Featured Presentations

Summary: Join us to hear announcements from several Google teams about products, tools and features. We’ve made a lot of progress in the last year and we’re excited to share a few highlights with you all!

Detailed Description: At Google, our mission is to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful – this absolutely includes people with disabilities. There have been many accessibility updates across Google products over the past year. This session will feature members of various Google teams sharing the stage to provide recent highlights. The group will cover updates from Android, Chrome, Workspace, Google Research and many other important areas across the company.

Perrin Anto, Google
Jonathan Bernal, Google
Siri Gubba, Google
Jay Prabunathan, Google
James Stout, Google
Tyler Freeman, Google

Summary: Digital access is a civil right of disabled people. This session shares U.S. legal updates about access to websites, apps, kiosks, and more, and about laws, regulations, lawsuits, negotiations, and government policies.

Detailed Description: There is a lot happening in the digital accessibility legal space in the United States. Designed for all levels of experience, this session will offer a lightning overview of recent legal developments in the US impacting access to websites, mobile apps, kiosks, healthcare, and more. We’ll look at federal government regulations, lawsuits, Structured Negotiations, state laws, and federal agency guidance and peek into the future to see what to expect in the coming year.

Digital accessibility is a civil right of disabled people, an ethical imperative, a global legal mandate, and good for business. Come learn how the law can help you advocate for an inclusive digital world.

Lainey Feingold, Law Office of Lainey Feingold

Summary: Although governed by different laws and policies, U.S. Federal and State Governments share accessibility goals. Learn how the U.S. Federal Government and the Washington State Government collaborate to advance digital accessibility from coast to coast.

Detailed Description: Washington, D.C., the home of the US Federal Government, and the State of Washington share more than a name. Both strive to implement accessible Information and Communication Technology. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act requires a Federal agency to build, buy, and implement the most accessible ICT that meets its needs. It includes Technical Standards which define digital accessibility. While a State is not mandated to comply with Section 508 Technical Standards, it is encouraged to include relevant standards in its own ICT accessibility legislation or policies.

Presenters Mary Craig, CIO of Washington State Department of Services for the Blind, and Betsy Sirk, Digital Accessibility Director of NASA, first met at CSUN AT Conference 2022. Inspired by Ms. Sirk’s presentation on accessible ICT acquisitions, Ms. Craig became a champion for digital accessibility initiatives in Washington State. For example, she worked with the State CIO to build an Accessibility Community of Practice that allows collaboration and resource sharing. She also implemented an annual “Accessibility Matters” conference, which has become Washington’s premier accessibility event. Washington is also focused on updating its accessibility policy. Moving to the Federal Government, this presentation shares how a collaboration with a State helps government-wide outreach efforts to promote digital accessibility. Specific Industry Outreach efforts that benefit both Washingtons are highlighted.

Betsy Sirk, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Mary Craig, Washington State Department of Services for the Blind

40th Annual CSUN Assistive Technology Conference Has Concluded

40th Annual CSUN Assistive Technology Conference Has Concluded

Wednesday, March 12 - What’s New in Google Accessibility

Thursday, March 13 – Digital Accessibility Legal Update: U.S.

Friday, March 14 - A Tale of Two Washingtons: Partnering for Accessibility