Equalize Digital

Equalize Digital Office Hours
2025-02-19 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-03-05 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-03-19 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-04-02 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-04-16 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-04-30 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-05-14 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-05-28 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Chicago) and 3 more dates
Accessibility Checker Small Business and Agency license plans include access to open office hours where you can ask questions and get help finding or fixing accessibility problems. These meetings take place via Zoom with auto-captions and require pre-registration to attend.
Get the link to register for office hours on your account dashboard.

Live Accessibility Remediation: See How to Audit and Fix a Real WordPress Site
2025-02-20 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-02-27 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-03-20 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-03-27 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-04-10 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-04-17 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-05-08 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-05-22 11:00 - 12:00 and 2 more dates
Tune in as Amber audits and fixes the WP Product Talk website, a WordPress website using the Kadence theme and blocks and Seriously Simple Podcasting plugin.
This will be live-streamed on the Equalize Digital YouTube channel and in the WordPress Accessibility Facebook Group.
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We Need to Talk About Captions: Piccia Neri
2025-03-06 10:00 - 11:30
Don’t you love all the great AI tools available at the moment? Specifically – aren’t all the captions design tools fantastic? All those options! Animations, flashing effects, typography, graphic treatments… Aren’t they so creative and great?
Nope. No they are not. Your fancy open captions are literally making billions of people sick. Think I’m exaggerating? Nope. I’m not. Join this presentation to find out how – and what to do instead.

These meetups take place via Zoom and are live captioned. You must register to attend via Zoom.
About the Speaker

Piccia Neri empowers agencies, businesses, designers & developers to thrive and win on the web by putting their users at the centre. She does this as an accessible design and UX consultant and leader on global projects, and as a course provider, trainer, coach and workshop leader. She speaks at conferences globally on UX and accessible design. Piccia’s current main focus is on balancing creativity and accessibility, without sacrificing either.

Event Information
Sponsors
Thank you to our sponsors:

Live captions: Kinsta
Organizer and post-event transcription: Equalize Digital Accessibility Checker
Your Business here! Learn about sponsorship

Accessibility & Accommodations
This meetup will be held virtually over Zoom and live captioned, thanks to our sponsors. Slide links will be provided when applicable, and presenters are encouraged to make slides as accessible as possible with alternative text for images, etc.
We’re working to secure sponsors so that we can offer ASL interpretation.
All are welcome to attend. If you need specific accommodations to make this meetup work for you, please contact us and we will try our best to accommodate you.
Code of Conduct
Please note that this group is a welcoming space for all. As this event is part of the official WordPress Meetup program, all attendees must follow the WordPress Online Code of Conduct.
By RSVPing to this meetup, you agree to abide by these guidelines. If you have concerns that the Online Code of Conduct is not being followed, don’t hesitate to get in touch with an organizer.

From Concept to Code: Communicating Accessibility in the Design Handoff: Danielle Zarcaro
2025-03-17 19:00 - 20:30
A well-executed designer-to-developer handoff is key to ensuring a website is not only accessible but also stays true to the design that has been carefully and thoughtfully crafted. So, how can a designer make sure the finished website is accessible and aligns with their design? How can designers help developers make the right accessibility choices?

In this session, we’ll explore crucial details designers should provide to guide the implementation of their designs effectively. You’ll learn how to:

Communicate sizing and spacing preferences using minimums, maximums, and flexible units beyond fixed widths and percentages where appropriate.
Define focal points, overlays, and gradient placement for background images.
Provide clear instructions for interactive elements, hover states, and keyboard navigation expectations.
Identify potential problem areas and suggest fallback options in case designs shift between breakpoints.

By improving the design handoff process and increasing transparency around key decisions, designers can empower developers to create accessible, functional, and visually consistent experiences.

These meetups take place via Zoom and are live captioned. You must register to attend via Zoom.
About the Speaker

Danielle is the founder of Kinetic Iris, a web development studio that partners with digital agencies to deliver expert website accessibility and development services for both new and existing websites. A lifelong night owl, they have recently taken up crochet, which has proven to be an excellent way to unwind and disconnect from so much screen time.

