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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Institutional Accessibility and ADA Compliance
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261006T100000
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LAST-MODIFIED:20260915T170223Z
UID:10000345-1791280800-1791284400@accessibility.usc.edu
SUMMARY:Digital Accessibility Open Office Hours
DESCRIPTION:Join OIA digital accessibility staff for our weekly open office hours. \n\n\n\nThis is a dedicated time for USC staff and faculty members to ask questions related to digital accessibility\, website or document remediation\, consultations etc.. \n\n\n\nQuestions will be answered on a first-come first-serve basis.
URL:https://accessibility.usc.edu/event/digital-accessibility-open-office-hours-9/2026-10-06/
CATEGORIES:Digital Accessibility
ORGANIZER;CN="Jimmy Thai":MAILTO:jimmytha@usc.edu
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260929T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260929T110000
DTSTAMP:20260915T170204Z
CREATED:20251030T201703Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260915T170204Z
UID:10000338-1790676000-1790679600@accessibility.usc.edu
SUMMARY:Digital Accessibility Open Office Hours
DESCRIPTION:Join OIA digital accessibility staff for our weekly open office hours. \n\n\n\nThis is a dedicated time for USC staff and faculty members to ask questions related to digital accessibility\, website or document remediation\, consultations etc.. \n\n\n\nQuestions will be answered on a first-come first-serve basis.
URL:https://accessibility.usc.edu/event/digital-accessibility-open-office-hours-8/2026-09-29/
CATEGORIES:Digital Accessibility
ORGANIZER;CN="Jimmy Thai":MAILTO:jimmytha@usc.edu
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260922T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260922T110000
DTSTAMP:20260915T170145Z
CREATED:20251030T201634Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260915T170145Z
UID:10000337-1790071200-1790074800@accessibility.usc.edu
SUMMARY:Digital Accessibility Open Office Hours
DESCRIPTION:Join OIA digital accessibility staff for our weekly open office hours. \n\n\n\nThis is a dedicated time for USC staff and faculty members to ask questions related to digital accessibility\, website or document remediation\, consultations etc.. \n\n\n\nQuestions will be answered on a first-come first-serve basis.
URL:https://accessibility.usc.edu/event/digital-accessibility-open-office-hours-7/2026-09-22/
CATEGORIES:Digital Accessibility
ORGANIZER;CN="Jimmy Thai":MAILTO:jimmytha@usc.edu
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260915T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260915T110000
DTSTAMP:20260915T170120Z
CREATED:20251201T235206Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260915T170120Z
UID:10000346-1789466400-1789470000@accessibility.usc.edu
SUMMARY:Digital Accessibility Open Office Hours
DESCRIPTION:Join OIA digital accessibility staff for our weekly open office hours. \n\n\n\nThis is a dedicated time for USC staff and faculty members to ask questions related to digital accessibility\, website or document remediation\, consultations etc.. \n\n\n\nQuestions will be answered on a first-come first-serve basis.
URL:https://accessibility.usc.edu/event/digital-accessibility-open-office-hours-10/2026-09-15/
CATEGORIES:Digital Accessibility
ORGANIZER;CN="Jimmy Thai":MAILTO:jimmytha@usc.edu
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260224T060000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260224T180000
DTSTAMP:20251113T170205Z
CREATED:20251003T184411Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251113T170205Z
UID:10000333-1771912800-1771956000@accessibility.usc.edu
SUMMARY:Deque AxeCon (multiple sessions over two days)
DESCRIPTION:AxeCon is where the global digital accessibility community comes together.  \n\n\n\nJoin fellow developers\, designers\, business users\, and accessibility professionals of all experience levels as we rally to advance digital accessibility programs everywhere. You will learn the latest trends in tech\, global compliance\, and more as we focus on building\, testing\, and delivering accessible digital experiences. \n\n\n\nJoin us for this two-day\, multi-track conference to help further your digital accessibility efforts. \n\n\n\nYou’ll connect with fellow advocates and allies and gain insight and inspiration from dozens of expert talks and presentations. \n\n\n\nRegistrants from all time zones are welcome! All sessions are free\, recorded\, and available on demand following the conference.
