Equalize Digital

Equalize Digital Office Hours
2025-12-10 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-11-26 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-11-12 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-10-29 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-10-15 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-10-01 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-09-17 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-09-03 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Chicago) and 7 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 Website Remediation with Brian Coords
2025-12-04 10:00 - 11:30
Join us for a special hands-on edition of the WordPress Accessibility Meetup! In this session, Amber Hinds will team up with Brian Coords, Developer Advocate at WooCommerce, to perform live accessibility remediation on a real WordPress website.
Amber and Brian will identify common accessibility issues using both automated and manual testing tools, explain why these issues matter to users with disabilities, and demonstrate how to resolve them directly in the WordPress editor or through code. You’ll see practical examples of improving markup, site structure, keyboard navigation, color contrast, and more — all with clear explanations that developers, designers, and content creators can follow.
These meetups take place via Zoom and are live captioned. You must register to attend via Zoom.
About the Speakers

Amber Hinds
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.
Brian Coords
Brian Coords is a Developer Advocate at WooCommerce and has spent over a decade as a WordPress developer, writer, and instructor. He is the host of the Webmasters.fm podcast. You can also find his writing on industry publications like WP Tavern, MasterWP, The WP Minute, and his personal technology blog.

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.

Is Accessibility Checker right for you?
2025-11-18 12:00 - 13:00
Not sure if Equalize Digital Accessibility Checker is right for you or how to fit it into your workflow? This webinar will answer all your questions! Join Chris Hinds and Paola Gonzalez of Equalize Digital for a demo of Accessibility Checker and a discussion on how you can use it to help you (or your team) find, fix, and prevent accessibility issues at scale.
Get a behind-the-scenes look at pro features, including our premium add-ons (Audit History, CSV Export, and Multi-Site), archive scanning, and automated fixes.

This webinar takes place via Zoom and is live captioned. You must register to attend via Zoom.
About Chris and Paola

Chris Hinds
COO, Equalize Digital
Chris Hinds is the COO of Equalize Digital, Inc., a company specializing in WordPress accessibility. He oversees the business development, human resources, and financial operations of the company, and acts as an early-stage accessibility consultant for countless organizations who are looking to create more accessible outcomes with WordPress.
Paola Gonzalez
Content Specialist, Equalize Digital
Paola Gonzalez is a professional marketer and content specialist focusing on web accessibility. Paola has been using WordPress since she was introduced to the platform in 2012 during her first marketing class and is passionate about creating top-quality content that covers even the most boring topics. Beyond her professional endeavors, Paola enjoys the cultural vibrancy of opera, reading thrillers, playing video games, and following the thrilling speed of Formula 1.

Chat with Matt Mullenweg: Past, Present & Future of Accessibility in WordPress
2025-11-13 10:00 - 11:30
Join us for a special WordPress Accessibility Meetup featuring a Conversation between Matt Mullenweg, co-founder of WordPress and CEO of Automattic, and Amber Hinds, CEO of Equalize Digital. Together, they’ll reflect on how accessibility in WordPress has evolved over the past 20+ years and look ahead to the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
The conversation will explore:

The origins and growth of the WordPress Accessibility Team, and how accessibility has shaped the project.
The role accessibility can play in driving innovation across the WordPress ecosystem.
Opportunities for automated testing for plugins and themes.
How the community can better support accessibility contributors and bring more people into the work.
How Automattic approaches accessibility in its products and the value they’ve seen from investing in accessibility.

Whether you’re a long-time WordPress contributor, an accessibility professional, or just starting your journey, this meetup offers a unique opportunity to hear from Matt Mullenweg about his perspective on accessibility in the WordPress project and share ideas on how it may be shaped in the future.

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

About the Speaker

Matt Mullenweg is co-founder of the open-source publishing platform WordPress, which now powers over 40% of all sites on the web. He is the founder and CEO of Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com, WooCommerce, Tumblr, WPVIP, Day One, Beeper, and Pocket Casts. Additionally, Matt runs Audrey Capital, an investment and research company. He has been recognized for his leadership by Forbes, Bloomberg Businessweek, Inc. Magazine, TechCrunch, Fortune, Fast Company, Wired, University Philosophical Society, and Vanity Fair.
Matt is originally from Houston, Texas, where he attended the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and studied jazz saxophone. In his spare time, Matt is an avid photographer. He currently splits his time between Houston and San Francisco.

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.

Convince Your Clients of Accessibility: Arguments and Business Cases: Annelies Verhelst
2025-10-02 10:00 - 11:30
Many agencies want to do right by disabled people. They want to make their clients’ websites accessible. Because, why wouldn’t you? And sure, many things you can do without even notifying your client. Have accessible building blocks, implement them in designs or code when the time is there to update anyway, only the people who need it will notice. Right? Wrong. Clients will find out, and they will confront you about it. And if you want to go even further? Oh no, the costs! The knowledge! The energy! It can be a struggle to convince your client to put in the effort and also conform to any regulation, like Section 508, the EU Accessibility Act, or otherwise.
Drawing from her own experience with “difficult” clients and some basic psychology, Annelies will provide you with compelling arguments and advice on how to make a business case (even if you really don’t want to go there).