Event Information
Sponsors
Thank you to our sponsors:

Live captions: GoDaddy
Organizer and post-event transcription: Equalize Digital Accessibility Checker
Your Business here! Learn about sponsorship

Accessibility & Accommodations
This meetup will be held virtually over Zoom and live captioned, thanks to our sponsors. Slide links will be provided when applicable, and presenters are encouraged to make slides as accessible as possible with alternative text for images, etc.
We’re working to secure sponsors so that we can offer ASL interpretation.
All are welcome to attend. If you need specific accommodations to make this meetup work for you, please contact us and we will try our best to accommodate you.
Code of Conduct
Please note that this group is a welcoming space for all. As this event is part of the official WordPress Meetup program, all attendees must follow the WordPress Online Code of Conduct.
By RSVPing to this meetup, you agree to abide by these guidelines. If you have concerns that the Online Code of Conduct is not being followed, don’t hesitate to get in touch with an organizer.

Accessible Firebrand: “Why can’t I use my brand color there, and if not there, then where?”: Deneb Pulsipher & Mark Alvis
2025-04-03 10:00 - 10:30
Every company is strongly invested in their brand colors, even when these don’t meet contrast ratio requirements against their site’s background color. From an accessibility specialist’s perspective, it’s essential to know where these colors cannot be used, but from a designer’s practical and aesthetic perspective, it’s important to know where and how they can safely be used to build brand identity.

In this session, you’ll learn how and why companies are often inclined to use their brand colors in inaccessible ways. Together, we’ll examine real-world uses of brand colors in places that are clear and not-so-clear violations of the WCAG and other accessibility principles. We’ll discuss ways to demonstrate the problem to the company decision-makers, including tools that can help illustrate the problem. We’ll suggest arguments to use to persuade decision-makers to change their tactics. Perhaps most importantly, we’ll go over how companies can engagingly use their brand colors on their site in ways that don’t violate accessibility principles. This will make it so that decision-makers don’t balk as much at abandoning their inaccessible uses.

These meetups take place via Zoom and are live captioned. You must register to attend via Zoom.
About the Speakers

Mark Alvis
Brand + UI Designer, SeaMonster Studios
Mark is a systems-oriented, details guy disguised neatly as a brand & identity designer. Details matter to Mark. Pixels, pantones, and patterns… Mark brings a love of craft to his work – and 15 years of experience designing solutions from corporate and boutique clients.
Whether it’s product packaging, brand identity or user interface design for Microsoft, Starbucks or even the local shop down the street, it’s about putting the pieces together in a way that is appealing but also effective.
When not drinking coffee (or designing the labels), you might find him moonlighting in Seattle’s music venues, or tucking his 3 daughters into bed.
Deneb Pulsipher
Captain Accessible, SeaMonster Studios
“Captain Accessible” Deneb (DEH-neb) gets excited about the inherent ability the web provides to let everyone access the same information, whether they’re able to see or not, hear or not, use a mouse or not, have no cognitive challenges, or do. The internet can be accessed by nearly everyone through regular technologies like web browsers or assistive technologies like screen readers, as long as we code it right. Deneb’s passion is making sure it’s coded right, which means thoroughly reviewing all of our own sites before we release them into the wild, and also sporadically emailing owners of the sites he happens on while surfing that could use some accessibility improvements.

Event Information
Sponsors
Thank you to our sponsors:

Live captions: Kinsta
Organizer and post-event transcription: Equalize Digital Accessibility Checker
Your Business here! Learn about sponsorship

Accessibility & Accommodations
This meetup will be held virtually over Zoom and live captioned, thanks to our sponsors. Slide links will be provided when applicable, and presenters are encouraged to make slides as accessible as possible with alternative text for images, etc.
We’re working to secure sponsors so that we can offer ASL interpretation.
All are welcome to attend. If you need specific accommodations to make this meetup work for you, please contact us and we will try our best to accommodate you.
Code of Conduct
Please note that this group is a welcoming space for all. As this event is part of the official WordPress Meetup program, all attendees must follow the WordPress Online Code of Conduct.
By RSVPing to this meetup, you agree to abide by these guidelines. If you have concerns that the Online Code of Conduct is not being followed, don’t hesitate to get in touch with an organizer.