URL:https://accessibility.usc.edu/event/deque-axecon-multiple-sessions-over-two-days/
CATEGORIES:Deque Axe-Con,Digital Accessibility
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251016T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251016T210000
DTSTAMP:20251113T170128Z
CREATED:20251003T181921Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251113T170128Z
UID:10000324-1760644800-1760648400@accessibility.usc.edu
SUMMARY:Technical Checklist: Testing WordPress Themes and Plugins for Accessibility with Rodrigo Ibraim Teixeira
DESCRIPTION:Accessibility goes far beyond visual design. In WordPress projects\, themes and plugins play a key role in either enabling — or breaking — an inclusive browsing experience. This session presents a practical technical checklist that developers\, QA professionals\, and site maintainers can use to test and validate the accessibility of any WordPress theme or plugin\, whether during development\, audits\, or ongoing site maintenance. \n\n\n\nThe presentation demonstrates how to combine automated testing tools such as Axe\, WAVE\, and tota11y with manual techniques\, including keyboard navigation\, screen reader testing\, and semantic HTML inspection. Attendees will learn how to identify common accessibility issues introduced by popular plugins and understand how to select or fix themes that align with WCAG guidelines. \n\n\n\nThe session also covers the role of external assistive technologies that can enhance accessibility — including overlay solutions that add features such as built-in screen readers\, contrast adjustments\, and simplified navigation. While these tools may help users on partially accessible websites\, they are not a substitute for properly implemented code and robust accessibility testing. \n\n\n\nThis talk includes real-world examples\, free tools\, and actionable recommendations\, offering valuable insights for anyone working with WordPress who aims to build more accessible digital experiences. \n\n\n\nSpeaker: Rodrigo Ibraim Teixeira\, digital accessibility consultant\, Equalweb Brasil \n\n\n\nVirtual Zoom Event
URL:https://accessibility.usc.edu/event/technical-checklist-testing-wordpress-themes-and-plugins-for-accessibility-with-rodrigo-ibraim-teixeira/
CATEGORIES:Digital Accessibility
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251016T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251016T200000
DTSTAMP:20251113T170135Z
CREATED:20251003T181637Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251113T170135Z
UID:10000323-1760641200-1760644800@accessibility.usc.edu
SUMMARY:Demystifying Screen Readers: Your Guide Intro to Manual Accessibility Testing for WordPress Sites with Deneb Pulsipher & Akosua Asabere
DESCRIPTION:Most accessibility professionals know that screen reader testing is essential — but very few feel confident doing it. In this session\, Akosua Asabere (a native screen reader user and seasoned accessibility engineer) and Deneb Pulsipher (a visual developer and accessibility advocate) team up to demystify screen reader use for beginners and intermediate testers alike. Together\, they’ll introduce key concepts from the Screen Reader Ropes Course — a structured framework designed to help WordPress professionals better understand how screen readers work\, what users experience\, and how to begin testing with confidence. \n\n\n\nParticipants will be equipped with the tools to: \n\n\n\n\nUnderstand how screen reader users navigate WordPress websites using tools like NVDA\, VoiceOver\, and TalkBack\n\n\n\nIdentify and describe common accessibility barriers in WordPress themes\, content structures\, and design components\n\n\n\nUse clear\, user-centered language to document accessibility issues in ways that resonate with developers and stakeholders\n\n\n\n\nThe session also explores how usability differs between sighted and non-sighted users\, and why collaboration across perspectives results in stronger accessibility outcomes. Whether you’re an accessibility consultant\, QA tester\, developer\, or content creator\, you’ll leave this session with the knowledge\, vocabulary\, and practical strategies to make your testing efforts more confident\, credible\, and impactful. \n\n\n\nSpeakers: Deneb Pulsipher\, Captain Accessible\, SeaMonster Studios & Akosua “Kosi” Asabere\, Sr. Accessibility Engineer & Inclusive Design Strategist\, Head of Accessibility\, Desert Wing Design\, LLC. \n\n\n\nVirtual Zoom Event
URL:https://accessibility.usc.edu/event/demystifying-screen-readers-your-guide-intro-to-manual-accessibility-testing-for-wordpress-sites-with-deneb-pulsipher-akosua-asabere/
CATEGORIES:Digital Accessibility
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251016T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251016T180000
DTSTAMP:20251113T170141Z
CREATED:20251003T181303Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251113T170141Z
UID:10000322-1760634000-1760637600@accessibility.usc.edu
SUMMARY:Make All WordPress Events Accessible with Joe A. Simpson Jr.
