Join UW’s Monthly Accessibility Meetups: Web Usability & Instructional Accessibility
Accessibility is a key part of creating inclusive digital experiences, whether you’re designing websites or developing accessible courses. To support these efforts, UW-IT’s Accessible Technology Services hosts two monthly meetups: one focused on Web Accessibility and Usability and another devoted to Instructional Accessibility for faculty and course designers.
These informal gatherings provide opportunities to discuss accessibility challenges, get feedback, and learn best practices from experts and peers. Whether you’re a web developer, designer, faculty member, or instructional designer, these meetups offer valuable insights to enhance accessibility in your work.
About the Web Accessibility/Usability Meetup
The Monthly Web Accessibility/Usability meet-up is a place for accessibility-minded colleagues to casually review and discuss projects, including hands-on testing and code review. You will be encouraged to bring questions and troubleshoot issues from your own website, as it is a great learning experience for everyone.
These sessions are led by Hadi Rangin, a web accessibility specialist with UW-IT Accessible Technology Services. Hadi, who holds a master’s degree in computer science and is a screen reader user himself, offers a unique perspective on how websites and web applications can be made more usable including users with disabilities. If you’re working on a project and would like to get accessibility feedback from your peers, email Hadi (hadir@uw.edu) to be added to the agenda. Visit the Accessible Technology Services events page for more details on how to join.
Instructional Accessibility Meetup for Faculty & Course Designers
Faculty and course designers interested in making their online courses more accessible can join the Instructional Accessibility Meetup for a casual yet insightful discussion on best practices and Universal Design for Learning (UDL).
These meetups are hosted by Mary-Colleen Jenkins, an instructional accessibility specialist with UW’s Accessible Technology Services (ATS) and a former UW instructor and will feature guest speakers from the UW community. Mary-Colleen understands the challenges faculty face in improving course accessibility and provides practical strategies for prioritizing accessibility without feeling overwhelmed.
The upcoming session in March, “The Basics of Building Accessible Tables” with Gaby de Jongh, will cover essential techniques for making tables more accessible for students with disabilities.
Why join?
Both meetups provide a collaborative space to learn, share ideas, and ask questions about accessibility. Whether you’re troubleshooting web accessibility issues or figuring out how to make your course materials more inclusive, these gatherings connect you with a supportive community.
Why now?
By April 2026, digital resources are expected to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA standard under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). To support the University community in this effort, several UW offices, including the ADA Office, UW-IT Accessible Technology Services, and Teaching@UW, are partnering to share accessibility tools, events, and training opportunities. As we work together to meet requirements, we will also create better online experiences for the entire UW community.
Find more details and links to register on the Accessible Technology Services events page.