UX, UI, and Accessibility: The Perfect Trio: Shannon Towell
2025-04-21 19:00 - 20:30
Good design isn’t just about making things look nice. It’s about making your products easy to use and accessible for everyone. In this presentation, Shannon Towell, a seasoned Experience Designer, will break down the key things to watch for when building a website to ensure it’s user-friendly and inclusive. We’ll take a website, audit it, and improve it step by step, updating its branding and layout to make it clearer and easier to use. Then, we’ll explore how data can guide better design decisions and how UX applies beyond websites—helping museums and cultural institutions create more accessible, engaging experiences. Whether you’re a designer, developer, or just curious about better digital experiences, this session will give you practical takeaways to use in your own work.
These meetups take place via Zoom and are live captioned. You must register to attend via Zoom.
About the Speaker

Shannon Towell is the Experience Designer of your dreams, forever donned in blue.

Based in Melbourne, Australia, she has worked with an array of Australia’s top companies to create websites, apps, and research projects over the last nine years.

For the last two years, her sole focus has been to make the internet a better place through accessible and user-friendly brands and websites through her self-named design business. Her latest endeavor, Accessibility Clinic, sees her targeting the museum and cultural institutions to create inclusive spaces in person and online.

Event Information
Sponsors
Thank you to our sponsors:

Live captions: GoDaddy
Organizer and post-event transcription: Equalize Digital Accessibility Checker
Your Business here! Learn about sponsorship

Accessibility & Accommodations
This meetup will be held virtually over Zoom and live captioned, thanks to our sponsors. Slide links will be provided when applicable, and presenters are encouraged to make slides as accessible as possible with alternative text for images, etc.
We’re working to secure sponsors so that we can offer ASL interpretation.
All are welcome to attend. If you need specific accommodations to make this meetup work for you, please contact us and we will try our best to accommodate you.
Code of Conduct
Please note that this group is a welcoming space for all. As this event is part of the official WordPress Meetup program, all attendees must follow the WordPress Online Code of Conduct.
By RSVPing to this meetup, you agree to abide by these guidelines. If you have concerns that the Online Code of Conduct is not being followed, don’t hesitate to get in touch with an organizer.

Remediation or Rebuild? — Amber Hinds and Steve Jones
2025-05-01 10:00 - 11:30
Join us for a presentation exploring the critical decision-making process behind determining whether a website can be remediated for accessibility compliance or if it needs to be completely rebuilt from scratch.

Attendees will gain a clear understanding of the key factors that influence this choice, including the severity of accessibility barriers, the underlying technology and codebase, long-term maintenance considerations, and budget constraints. Using real-world examples and best practices, Amber and Steve will walk through assessment strategies, cost-benefit analyses, and the potential risks and rewards of each approach.

These meetups take place via Zoom and are live captioned. You must register to attend via Zoom.

About the Speakers

Amber Hinds
CEO, Equalize Digital
Amber Hinds is the CEO of Equalize Digital, Inc., a company specializing in WordPress accessibility and maker of the Accessibility Checker plugin. She is the lead organizer of the WordPress Accessibility Meetup, board president/co-lead organizer of the WP Accessibility Day nonprofit, and participates in the WordPress core accessibility team.
Through her work at Equalize Digital, Amber is striving to create a world where all people have equal access to information and tools on the internet, regardless of ability. Since 2010, she has led teams building websites and web applications for nonprofits, K-12 and higher education institutions, government agencies, and businesses of all sizes, and has become a passionate accessibility advocate
Steve Jones
CTO, Equalize Digital
Steve Jones is the Chief Technology Officer at Equalize Digital. Steve has developed highly custom WordPress websites for clients in the enterprise business, higher ed, and government sectors while also being an integral part of developing Equalize Digital’s accessibility auditing software, Accessibility Checker. He oversees the delivery of Equalize Digital’s accessibility remediation services for WordPress websites.