DESCRIPTION:We tend to think of accessibility only in terms of the websites we build\, but often fail to consider the physical and virtual spaces where we gather to storytell and create tomorrow’s WordPress. \n\n\n\nEvents such as WordCamps\, WordPress Meetups\, do_action\, etc\, come in various flavors powered by local communities around the world each year. But how do we ensure they’re all as open\, inclusive\, and accessible as possible? \n\n\n\nIn this engaging\, interactive presentation Joe will discuss creating shared baseline practices and examples to help remove common obstacles every event faces and address. \n\n\n\nSpeaker: Joe A. Simpson\, Jr.\, LLC\, principal
URL:https://accessibility.usc.edu/event/make-all-wordpress-events-accessible-with-joe-a-simpson-jr/
CATEGORIES:Digital Accessibility
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251016T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251016T230000
DTSTAMP:20251113T170309Z
CREATED:20251003T182126Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251113T170309Z
UID:10000325-1760608800-1760655600@accessibility.usc.edu
SUMMARY:The Future is Automated - But Will it Be Accessible with Rose Kivuva
DESCRIPTION:Rose Kivuva is a software developer and passionate advocate for accessibility and ethical technology. In this eye-opening session\, she takes a deep look at how artificial intelligence — while exciting and powerful — isn’t always designed with everyone in mind. From chatbots that can’t understand certain speech patterns to image generators that skip alt text\, many popular tools unintentionally leave people with disabilities behind. \n\n\n\nDrawing from her experience in open-source projects and real-world development\, Rose will break down where AI is falling short\, why it matters\, and what developers\, designers\, and content creators can do about it. You’ll see real examples\, learn about the risks of ignoring accessibility in automated tools\, and get practical steps to make sure your use of AI helps everyone\, not just the majority. \n\n\n\nWhether you’re building WordPress themes\, plugins\, or just writing content with AI help\, this talk will challenge you to think differently — and empower you to build smarter\, more inclusive tech for the future. \n\n\n\nSpeaker: Rose Kivuva\, Software Enginess\, ByonB \n\n\n\nVirtual Zoom Event
URL:https://accessibility.usc.edu/event/the-future-is-automated-but-will-it-be-accessible-with-rose-kivuva/
CATEGORIES:Digital Accessibility
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251016T060000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251016T070000
DTSTAMP:20251113T170313Z
CREATED:20251003T183646Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251113T170313Z
UID:10000331-1760594400-1760598000@accessibility.usc.edu
SUMMARY:Advancing Accessibility Through Community & Open Source with Samuel Osei
DESCRIPTION:Digital skills training programs have the power to transform lives\, but for many people with disabilities (PWDs)\, accessibility barriers still limit full participation. \n\n\n\nThis session explores how WordPress\, as an open-source platform\, can be a catalyst for digital inclusion by enabling accessible learning environments and empowering underrepresented groups. \n\n\n\nThrough a case study of a community-driven initiative that trained PWDs in digital skills using WordPress\, the talk will highlight practical strategies for overcoming accessibility challenges\, building sustainable community support\, and scaling impact. \n\n\n\nSpeaker: Samuel Osei\, Community Manager \n\n\n\nVirtual Zoom Event
URL:https://accessibility.usc.edu/event/advancing-accessibility-through-community-open-source-with-samuel-osei/
CATEGORIES:Digital Accessibility
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251016T050000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251016T060000
DTSTAMP:20251113T170318Z
CREATED:20251003T183435Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251113T170318Z
UID:10000330-1760590800-1760594400@accessibility.usc.edu
SUMMARY:Built the Website with an AI\, but is it Accessible with Janaki Konar & Fahad Lambate
DESCRIPTION:Currently\, AI is buzzing around the world where people want to find solutions that can be taken care through any AI implementation. It definitely enhances the productivity and helps find solutions to different problems. However\, one needs to ensure that the output given by the AI is also an accurate one and if it will actually work. \n\n\n\nThere is an early access available for the AI feature of WordPress \, AI Website Builder\, which can help anyone create a desired website in minutes. Here\, accessibility is not something which is default taken care of. Even with well-crafted prompts\, AI can miss key accessibility requirements. The talk will emphasize why tool-based evaluation and manual review still remain essential\, as we will explore how to take AI-generated websites and make them accessible. Through different examples\, you’ll learn how to evaluate and improve the accessibility of a website built using AI tools for some of the most common issues like color contrast\, links which are not meaningful\, headings for which the hierarchy is incorrect\, and so on. \n\n\n\nWhether you’re a designer\, developer\, or content creator\, this session will equip you with the knowledge to ensure your AI-powered website meets web accessibility standards like WCAG. Attendees will also get knowledge on the accessibility tool which will help identify the accessibility issues on websites. The session will show how the tool maps problems to specific WCAG criteria\, where they occur and instance screenshots. Whether you are a developer\, designer or content creator\, this session offers practical insight into blending AI innovation with accessibility best practices. \n\n\n\nSpeakers: Janaki Konar\, Accessibility Testing QA Lead\, BarrierBreak & Fahad Lambate\, Associate Accessibility Director\, BarrierBreak \n\n\n\nVirtual Zoom Event
