Watch the M-Enabling A11y Chats Live!

M-Enabling Summit A11y Chats

The Accessibility Chats (A11y Chats) is a program at the M-Enabling Summit consisting of a series of subject matter interviews. Each A11y Chats session features one or more guest speakers discussing various accessibility topics, including current trends, advocacy issues, etc.  

The sessions will be conducted live and in-person at the 2023 M-Enabling Summit. However, the program will be livestreamed, available for anyone and everyone to join – for free! Please see details below.  

The A11y Chats sessions will also be recorded and later shared through the Global Initiative for Inclusive ICTs (G3ict) and the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP)’s social media outlets.  

Attendance Options

  • In-Person Attendance: Registered 2023 M-Enabling Summit attendees can attend each session live and in-person in Studio A at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel. Please note that seating is limited in Studio A.  
  • Virtual Attendance: Virtual attendees will have access to the livestream sessions sent to them via email one week prior to the first day of the A11y Chats program. Please note registration is required to attend the livestream sessions.  

For more information, please send an email to abarecante@g3ict.org.

2023 A11y Chats Schedule  

Tuesday, October 10 | AM Schedule

  • 11:00 – 11:15 AM | Creating an Industry-Consumer Alliance 
    • Guest speaker: Linda Kozma-Spytek, M.A., CCC-A – Consultant & Professional Adviser on Technology, Hearing Loss Association of America 
    • Moderator: Sam Evans – Certification Manager, IAAP 
  • 11:15 – 11:30 AM | Mitigating Disability Bias in AI 
    • Guest speaker: Christopher Land – Senior Accessibility Technical Program Manager, Oracle 
    • Moderator: Sam Evans – Certification Manager, IAAP 
  • 11:30 – 11:45 AM | Smart Cities for All 
    Guest speakers:  
    • James Thurston – Accessible Digital Transformation Lead, North America, Atos 
    • Hannes J. Lagrelius – Program Officer, Global Program for Inclusive & Accessible Urban Development, World Blind Union 
    • Moderator: Monica Duhem – Global Advisory Center Director, G3ict 
  • 11:45 – 12:00 PM | GitHub CoPilot Accessibility 101  
    • Guest speaker: Ed Summers – Head of Accessibility, GitHub CoPilot 
    • Moderator: Sam Evans – Certification Manager, IAAP 

Tuesday, October 10 | PM Schedule

  • 1:30 – 1:45 PM | Adaptive and Accessible Tech – Now and the Future with United Spinal Association
    • Guest speaker: Alexandra Bennewith – Vice President – Government Relations, United Spinal Association 
    • Moderator: Rachel Paul – Membership & Outreach Services Manager, IAAP  
  • 1:45 – 2:00 PM | How to Make Emojis More Accessible 
    • Guest speaker: David Berman, RGD, FGDC, CPWA – International Advisor, G3ict 
    • Moderator: Rachel Paul – Membership & Outreach Services Manager, IAAP  
  • 2:00 – 2:15 PM | Five Musts for Inclusive Social Media Content
    • Guest speaker: Rebecca Roussell – Senior Vice President of DEI Communications, Current Global 
    • Moderator: Rachel Paul – Membership & Outreach Services Manager, IAAP 
  • 2:15 – 2:30 PM | Canadian National Institute of the Blind: The Way Forward 
    • Guest speaker: Robert Gaunt, CPACC – President, Canadian National Institute of the Blind  
    • Moderator: Rachel Paul – Membership & Outreach Services Manager, IAAP 

Wednesday, October 11 | AM Schedule

  • 9:30 – 9:45 AM | Self-Service Technology Regulations 
    • Guest speaker: Clark Rachfal – Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs, American Council of the Blind  
    • Moderator: Matt Ater – Vice President, TPGi, A Vispero Company 
  • 9:45 – 10:00 AM | EDF & IAAP Overlay Statement
    • Guest speaker: Alejandro Moledo – Deputy Director, European Disability Forum  
    • Moderator: Susanna Laurin, CPACC – IAAP Honorary Chair & EU Representative
  • 10:00 – 10:15 AM |   
    • Guest speaker:
    • Moderator: Sam Evans – IAAP Certification Manager, IAAP 
  • 10:15 – 10:30 AM | New Capabilities for Assistive Technologies in 2024…and in 2040!  
    • Guest speaker: Gregg Vanderheiden, Ph.D. – Professor Emeritus, University of Maryland Trace Research and Development Center  
    • Moderator: Sam Evans – Certification Manager, IAAP 
  • 11:00 – 11:15 AM | The Navigator: A Disability Inclusion Implementation Tool
    Guest speakers: 
    • Dan Goldstein. Esq. – Retired Founding Partner, Brown, Goldstein & Levy; DI&AC Program Founder, IAAP  
    • Mary Rainer-Skala – Director of Special Initiatives, IAAP 
    • Moderator: Pina D’Intino, PMP, CPACC – Business Transformation, Accessibility Strategist Consultant, Aequum Global Access
  • 11:15 – 11:45 AM | The State of Overlays
    • Guest speaker: Mike Paciello, Founder, WebABLE
    • Moderator: Sam Evans – Certification Manager, IAAP 
  • 11:45 – 12:00 PM | CEOs Accessibility Engagement 
    • Guest speaker: Katy Talikowska – Chief Executive Officer, The Valuable 500  
    • Moderator: Sam Evans – Certification Manager, IAAP 

Wednesday, October 11 | PM Schedule

  • 1:30 – 1:45 PM | Breaking Barriers to Digital Inclusion with the American Foundation for the Blind  
    • Guest speaker: Arielle Silverman, Ph.D. – Director of Research, American Foundation for the Blind  
    • Moderator: Monica Duhem – Global Advisory Center Director, G3ict 
  • 1:45 – 2:00 PM | U.S. State and Local Laws and Policies for Digital Accessibility
    • Guest speaker: Eve Hill, Esq. – Attorney, Brown Goldstein & Levy 
    • Moderator: Lainey Feingold, Esq. – Attorney, Law Office of Lainey Feingold 
  • 2:00 – 2:15 PM | The Purple Vest – Leave No One Behind 
    • Guest speaker: Michal Rimon – Chief Executive Officer, Access Israel  
    • Moderator: Monica Duhem – Global Advisory Center Director, G3ict 

Thursday, October 12 Schedule

Check back often for updates.

  • 11:30 – 11:45 AM | Why I Invested in Getting the Certified Professional Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC) Professional Certification 
    • Guest speaker: Nir Pechuk, CPACC – Chief Executive Officer, Extentek 
    • Moderator: Sam Evans – Certification Manager, IAAP  
  • 11:45AM – 12:15 PM | Inclusive Procurement
    • Guest speaker: Susan Scott-Parker – Founder, Business Disability International  
    • Moderator: James Thurston – Accessible Digital Transformation Lead, North America, Atos