgetown University hosts an online event ‘Accessibility Jam‘ (A11yJam).

On April 24, 2024, the United States Federal Register published the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) final rule updating its regulations for Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The final rule has specific requirements about how to ensure that web content and mobile applications (apps) are accessible to people with disabilities.

This ruling impacts state and local government offices, courts, police departments, public schools, community colleges, public universities, and public hospitals. State and local governments with 50,000 or more persons must make sure that their web content and mobile apps meet WCAG 2.1 by April 24, 2026. State and local governments with less than 50,000 persons and special government districts must be compliant by April 26, 2027.

A11yJam participants will learn from leading accessibility experts, connect with peers across state and local government, and dive into practical demos and roundtables led by teams actively remediating real systems, including permits, benefits, licensing, court sites, to see what’s working in the field, with concrete ideas be applied immediately, no matter team size or budget.

PROGRAM (all times EDT = UTC-4)

12:00 Welcome / Opening Panel – What the DOJ Accessibility Deadline Really Means for Your Agency
Lynn Overmann – Executive Director, Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation
Kristopher Adams – Chief Accessibility Officer, Commonwealth Office of Digital Experience (CODE PA)
Marie Cohan – Statewide Digital Accessibility Officer, Texas Department of Information Resources
Laura Hemler – Deputy City Attorney – City of Arvada
Hailey Leek – Innovation Team Lead, Salt Lake City Corporation
Keely Quinlan – Staff Reporter, StateScoop

VIDEO

13:05 What’s Happening in Local Governments Across the U.S.
Crosby Burns – Chief Digital and Innovation Officer, County of Marin
Katie Patterson – Communications Manager, Infrastructure, City of Arvada
Michal Perlstein – Senior Manager, Digital Engagement, City of Seattle
Jennifer Waters – Assistant Hennepin County Attorney, Hennepin County Attorney’s Office
Kirsten Wyatt – Senior Director, Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation

VIDEO

13:05 What’s Happening in State Governments Across the U.S.
Sara Hall – Executive Director, Commonwealth Office of Digital Experience (CODE PA)
Dan Heisel – Web and UX Manager, Washington Technology Solutions (WaTech)
Melanie Mazanec – Software Engineer, New Jersey Innovation Authority
Ariel Kennan – Senior Director, Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation

VIDEO

14:15 Show and Tell Roundtables (Government Employees Only)
AI Tools for Accessibility
Design Systems to Drive Accessible Engagement
Inclusive & Ethical Usability Testing
Remediating PDFs at Scale
Working With Vendors

 

#a11yjam #a11y

2:26 pm on April 1, 2026 · a11y (127), accessibility (84), compliance (1), EAA (1), eu (11)

WEBINAR APR 2 – European Accessibility Act Compliance Requirements Explained

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Banner for a WordPress Accessibility Meetup titled “Beyond Technical Accessibility: European Accessibility Act Compliance Requirements,” featuring Bet Hannon (AccessiCart), scheduled for Thursday, April 2, 2026, with a headshot and WordPress logo.

Banner for a WordPress Accessibility Meetup titled “Beyond Technical Accessibility: European Accessibility Act Compliance Requirements,” featuring Bet Hannon (AccessiCart), scheduled for Thursday, April 2, 2026, with a headshot and WordPress logo. REGISTER | ADD TO CALENDAR | PERMALINK

On Thursday April 2, 2026, at 11;00-12:30 EDT (15:00-16:30 UTC) the WordPress Accessibility Meetup hosts a webinar ‘European Accessibility Act Compliance Requirements Explained‘. The European Accessibility Act requires a number of things beyond technical accessibility to WCAG/EN 301 549 guidelines. AccessiCart CEO Bet Hannon will break down who needs to comply, which standards apply today, and what’s coming next, plus what early enforcement looks like.

 

#A11Y #WPA11Y #EAA