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

About the Speakers

Annelies is a passionate digital accessibility expert at Accessibility Desk (Digitaal Toegankelijk – B Corp) in the Netherlands. She takes every opportunity to advocate for people with disabilities and others who can’t navigate the digital world properly. With her tech-background and work in marketing and communications for many years, she had already developed a thorough understanding of what should be done better and by whom. Her actual journey with accessibility started roughly 8 years ago, and since then, the topic has become a growing subject in work and life.
Annelies developed courses and workshops to educate different target audiences and make them understand how they can help. She loves sharing this knowledge within the WordPress community by speaking at local meetups regularly. As New Business Manager, she’s also co-leader of the European Accessibility Alliance. The European Accessibility Alliance is a network of leading digital accessibility experts and organizations across Europe dedicated to promoting and implementing digital accessibility standards. She’s also studying part-time for a Psychology major.

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.

Cookie Banner Accessibility Testing: Alex Stine
2025-09-24 18:00 - 19:30
Join us for live accessibility testing of cookie banner plugins with Alex Stine. Alex will be testing popular cookie consent solutions for accessibility with his screen reader and providing real-time feedback. If you need an accessible cookie banner, tune in to see which WordPress plugins provide the best starting point.
These meetups take place via Zoom and are live captioned. You must register to attend via Zoom.
About the Speaker

Alex got his start in Web Development thanks to WordPress, beginning in Tech Support, then moving into Accessibility Development, and ultimately managing the underlying infrastructure that WordPress self-hosted sites run on. Not long after starting in Tech Support, Alex lost what vision he had and is now completely blind. This was the single event that motivated him to enter the accessibility world—helping others have the same access to information.

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.

We Need to Talk About Captions: Piccia Neri
2025-09-04 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.

Page Builder Accessibility Report: 2025 Update: Amber Hinds
2025-08-18 19:00 - 20:30
Join us for a special WordPress Accessibility Meetup as Amber Hinds, CEO of Equalize Digital, shares the latest findings from her annual Page Builder Accessibility Report. This session will reveal how popular WordPress page builders stack up when it comes to accessibility — which ones have improved, which continue to lag behind, and what that means for developers, agencies, and website owners who care about inclusive design.
Amber will walk through key changes since last year’s report, highlight new testing criteria, and offer practical recommendations for building more accessible websites with or without page builders. Bring your questions for live Q&A at the end!
These meetups take place via Zoom and are live captioned. You must register to attend via Zoom.
About the Speaker

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.

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.

Hiring for Inclusion: Building an Accessibility-Centric Workforce: Catherine Sherry and Kate
2025-08-07 10:00 - 11:30
Join Catherine Sherry and Kate O’Connor from Onward Accessibility for an engaging session focused on building a more inclusive and accessibility-forward hiring process. Drawing from their extensive experience in accessibility-focused consulting and staffing, Catherine and Kate will guide participants through effective strategies for recruiting, interviewing, and onboarding individuals with disabilities. Attendees will gain practical tools, actionable policies, and insights into the cultural shifts necessary to create equitable opportunities and foster a truly accessible workforce from the ground up.

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

About the Speakers

Catherine Sherry, CPACC
Director of Staffing, Onward Accessibility
Catherine Sherry leads Onward Accessibility’s staffing efforts, empowering top companies to connect with diverse digital accessibility professionals. She has over 15 years of experience in the industry, a passion for accessibility advocacy, and a proven track record of recruiting qualified candidates with disabilities. Sherry is also a long-time member of the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP).
Kate O’Connor, CPACC
VP and Practice Leader, Onward Accessibility
Kate O’Connor oversees Onward Accessibility, a division of Onward Search dedicated to providing companies with digital accessibility (a11y) solutions and talent. She has nearly 20 years of hands-on design experience and a successful track record of partnering with clients to build and mature a11y programs as well as digital initiatives. O’Connor is also a long-time member of the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP).

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.

Elementor Accessibility: Angela Bowman & David Denedo
2025-07-10 10:00 - 11:30
In this talk, Angela and David will dive into practical strategies for working with options in Elementor that allow you to make your site more WCAG compliant, including:

Assigning proper ARIA landmarks to header, content, and footer areas
Naming menus and other widgets in Elementor for correct ARIA
Using Site Settings to define accessible Global Colors and scalable typography
Adding aria labels to icons, buttons, and images that are linked

Angela and David will provide a few custom code snippets to improve accessibility of the following:

Respect reduce motion effects with CSS
Add aria-current=“page” to Mega Menu submenu items
Add pause button to self-hosted background videos

And lastly, this talk will explore accessibility challenges with Elementor template kits, complex Elementor widgets, and things to watch out for.

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

About the Speakers

Angela Bowman
Web Designer, Meetup Organizer, and Podcast Co-Host
Angela works primarily with Elementor, building highly customized sites with dynamic content. She loves traveling, outdoor adventures, and raising backyard chickens.
David Denedo
Web Designer and Content Creator
David works primarily with Bricks and Elementor. He is passionate about accessibility, dynamic content, and solving mathematical problems. He also loves playing Scrabble and Chess.

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.

Live Accessibility Remediation: See How to Audit and Fix a Real WordPress Site
2025-06-12 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-05-29 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-05-22 11:00 - 12:00
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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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.

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.
