John Slatin AccessU 2024 is a hybrid conference that allows you to connect with the best of the best in digital accessibility training from wherever you are.

Welcome and thanks for joining AccessU!

Whether you are joining in person or online; hold an Instructor, Premier, or General Conference ticket; and are joining for just one day or the whole AccessU experience, we're glad you're here.

Please watch for the Zoom Event invitations, Learning Center credentials, and other notes from us. Join the AccessU Slack workspace to chat with other attendees and keep up with announcements.

General orientation information is found on the Attendee Guide.

For Hotel contact and shuttle service schedules, please see Hotels and Transportation

If you have any questions please post to the #help channel of the AccessU 2024 Slack or email accessu@knowbility.org and we'll get right back to you!

Looking forward to a great week of learning together.

Schedule Overview

Monday, May 13th: Preconference Deep Dives, Opening Keynote Reception

These full-day workshops are a great opportunity to dig deep into accessibility best practices with experienced leaders in the field. Deep Dive attendees will select one of the following topics when they purchase their ticket:

Schedule highlights:

  • 7:00 - 8:30 AM: Registration and breakfast in the Cafeteria (Ragsdale Hall, 2nd floor).
  • 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM: Deep Dive Pre-Conference classes (Trustee Hall)
  • 12:00 Noon - 1:00 PM: Lunch in Trustee Atrium (Trustee Hall, 2rd floor)
  • 6:00 PM: Reception and Keynote talk at the the Austin Hyatt Regency on beautiful Town Lake and online:
    Meet and greet old and new friends at a Drinks and hors d'oeuvres reception. At 7:00 pm Meryl Evans kicks off the conference with: Community, Championing, and Compassion: An Accessibility Journey.
    Bonus – Early Badge pickup at the reception

May 14 - 16 General Conference

AccessU general conference features three days of in-depth learning from accessibility experts with hands-on practice and peer discussion. Sessions are categorized under the following learning tracks:

  • Development sponsored by Meta
  • Testing
  • Design & User Experience sponsored by Visa
  • Documents & Templates
  • Interactive & Emerging Technologies
  • Organizational Practices & Strategic Planning
  • Policy & Advocacy

Tuesday May 14th: , Live Sessions and WAI Listens to You

  • 7:30 AM: Breakfast in Cafeteria (Ragsdale Hall, 2nd floor)
  • 8:30 - 11:45 AM: Classes in Trustee Hall and online
  • 12:00 noon: Lunch in Mabee Ballroom (Ragsdale Hall, 3rd floor) with Opening Remarks by Shawn Henry of W3C/WAI
  • 1:00 - 2:00 PM: Keynote: Future Proofing DEI & Accessibility by John Samuel in Jones Auditorium (Ragsdale Hall, 1st floor) and online
  • 2:00 - 5:15 PM: Classes in Trustee Hall and online
  • Evening: Austin on Your Own (see Conference Activities) and Optional self-funded BBQ field trip to the Salt Lick

Wednesday May 15th: General Sessions

  • 7:30 AM: Breakfast in Cafeteria (Ragsdale Hall, 2nd floor)
  • 8:30 - 11:45 AM: Classes in Trustee and online
  • 12:00 noon: Lunch in Mabee Ballroom (Ragsdale Hall, 3rd floor)
  • 1:00 - 2:00 PM: Keynote: The Role of Cognitive, Emotional, and Compassionate Empathy in Product Design by Homer Gaines in Jones Auditorium (Ragsdale Hall, 1st floor) and online
  • 2:00 - 5:15 PM: Classes in Trustee Hall and online
  • 5:30 - 7:00 PM: Speed Networking and Happy Hour - 3rd floor of Ragsdale Center and online. Conference Activites)

Thursday May 16th - GAAD! Training sessions, Unconference exploration of Hot Topics, Closing Keynote Panel

We have 1-Day Tickets to join us to Celebrate GAAD at AccessU. That includes Wednesday evening Happy Hour and Speed Networking (above) and all of Thursday's AccessU including keynotes, classes, and Unconference Discussions. More information on GAAD at AccessU.

  • 7:30 AM: Breakfast in Cafeteria (Ragsdale Hall, 2nd floor)
  • 8:30 - 10:00 AM: Classes in Trustee Hall and online
  • 10:15 - 11:45 AM: Closing Keynote Panel: Connecting the Paths: Harnessing Expertise and Bolstering Advocacy for Lasting Regulatory Change led by Corbb O'connor with Susanna Laurin, John G. Pare, Jr., and Whitney Quesenbery - in Jones Auditorium, Ragsdal Hall 1st floor) and online
  • 12:00 noon: Lunch and Unconference sessions in Trustee Hall.
  • 2:00 - 3:30 PM: ­Classes in Trustee Hall and online

Shuttle Service back to Hotel and thanks for another great year!

For More Information

Plenary and Keynote sessions are freely open to the public via Zoom. Use the links below for more information about John Slatin AccessU.

  • Conference Activities - information about social events and conference activities
  • Attendee Guide - what to expect and how to get ready for AccessU
  • Accommodations Guide - learn about the accommodations we provide to make AccessU an accessible experience for all attendees
  • Full Class Schedule - view all the available classes for AccessU 2024
  • FAQs - if you have any more questions, please refer to this short guide!