Event Information
Sponsors
Thank you to our sponsors:

Live captions: Kinsta
Organizer and post-event transcription: Equalize Digital Accessibility Checker
Your Business here! Learn about sponsorship

Accessibility & Accommodations
This meetup will be held virtually over Zoom and live captioned, thanks to our sponsors. Slide links will be provided when applicable, and presenters are encouraged to make slides as accessible as possible with alternative text for images, etc.
We’re working to secure sponsors so that we can offer ASL interpretation.
All are welcome to attend. If you need specific accommodations to make this meetup work for you, please contact us and we will try our best to accommodate you.
Code of Conduct
Please note that this group is a welcoming space for all. As this event is part of the official WordPress Meetup program, all attendees must follow the WordPress Online Code of Conduct.
By RSVPing to this meetup, you agree to abide by these guidelines. If you have concerns that the Online Code of Conduct is not being followed, don’t hesitate to get in touch with an organizer.

Global Accessibility Awareness Day 2025
2025-05-15
Join us in celebrating Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) by pledging your time to improve accessibility in WordPress. Whether you’re a developer, designer, content creator, or site owner, your skills can help make the internet more usable for millions of people with disabilities. Even one small fix—like adding alt text, fixing heading levels, or improving keyboard navigation—can make a big difference.

Selling Accessibility Panel Discussion: Amber Hinds, Bet Hannon, Gen Herres, Ron Zasadzinski, and Scott Tobin
2025-05-19 19:00 - 20:30
Ensuring accessibility in WordPress projects isn’t just a legal or ethical responsibility—it’s a powerful value-add for clients. But how do you effectively communicate its importance and integrate it into your sales process?

Join us for a panel discussion where agency owners and freelancers will share insights on positioning accessibility as a competitive advantage, overcoming client objections, and pricing accessibility services effectively. Whether you’re struggling to get client buy-in or looking to refine your sales approach, this conversation will provide actionable takeaways to help you confidently sell accessibility in WordPress projects.
These meetups take place via Zoom and are live captioned. You must register to attend via Zoom.
About the Speakers

Amber Hinds
CEO of Equalize Digital
Amber Hinds is the CEO of Equalize Digital, Inc., a company specializing in WordPress accessibility and maker of the Accessibility Checker plugin. She is the lead organizer of the WordPress Accessibility Meetup, board president/co-lead organizer of the WP Accessibility Day nonprofit, and participates in the WordPress core accessibility team. Through her work at Equalize Digital, Amber is striving to create a world where all people have equal access to information and tools on the internet, regardless of ability. Since 2010, she has led teams building websites and web applications for nonprofits, K-12 and higher education institutions, government agencies, and businesses of all sizes, and has become a passionate accessibility advocate.
Bet Hannon
CEO and Founder of AccessiCart
Bet Hannon had a first career in nonprofit management but was downsized in the 2008 financial crisis. She stumbled into freelance web development, bootstrapped an agency, and in 2016 when a client needed web accessibility, got her team up to speed with that. Today, she’s the CEO and founder of AccessiCart, a services agency that focuses on accessibility and eCommerce (or anything with a checkout form). She lives in Bend, Oregon, and loves hiking and snowshoeing.
Gen Herres
Founder of Easy A11y Guide
Gen Herres is the Founder of Easy A11y Guide, which helps website owners & agencies to improve their accessibility. With 15 years of WordPress development experience, and 5 years of accessibility, Gen brings practical knowledge from working on over 1,000 websites to the accessibility space. She’s a DHS Trusted Tester for Section 508, a well-known speaker, and an accessibility advocate. She’s spoken at meetups, on podcasts, at WordCamp US, and WP Accessibility Day, and is an IAAP member. She’s helped plugins, themes, and web agencies refine their accessibility processes and websites that real people can use. She also organizes the Baltimore WordPress meetup group.
Ron Zasadzinski
Founder and CEO of CodeGeek
Ron started CodeGeek in 2002, and since then, he and his team have worked with clients all over the U.S. to create custom websites and web apps.
Whether in business or in life, Ron’s goal every day is to help people be the best they can be. He’s passionate about making the web more accessible and inclusive for everyone. Ron is involved in several ventures, including co-founding the Fort Collins Internet Professionals (FCIP) Meetup and being a flight instructor with over 30 years and 8,000 hours of flying experience. In his free time, Ron enjoys following NASA missions with great interest, hiking, skiing, and traveling with his wife to see the many wonders this world has to offer.