URL:https://accessibility.usc.edu/event/built-the-website-with-an-ai-but-is-it-accessible-with-janaki-konar-fahad-lambate/
CATEGORIES:Digital Accessibility
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251016T040000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251016T050000
DTSTAMP:20251113T170324Z
CREATED:20251003T183218Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251113T170324Z
UID:10000329-1760587200-1760590800@accessibility.usc.edu
SUMMARY:A "Game" - Changing Approach to Accessibility Education with Olivia Richter
DESCRIPTION:Imagine a world\, where your mouse doesn’t work properly\, just your keyboard. Where text plays hide-and-seek\, but a screen reader always finds it. Welcome to a digital escape game set in a unique world where assistive and standard technologies swap roles. In this presentation\, I’ll take you behind the scenes of this game\, designed to help you experience barriers firsthand. \n\n\n\nDiscover why simulating disabilities may not always be the best approach to bridging the empathy gap. So\, what’s the alternative? Instead of simulating disabilities\, we simulate barriers. It doesn’t ask you to pretend to be someone you’re not\, it asks you to step into a world that wasn’t designed for you. \n\n\n\nIt isn’t just about empathy\, it’s about education\, awareness\, and those “aha” moments that change how we see the world. Find out how gamification can transform learning into an adventure everyone wants to join. Because when accessibility is fun\, it reaches more people — and that’s a win for everyone! \n\n\n\nSpeaker: Olivia Richter\, Web Designer\, Indeenquelle Agentur \n\n\n\nVirtual Zoom Event
URL:https://accessibility.usc.edu/event/a-game-changing-approach-to-accessibility-education-with-olivia-richter/
CATEGORIES:Digital Accessibility
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251016T020000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251016T030000
DTSTAMP:20251113T170328Z
CREATED:20251003T182943Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251113T170328Z
UID:10000328-1760580000-1760583600@accessibility.usc.edu
SUMMARY:The Art of Accessibility: Making Documents Delightfully Inclusive with Samantha Merrett
DESCRIPTION:In today’s digital world\, ensuring documents are accessible to all individuals\, including those with disabilities\, is more crucial than ever. This session will delve into the fundamentals of document accessibility\, focusing on how to effectively create\, review\, and modify digital documents to meet the needs of individuals using assistive technologies and meet international accessibility standards. \n\n\n\nThe session will be a mix of theory alongside practical demonstrations to show how to create accessible documents. \n\n\n\nThe session will cover the following: \n\n\n\nPractical techniques to improve the accessibility of documents \n\n\n\nUnderstanding document accessibility — Participants will learn why accessible documents are necessary\, what barriers exist\, and how these barriers can be overcome. \n\n\n\nCommon barriers to document accessibility \n\n\n\nSpeaker: Samantha Merrett\, Sr. Accessibility Specialist\, Ministry of Justice UK \n\n\n\nVirtual Zoom Event
URL:https://accessibility.usc.edu/event/the-art-of-accessibility-making-documents-delightfully-inclusive-with-samantha-merrett/
CATEGORIES:Digital Accessibility
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251016T010000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251016T020000
DTSTAMP:20251113T170527Z
CREATED:20251003T182633Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251113T170527Z
UID:10000327-1760576400-1760580000@accessibility.usc.edu
SUMMARY:Accessibility isn't Extra Work. It's Risk Management with Jennifer Wjertzoch
DESCRIPTION:Jennifer is a frontend engineer working in a highly regulated financial institution. In her daily work\, she experiences how accessibility is often treated as a secondary concern\, something to be addressed only if time and budget allow. But in highly regulated environments like banking\, this approach is not only short-sighted\, it’s risky. Accessibility is not a bonus feature. It is directly tied to legal compliance\, brand integrity\, and long-term product resilience. \n\n\n\nIn this talk\, she shares real-world insights from projects where compliance requirements\, governance frameworks\, and customer trust are not abstract ideas\, but daily operational realities. She explains why accessibility needs to move beyond checklists and developer best practices\, and instead be anchored in strategic decision-making at the leadership level. Using concrete examples from enterprise software and digital workflows\, she shows how accessibility can become a lever for risk reduction\, market expansion\, and reputational strength. \n\n\n\nThis talk speaks to those who shape roadmaps\, allocate resources\, and define priorities. It provides language and arguments that help cross-functional teams understand accessibility not as extra effort\, but as a long-term investment in product quality and business continuity. \n\n\n\nSpeaker: JenniferWjertzoch\, Sr. Frontend Engineer\, DKB Code Factory GmbH \n\n\n\nVirtual Zoom Event
URL:https://accessibility.usc.edu/event/accessibility-isnt-extra-work-its-risk-management-with-jennifer-wjertzoch/
CATEGORIES:Digital Accessibility
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251016T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251016T010000
DTSTAMP:20251113T170533Z
CREATED:20251003T182405Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251113T170533Z
UID:10000326-1760572800-1760576400@accessibility.usc.edu
SUMMARY:Real Inclusion: How to Run Insightful and Respectful User Testing with Disabled People with Lucy Collins
