The Design + Accessibility Summit 2025 is coming soon to a screen near you! Taking place online from September 16-19, this is the premier HOW-TO event for design professionals who need to understand and implement accessibility best practices (and that’s just about all of us these days). The 4-day agenda is packed with 24 valuable sessions by some of the world’s best accessibility experts. Here are six that I can’t wait to check out.
WCAG and PDF/UA Walkthrough: Simplifying the Standards
Lindsey wrote an amazing article on getting started with accessibility in Issue 24 of CreativePro Magazine. She presented all the key concepts and tasks in a way that was not just clear, it was inspiring. She made a compelling case that embracing accessibility isn’t just the right thing to do, it also makes you a better designer. But the devil’s in the details. So, when she walks through the standards that define accessibility and demystifies them, I’ll be in the front row. (Technically, I’ll be sitting on my couch, but if there was a front row, I’d be in it.)
Accessibility + AI: A Designer’s Dilemma
Like seemingly everything else in life right now, accessibility is being impacted by AI technology—from both the producer and the consumer standpoint. I think we’ve all seen instances where AI can produce miraculous results, or disastrous ones. How do you leverage AI and get the best out of it, while avoiding the pitfalls? That’s what I’m hoping to learn from Nikki.
Making Accessible Ebooks from InDesign
When I need to know anything about ebooks, there is one name that comes to mind immediately: Laura Brady. Any time there’s a change in software, standards, or laws, she’s on top of it. She is a true ebook nerd, and I mean that as the highest compliment. So, I’m eager to have her walk me through all the details of recent upgrades to InDesign regarding accessibility.
Optimizing Workflows for Better Alt Text
As someone responsible for a website and magazine for graphic designers, I deal with a lot of images. And I know it’s not enough any more just to make them look good. They also need to include proper alt text, which can take a significant investment of time and effort. I also know that alt text isn’t just a chore, it’s an opportunity to add SEO value to content and make it discoverable. So, anything I can learn from Caroline about alt text best practices is huge for me.
Getting Started with Acrobat PDF Remediation
In recent years, InDesign has come a long way with its accessibility features. But critical work remains in Adobe Acrobat to remediate PDFs. And it probably always will. So, knowing how to work with tags, tables, and reading order in Acrobat isn’t a bonus, it’s fundamental. I’m looking forward to hearing Capri’s take on how to finish the job right.
Getting Buy-in From Your Employer
When it comes to implementing accessibility in your organization, good intentions aren’t enough. Neither is knowledge of the right tools and techniques. You need to reach decision makers and get them to believe in the mission and take action to devote the necessary resources to the job. Dax knows how to strategically shape the business case for accessibility and get the buy-in you need to make lasting change.
This article was last modified on August 28, 2025
This article was first published on May 30, 2025
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