Scott Tobin
Founder and President of Sector45
Scott Tobin is the Founder and President of Sector45, a specialized medical marketing agency serving the aesthetic industry. With over 18 years of experience in medical marketing and more than 25 years in digital marketing, he brings deep expertise in internet services, strategic planning, SEO, search marketing, and practice growth. Scott is dedicated to helping medical professionals enhance their online presence and achieve long-term success in an increasingly competitive landscape.

Event Information
Sponsors
Thank you to our sponsors:

Live captions: GoDaddy
Organizer and post-event transcription: Equalize Digital Accessibility Checker
Your Business here! Learn about sponsorship

Accessibility & Accommodations
This meetup will be held virtually over Zoom and live captioned, thanks to our sponsors. Slide links will be provided when applicable, and presenters are encouraged to make slides as accessible as possible with alternative text for images, etc.
We’re working to secure sponsors so that we can offer ASL interpretation.
All are welcome to attend. If you need specific accommodations to make this meetup work for you, please contact us and we will try our best to accommodate you.
Code of Conduct
Please note that this group is a welcoming space for all. As this event is part of the official WordPress Meetup program, all attendees must follow the WordPress Online Code of Conduct.
By RSVPing to this meetup, you agree to abide by these guidelines. If you have concerns that the Online Code of Conduct is not being followed, don’t hesitate to get in touch with an organizer.

ARIA for Beginners: Maria Maldonado
2025-06-05 10:00 - 11:30
Accessible Rich Internet Applications (ARIA) is a set of attributes that improve web accessibility for people using assistive technologies. It enhances HTML by adding details to interactive elements, making web applications easier to navigate and use.

Join us for this beginner-friendly session, where we’ll explore what ARIA is, when to use it (and when not to), and best practices for ensuring an inclusive digital experience. Whether you’re a developer, designer, or accessibility advocate, this event will equip you with essential ARIA knowledge to enhance web accessibility.

These meetups take place via Zoom and are live captioned. You must register to attend via Zoom.

About the Speaker

Maria José Maldonado is a seasoned Web Accessibility professional with a strong foundation in education. Since transitioning to the field in 2018, she has been dedicated to advancing accessibility testing and fostering digital inclusivity. Holding CPACC, WAS, and CPWA certifications, she possesses a comprehensive understanding of WCAG standards and legal requirements.
Her expertise spans assistive technologies, automated testing tools, and responsive design, ensuring seamless user experiences across diverse platforms. Passionate about creating accessible digital environments, she collaborates with teams to drive meaningful, user-centered accessibility solutions.

Event Information
Sponsors
Thank you to our sponsors:

Live captions: Kinsta
Organizer and post-event transcription: Equalize Digital Accessibility Checker
Your Business here! Learn about sponsorship

Accessibility & Accommodations
This meetup will be held virtually over Zoom and live captioned, thanks to our sponsors. Slide links will be provided when applicable, and presenters are encouraged to make slides as accessible as possible with alternative text for images, etc.
We’re working to secure sponsors so that we can offer ASL interpretation.
All are welcome to attend. If you need specific accommodations to make this meetup work for you, please contact us and we will try our best to accommodate you.
Code of Conduct
Please note that this group is a welcoming space for all. As this event is part of the official WordPress Meetup program, all attendees must follow the WordPress Online Code of Conduct.
By RSVPing to this meetup, you agree to abide by these guidelines. If you have concerns that the Online Code of Conduct is not being followed, don’t hesitate to get in touch with an organizer.

From Conference to Industry Association: Bri Norton, Ricky Onsman, and Amanda Mace
2025-06-16 19:00 - 20:30
How does an annual accessibility conference grow into a national industry association with real policy influence? Join us for an inspiring and practical conversation about what it takes to scale an accessibility-focused initiative into an organization with national reach and impact.