DESCRIPTION:Inclusive design is not truly inclusive without disabled voices. Too often\, accessibility testing is focused on box ticking\, is completely tokenistic\, or missing entirely. In this practical session\, you’ll learn how to set up and run user testing sessions that genuinely include and empower disabled people. Drawing on real-world experience\, I’ll cover everything from ethical recruitment and participant payment to accessible session logistics and thoughtful moderation techniques. \n\n\n\nThis talk will help demystify inclusive research for those who want to do the right thing but feel unsure where to start. It offers concrete\, actionable strategies for creating a user testing environment that is respectful\, comfortable\, and insight-rich. Whether you’re a designer\, developer\, researcher\, or product owner\, you will come away with a clearer understanding of what inclusive user testing really involves and how to do it well. \n\n\n\nSpeaker: Lucy Collins\, Director\, Web Usability \n\n\n\nVirtual Zoom Event
URL:https://accessibility.usc.edu/event/real-inclusion-how-to-run-insightful-and-respectful-user-testing-with-disabled-people-with-lucy-collins/
CATEGORIES:Digital Accessibility
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251015T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251015T170000
DTSTAMP:20251113T170539Z
CREATED:20251003T181054Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251113T170539Z
UID:10000321-1760544000-1760547600@accessibility.usc.edu
SUMMARY:Videos & Media: Your Post-Production Guide for Accessibility with Nicky Wolfe
DESCRIPTION:Video content is everywhere in 2025 and how do you make it accessible to as many people as possible? Whether you are a content writer\, designer\, or developer\, you can learn how to do your part and where to go next to level up your team. \n\n\n\nSpeaker: Nicky Wolfe\, Web Developer\, Designer\, and Coordinator \n\n\n\nVirtual Zoom Event
URL:https://accessibility.usc.edu/event/videos-media-your-post-production-guide-for-accessibility-with-nicky-wolfe/
CATEGORIES:Digital Accessibility
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251015T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251015T160000
DTSTAMP:20251113T170544Z
CREATED:20251003T180841Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251113T170544Z
UID:10000320-1760540400-1760544000@accessibility.usc.edu
SUMMARY:Why Accessibility Matters: From a Blind/Visual Impaired Perspective with James Warnken
DESCRIPTION:Have you ever wondered how accessibility impacts the real disabled user experience? Or perhaps you’ve questioned whether or not you were doing things that actually mattered or were just part of the standard guidelines? In this session\, James Warnken\, a legally blind digital accessibility expert\, walks us through just how impactful some accessibility features are while sharing which ones don’t make much of a difference. \n\n\n\nTogether\, we will do more than just talk about good accessibility practices\, we will explore real scenarios and understand just how they impact screen readers\, magnification\, high contrast\, and keyboard-only users. By the end of the session\, you will have a solid understanding of how to improve the accessible user experience for your users when designing and building WordPress websites. \n\n\n\nSpeaker: James Warnken\, Digital Accessibility Expert\, Clear Vision Marketing & Media LLC \n\n\n\nVirtual Zoom Event
URL:https://accessibility.usc.edu/event/why-accessibility-matters-from-a-blind-visual-impaired-perspective-with-james-warnken/
CATEGORIES:Digital Accessibility
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251015T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251015T150000
DTSTAMP:20251113T170552Z
CREATED:20251003T180610Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251113T170552Z
UID:10000319-1760536800-1760540400@accessibility.usc.edu
SUMMARY:WordPress: The Violations Every Business Needs to Known with Vanessa Tillemans
DESCRIPTION:Accessibility lawsuits are skyrocketing\, and nearly one in five of them in 2024 specifically named WordPress websites as defendants. In this session\, we’ll unpack the real-world legal cases shaping the digital landscape and spotlight the accessibility violations that trigger them most often. Attendees will walk away with clear\, practical insights into how these violations arise\, what they mean in plain language\, and simple steps to strengthen accessibility. Beyond reducing legal risk\, this talk highlights how accessibility improvements also create a better\, more inclusive web for everyone. \n\n\n\nSpeaker: Vanessa Tillemans\, Founder & Accessibility Consultant\, POURPIS \n\n\n\nVirtual Zoom Event
URL:https://accessibility.usc.edu/event/wordpress-the-violations-every-business-needs-to-known-with-vanessa-tillemans/
CATEGORIES:Digital Accessibility,Supplier Hosted Training
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251015T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251015T140000
DTSTAMP:20251113T170559Z
CREATED:20251003T180347Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251113T170559Z
UID:10000318-1760533200-1760536800@accessibility.usc.edu
SUMMARY:Audio Accessibility in WordPress with Bernd Schmitt
DESCRIPTION:Audio content on WordPress-websites is growing. Websites with audio content (podcasts and music) should be accessible and comprehensible for all people. This talk is about creating accessible audio content with open-source-tools and how to place it the best way in WordPress. We are talking about audio quality\, transcripts and sound control. \n\n\n\nSpeaker: Bernd Schmitt\, Audio Enthusiast \n\n\n\nVirtual Zoom Event
URL:https://accessibility.usc.edu/event/audio-accessibility-in-wordpress-with-bernd-schmitt/
CATEGORIES:Digital Accessibility
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251015T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251015T130000
DTSTAMP:20251113T170604Z
CREATED:20251003T180119Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251113T170604Z
UID:10000317-1760529600-1760533200@accessibility.usc.edu
SUMMARY:Creating a Hyper-Accessible Website for Blind\, Low Vision\, & Sighted Users with Sandy Shin & Jeremy Perkins
