We have highlighted some sessions in this blog to make the most of a few short days. Each offers unique views and valuable ideas for advancing digital accessibility. This blog will highlight a few conference sessions for digital development, design, or management roles.
Keynote Address by Haben Girma
Haben Girma is disability rights lawyer, writer, and public speaker. She was the first Deafblind person to graduate from Harvard Law School. Her advocacy work and experiences offer insights into the challenges faced by people with disabilities and the importance of inclusive design.
Ability Magazine interviewed and wrote an excellent piece about her. Read about Haben Girma in Ability Magazine.
Haben also has her website where you can learn about her and find links to purchase her book, "Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law." Go to Haben's official website.
Attendees can hope to better understand disability rights, innovation, and our role in creating a more accessible world by attending Haben's keynote.
UsableNet Experts Share Valuable Insights
We're very proud to have two members of UsableNet leadership, Jeff Adams and Michele Lucchini, speak at CSUN. Jeff is our Vice President of Accessibility Operations and a Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC) by the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP). Michele Lucchini is the Vice President of Product Management and has more than two decades of experience in digital accessibility.
Jeff and Michele are thought leaders within the accessibility community. They speak at conferences, like CSUNATC, and private client events. Of course, as part of this blog, we watn to highlight their sessions.
Recommended Session Title: Project Manager/Product Owner- Crucial Roles in Accessibility
Date and Time: Thursday, March 21, 2024 - 4:20 PM PDT
Session Description: Project managers and product owners are pivotal in driving accessibility initiatives within organizations. Jeff Adams and Michele Lucchini from UsableNet will show attendees how to add accessibility to workflows and cover projects, providing the knowledge and strategies.
Who Should Attend and Why?
This session is critical for project managers, product owners, and leaders who want to focus on accessibility and build a culture of inclusion in their teams.
Recommended Session Title: Challenges in Injecting Accessibility into an SDLC
Date and Time: Wednesday, March 20, 2024 - 11:20 AM PDT
Session Description: Integrating accessibility into the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) can be challenging. Yet it's crucial to ensure digital products are inclusive from the start. Jeff Adams and Michele Lucchini will discuss companies' common challenges in their accessibility journey and offer recommendations for overcoming them. Attendees will learn how to position accessibility in the SDLC. They will walk away equipped to maintain compliance and serve customers well across all digital projects.
Who Should Attend and Why?
This session is vital for digital professionals. It is for those in development, compliance, or policy-making. They seek strategies to add accessibility to their workflows.
If you are interested in more insights from the UsableNet team, Jeff wrote a six-part blog series on building an accessibility-first culture within your organization last year—read the series here.
AI's Impact on the Future of Accessibility
This year's CSUN has more than 20 sessions on the intersection of AI and Accessibility. This is a massive increase from only five last year. Whether you're a researcher, developer, educator, accessibility advocate, or simply curious about the topic, there seems to be a session for you. If this year's CSUN is any indication, the accessibility community is actively looking to learn about the latest advancements in AI-driven accessibility solutions.
Interestingly, UsableNet's February webinar addressed AI and Digital Accessibility. Register to watch on-demand here.
These sessions cover a diverse range of topics, from generating alt text to real-time document accessibility, indoor wayfinding, media accessibility, and more, highlighting the importance of AI in building inclusive experiences.
You can choose one or try to attend all 22. There is even a Tuesday fireside chat that will discuss AI and Accessibility, which you can join: AI & Accessibility: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.
Yet, while we expect AI to play a significant role in our everyday lives, mobile apps are already there. So, a session to consider attending will discuss how the two intersect.
Recommended Session Title: Improving Digital Accessibility with AI Assistance.
Date and Time: Wednesday, March 20, 2024 - 1:20 PM PDT
Mohit Goenka and Nikita Varma will share insights on using AI-powered assistance to meet accessibility needs in mobile apps. Attendees will learn about guidelines for creating accessible products, adding accessibility to the software development lifecycle, and ensuring inclusivity for users with diverse needs.
Who Should Attend and Why?
This session is valuable for developers, designers, and researchers interested in harnessing AI to create more accessible digital solutions.
Learn About International Accessibility Regulations
Recommended Session Title: Preparing for Global Accessibility Regulations
Date and Time: Thursday, March 21, 2024 - 3:20 PM PDT
Session Description: This is a live stream on Thursday afternoon, so accessibility professionals not in Anaheim can still watch it on YouTube.
This "fireside chat" session should provide attendees with an overview of the evolving landscape of global accessibility regulations and standards. Led by experts Kevin White, Philip Rizcallah, and Brandon Johnson, attendees can learn about the latest regulatory developments to stay ahead of the curve in the ever-changing world of digital accessibility regulation.
Who Should Attend and Why?
Seasoned accessibility professionals and those new to the field, attending in person in Anaheim and joining remotely from home, will likely get valuable insights from this chat.
We'll see you in Anaheim!
The CSUN Assistive Technology Conference offers knowledge, resources, and networking for professionals passionate about digital accessibility. During any session, you will surely gain inspiration and insights that will help you drive organizational change. If you are in attendance, please consider checking out UsableNet's sessions with Jeff Adams and Michele Lucchini.
If you can't attend but want to learn more about or discuss digital accessibility, contact us. See you at the conference! For more information about the conference, visit the conference website here.