In this session, we will explore the journey of evolving from a one-time event into a structured, sustainable, and strategic industry body. We’ll share lessons learned and insights gained along the way, including:

Identifying your target audience and building meaningful connections
Managing and growing membership while maintaining community focus
Raising your national profile and becoming a recognized voice in accessibility
Choosing a focus and setting boundaries to stay aligned with your mission
Transitioning from an annual in-person event to ongoing virtual programming
Balancing funding, sustainability, and organizational costs
Building advocacy capacity and influencing digital accessibility policy

Whether you’re part of a grassroots initiative, a community event organizer, or someone passionate about accessibility advocacy, this session offers actionable strategies for scaling impact and making a difference.
These meetups take place via Zoom and are live captioned. You must register to attend via Zoom.
About the Speakers

Brigitta (Bri) Norton
Digital Accessibility Consultant at Ability Works
Bri is a Digital Strategist and User Experience and Accessibility specialist based in Canberra, Australia and has been an Accessibility Lead for both State and Federal Government and is currently a Digital Accessibility Consultant at Ability Works. Bri has more recently co-developed inclusive research workshops to share how to include accessibility earlier in the project lifecycle which includes engaging with people with disability as part of inclusive research activities.
Amongst her professional experience with government agencies and local businesses, Bri is the co-chair for Australia’s Web Accessibility Initiative OZeWAI.org, a Standards Australia Accessible ICT Procurement Committee Member and a member of the ResearchOps.Community Cheese Board.
Ricky Onsman
Principal Technical Writer for the Knowledge Center at TPGi
Ricky Onsman is Principal Technical Writer for the Knowledge Center at TPGi, a global digital accessibility company. He writes guidance articles for TPGi staff and clients conducting manual accessibility audits, as well helping to craft the rules engine for TPGi’s automated testing tools, developing training courses, and writing blog posts.
Ricky built his first website in 1994, when it was still assumed that accessibility was a given, and since then has worked in IT for a range of companies and organizations, then as a freelance web designer and front end developer, then as an accessibility specialist with organisations like AccessIQ, Simply Accessible, AccessibilityOz, Intopia, Tenon, and now TPGi.
Ricky has been a member of the Australian Web Accessibility Initiative (OZeWAI) since 2014 and, as a Committee Member, has played a key role in developing the organization’s web presence and newsletters, and its transition from conference organizer to national industry association.
Amanda Mace
Vice President at GrackleDocs
Amanda is a Subject Matter Expert in Digital Accessibility with more than 10 years of experience in the industry. She manages the Australasia office for GrackleDocs while growing and promoting the brand across the region. She also manages the audit team which is responsible for manual WCAG audits for our clients. Amanda is one of only two Australian-based W3C evangelists and the W3C Australian Western Region Chapter manager.
When it comes to accessibility, she believes that innovation with accessibility built into it provides security, independence, and privacy for people with disabilities and ultimately better, more usable digital products for all. She has spent her career advocating that it is everyone’s job to do their bit to remove barriers so all people can have equal access and equal opportunity in the digital world. Using her expertise in WCAG and PDF/UA to educate and help others understand digital access as well as how to go above and beyond standards, to ensuring great user experiences.
She is certified by the Australian Computer Society (ACS) as a Certified Professional. Having begun her accessibility career as a WCAG auditor/tester, she worked her way up in that small business through to management. Throughout her career, She has had many opportunities to contribute to educating others about digital accessibility including, co-authoring a book chapter for the textbook, “Web Accessibility A Foundation for Research,” as well as a white paper entitled, “Digital Accessibility: Perceptions, Expectations and Reality.”

Event Information
Sponsors
Thank you to our sponsors:

Live captions: GoDaddy
Organizer and post-event transcription: Equalize Digital Accessibility Checker
Your Business here! Learn about sponsorship

Accessibility & Accommodations
This meetup will be held virtually over Zoom and live captioned, thanks to our sponsors. Slide links will be provided when applicable, and presenters are encouraged to make slides as accessible as possible with alternative text for images, etc.
We’re working to secure sponsors so that we can offer ASL interpretation.
All are welcome to attend. If you need specific accommodations to make this meetup work for you, please contact us and we will try our best to accommodate you.
Code of Conduct
Please note that this group is a welcoming space for all. As this event is part of the official WordPress Meetup program, all attendees must follow the WordPress Online Code of Conduct.
By RSVPing to this meetup, you agree to abide by these guidelines. If you have concerns that the Online Code of Conduct is not being followed, don’t hesitate to get in touch with an organizer.