DESCRIPTION:Being minimally accessible is a given on the web today. But meeting all WCAG success criteria only ensures users are not blocked from accessing content. We don’t just want an avoidance of failure. We want raging success. In this session\, we’ll walk through the creation of a website for the Braille Institute\, a national organization that serves people who are blind\, low vision\, and sighted. We’ll cover the unique approach we took to all steps in the UX process — research\, design\, testing\, copywriting\, and development in WordPress. Discover ways to create a great experience for people with varying levels of vision\, comfort with technology\, and confidence as they grapple with the realities of life with vision loss. \n\n\n\nTopics include: developers\, content creators\, project managers\, user experience\, and how people with disabilities use the web. \n\n\n\nSpeakers: Sandy Shin\, VP\, Marketing & Communications\, Braille Institute of America  & Jeremy Perkins\, Director of UX and Design\, iFactory \n\n\n\nVirtual Zoom Event
URL:https://accessibility.usc.edu/event/creating-a-hyper-accessible-website-for-blind-low-vision-sighted-users-with-sandy-shin-jeremy-perkins/
CATEGORIES:Digital Accessibility
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251015T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251015T110000
DTSTAMP:20251113T170609Z
CREATED:20251003T175552Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251113T170609Z
UID:10000316-1760522400-1760526000@accessibility.usc.edu
SUMMARY:Typography Readability & Digital Accessibility with Giulia Laco
DESCRIPTION:Unless taking advantage of text-to-speech tools\, visiting a website or using an app typically involves some degree of active reading\, more or less in-depth. This reading experience can vary significantly depending on a range of factors\, including visual and cognitive processes\, attention\, usage context\, and individual characteristics. \n\n\n\nUnderstanding how we read\, the skills it requires\, and the compensatory strategies we adopt is an area of growing research interest. Advances in web technologies\, screen quality\, and the ever-increasing availability of well-designed fonts now enable us to create highly readable digital products. Today\, more than ever\, it is essential to understand the tools at our disposal to support content accessibility and engagement\, especially within a population that is reading less and less. \n\n\n\nTopics include: Developers\, WCAG\, and Fonts/Readability \n\n\n\nPresenter: Giulia Laco\, Freelance Web Designer/Developer\, WebMatter.it
URL:https://accessibility.usc.edu/event/typography-readability-digital-accessibility-with-giulia-laco/
CATEGORIES:Digital Accessibility
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251015T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251015T090000
DTSTAMP:20251002T230151Z
CREATED:20251002T225842Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251002T230151Z
UID:10000315-1760515200-1760518800@accessibility.usc.edu
SUMMARY:Accessibility Design Patterns for 2025 (WordPress Engine) with Vitaly Friedman a UX Lead\, Accessibility Consultant
DESCRIPTION:When we think of accessibility\, we often think about the usual suspects — color contrast\, legible font sizes\, and mobile tap targets. However\, accessible and inclusive design reaches far beyond that. \n\n\n\nHow would you design for young children and older adults? What about users with dyslexia and color blindness? How do we test with screen reader software? What about multilingual User Experience and localization issues? And what should we keep in mind when designing sustainable\, inclusive and privacy-friendly experiences — e.g. for mental health applications or LGBTQI-friendly forms? \n\n\n\nIn this session\, Vitaly Friedman\, the UX lead with European Parliament and Smashing Magazine\, will take a deep dive into UX and design guidelines\, hundreds of real-life examples\, best practices\, and guidelines for truly accessible\, inclusive\, universal design. Expect to leave with a toolbox of insights and practical techniques to apply to any project
URL:https://accessibility.usc.edu/event/accessibility-design-patterns-for-2025-wordpress-engine/
LOCATION:Virtual Zoom
CATEGORIES:Digital Accessibility,Supplier Hosted Training
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251015T070000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251015T080000
DTSTAMP:20251113T170615Z
CREATED:20251003T183901Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251113T170615Z
UID:10000332-1760511600-1760515200@accessibility.usc.edu
SUMMARY:Build for Everyone or Build for No One with Elaine Shannon & Kevin Andrews
DESCRIPTION:Accessibility impacts everyone\, not just “disabled” users. From contrast to semantics\, when you take the time to maximize accessibility\, you’re improving every user’s experience. In this session\, Kevin Andrews — a certified Web Accessibility Specialist and accessibility expert with over a decade of professional leadership and more than 20 years navigating the web with a screen reader — teams up with Elaine Shannon\, a seasoned WordPress developer\, to walk through common challenges and their solutions. We’ll break down what developers can fix right now to stop building broken websites: better markup\, better navigation\, and better contrast. No gatekeeping. No perfectionism. No excuses. You’ll leave knowing exactly where to start — and why it matters. \n\n\n\nSpeakers: Elaine Shannon\, Front-End WordPress Developer\, Georgetown University & Kevin Andrews\, Electronic IT Accessibility Coordinator\, Georgetown University
URL:https://accessibility.usc.edu/event/build-for-everyone-or-build-for-no-one-with-elaine-shannon-kevin-andrews/
CATEGORIES:Digital Accessibility
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251003T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251003T170000
DTSTAMP:20251113T170620Z
CREATED:20251003T185210Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251113T170620Z
UID:10000334-1759478400-1759510800@accessibility.usc.edu
SUMMARY:W3C's Digital Accessibility Foundations Free Online Course
DESCRIPTION:The “Introduction to Web Accessibility” online course provides the foundation you need to make your digital technology accessible\, so that it: \n\n\n\n\nworks well for people with disabilities\n\n\n\nmeets international standards\n\n\n\nenhances the user experience for everyone\n\n\n\nachieves goals\n\n\n\n\nAccessibility is essential to create high-quality apps\, websites\, and other digital content — and to not exclude people from using your products and services. \n\n\n\nThe course is designed for technical and non-technical learners including: developers\, designers\, content authors\, project managers\, students\, instructors\, professionals\, and people with disabilities.  \n\n\n\nThe course is structured so that you can focus on the topics that you are most interested in. Optional activities and additional materials provide more learning on specific topics. \n\n\n\nFor example\, you can choose to focus on: \n\n\n\n\nCoding web applications to meet international W3C standards.\n\n\n\nDesigning interfaces to meet the needs of people with disabilities\, including older users.\n\n\n\nWriting a business case to present to management.\n\n\n\nAdvocating for accessibility by understanding real-life experiences of how accessibility is essential for some\, and useful for all.\n\n\n\nManaging accessibility in projects and in organizations.\n\n\n\nChecking web pages for basic accessibility issues and improving accessibility.\n\n\n\n\nWe encourage you to go through the whole course\, even if you focus more on some topics. \n\n\n\nThe course covers principles from the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Web Accessibility Initiative’s (WAI) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)\, and much more: \n\n\n\n\nWhat is Web Accessibility (2 sections) — challenges the way you may approach accessibility.\n\n\n\nPeople and Digital Technology (5 sections) — gives you the “why” behind the what you need to do for accessibility.\n\n\n\nBusiness Case and Benefits (2 sections) — explains how accessibility can expand market reach\, demonstrate social responsibility\, drive innovation\, and minimize legal risk.\n\n\n\nPrinciples\, Standards\, and Checks (5 sections) — guides you through understanding accessibility requirements and checking for accessibility barriers (also called evaluating or testing for errors or bugs) — with non-technical and technical guidance; provides optional material for learning more about coding accessibly.\n\n\n\nGetting Started with Accessibility (2 sections) — explains approaches for integrating accessibility into your design and development processes; provides tips for getting started with accessibility right away.\n\n\n\n\nMore “What you’ll learn” and syllabus is in the edX course page. \n\n\n\nThis self-paced course is designed to take 16-20 hours to complete for most people. It is listed as 4 weeks or 4-5 hours effort per week.  \n\n\n\nCourse will be available only though December 2025.
URL:https://accessibility.usc.edu/event/w3cs-digital-accessibility-foundations-free-online-course/
CATEGORIES:Digital Accessibility
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250925T060000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250925T070000
DTSTAMP:20251113T170625Z
CREATED:20250918T143902Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251113T170625Z
UID:10000300-1758780000-1758783600@accessibility.usc.edu
SUMMARY:Making sense of the post-deadline EAA landscape  with Matthew Luken & Otto Sleeking
DESCRIPTION:The European Accessibility Act (EAA) deadline was June 28\, 2025\, and Deque and Taylor Wessing have been monitoring the post-deadline landscape closely\, collecting real-world data on the impact across the EU and across our industry.We invite you to join us for a new webinar as our experts share insights on the patterns developing and the lessons being learned.While organizations that got ahead of the deadline are seeing benefits\, they need clarity about what’s being asked of them now. Organizations that are still working to catch up require strategic support to navigate varying enforcement approaches and emerging new guidance.Organizations at all stages will benefit from this discussion. Please join our webinar to: \n\n\n\nDiscover how the monitoring bodies hope to use your non-conformance report and your plan-to-reach-conformance information. \n\n\n\nDetermine how the new non-conformance requirement may apply to your organization. \n\n\n\nUnderstand differences and requirements related to both conformance and non-conformance reporting.
URL:https://accessibility.usc.edu/event/making-sense-of-the-post-deadline-eaa-landscape-with-matthew-luken-otto-sleeking/
CATEGORIES:Digital Accessibility
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250516T060000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250516T130000
DTSTAMP:20251113T170630Z
CREATED:20250410T144338Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251113T170630Z
UID:10000288-1747375200-1747400400@accessibility.usc.edu
SUMMARY:Stem to Stern Accessibility with AFixIt
DESCRIPTION:May 16 is Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD). In celebration of GAAD\, join Karl Groves from AFixIt for an all-day workshop\, Stem to Stern Accessibility. \n\n\n\nWhether you work in a large or small organization\, follow an agile or waterfall process\, are experienced or just starting out\, this workshop will guide you toward reliably developing accessible and usable products. This workshop is structured to be inclusive and engaging to all skill sets and levels. \n\n\n\nThrough a mix of lecture and highly interactive group work\, this workshop covers everything from the beginning to the end in developing a high quality\, accessible product. This includes product requirements\, procurement\, design\, development\, release\, maintenance\, and support.
URL:https://accessibility.usc.edu/event/stem-to-stern-accessibility-with-afixit/
CATEGORIES:Digital Accessibility
ORGANIZER;CN="Karl Groves (AFixIt) &#8211%3B External Vendor":MAILTO:talktous@afixit.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250515T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250515T160000
DTSTAMP:20251113T170639Z
CREATED:20250515T004524Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251113T170639Z
UID:10000299-1747321200-1747324800@accessibility.usc.edu
SUMMARY:Website Accessibility Testing Training
DESCRIPTION:Join the Office for Institutional Accessibility and ADA Compliance (OIA) for a virtual training conducted via Zoom. This introductory level training is designed for USC website owners\, developers or content managers who want to learn how evaluate and test their websites to identify accessibility issues leading them build a more inclusive web presence inclusive for people with disabilities.  \n\n\n\nThis session will cover essential best practices\, including proper heading structure\, descriptive hyperlinks\, meaningful alt text\, effective image descriptions\, logical reading order\, tables and the impact of color and media. We’ll also explore how to use USC’s Manual Evaluation Template to log these issues for reporting. \n\n\n\nParticipants will leave with practical strategies and a toolkit of accessibility checkers and resources to help ensure their website content can be accessed and understood by all.
URL:https://accessibility.usc.edu/event/website-accessibility-testing-training/
CATEGORIES:Digital Accessibility
ORGANIZER;CN="Jimmy Thai":MAILTO:jimmytha@usc.edu
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250515T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250515T130000
DTSTAMP:20251113T170644Z
CREATED:20250410T144934Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251113T170644Z
UID:10000289-1747310400-1747314000@accessibility.usc.edu
SUMMARY:Introduction to Different Types of Assistive Technology (WorkDay)
DESCRIPTION:May 15th is Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD)\, which is dedicated to getting everyone talking\, thinking\, and learning about digital access and inclusion – and the more than one billion people with disabilities!  \n\n\n\nIn the spirit of GAAD\, we’ll be talking about some of the many kinds of assistive technologies that people with different disabilities use in our next Workday Accessibility Level Up series. We’ll also discuss things to keep in mind when building a digital product to make sure people with disabilities\, and the assistive tools that they use\, can interact with your product.
URL:https://accessibility.usc.edu/event/introduction-to-different-types-of-assistive-technology-workday/
CATEGORIES:Digital Accessibility
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250515T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250515T230000
DTSTAMP:20251113T170649Z
CREATED:20250410T190144Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251113T170649Z
UID:10000291-1747303200-1747350000@accessibility.usc.edu
SUMMARY:Access Granted: Creating and designing inclusive digital content
DESCRIPTION:Join the Office for Institutional Accessibility and ADA Compliance (OIA) for a virtual training conducted via Zoom.  This introductory level training is designed for USC content creators who want to make their digital communications more accessible and inclusive for people with disabilities. Whether you’re crafting a document\, building a presentation\, posting on social media\, or sending a listserv announcement\, accessibility matters. \n\n\n\nThis session will cover essential best practices\, including proper heading structure\, descriptive hyperlinks\, CamelCase for hashtags\, meaningful alt text\, effective image descriptions\, logical reading order\, and the impact of color\, font\, animations\, and media. We’ll also explore how to create accessible content in Word and PowerPoint\, touch on the challenges and tips for PDFs\, and offer guidance for social media\, listservs\, and web content. \n\n\n\nParticipants will leave with practical strategies and a toolkit of accessibility checkers and resources to help ensure their content can be accessed and understood by all.
URL:https://accessibility.usc.edu/event/access-granted-creating-and-designing-inclusive-digital-content/
CATEGORIES:Digital Accessibility
ORGANIZER;CN="Stacey M. Hearn":MAILTO:stacehe@usc.edu
LOCATION:https://usc.zoom.us/j/91925327156?from=addon
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250515T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250515T120000
DTSTAMP:20251113T170655Z
CREATED:20250508T160515Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251113T170655Z
UID:10000296-1747303200-1747310400@accessibility.usc.edu
SUMMARY:Accessibility Fundamentals Bootcamp
DESCRIPTION:If you’re new to accessibility\, Deque’s Accessibility Fundamentals session is the perfect place to start—and it’s FREE! \n\n\n\nLed by the same accessibility experts trusted by the world’s biggest brands\, this session is for everyone: policymakers\, designers\, developers\, testers\, and more. \n\n\n\nIn just two hours\, you will: \n\n\n\n\nGet tips for championing accessibility at your organization.\n\n\n\n\n\nDiscover what digital accessibility is and why it matters.\n\n\n\n\n\nLearn which laws and guidelines apply to your location.\n\n\n\n\n\nExplore how people with disabilities navigate the web.
URL:https://accessibility.usc.edu/event/accessibility-fundamentals-bootcamp/
CATEGORIES:Digital Accessibility
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR