Conference Schedule & Program

Registration and breakfast

Introduction

Walei Sabry and Chi Nguyen, NYC DiCon Organizers

Inclusion is a big task, and we know we can’t do it alone. Walei and Chi will share how the NYC Digital Inclusion Conference got its start and ways that you can stay involved after the conference.

Accessibility in New York City

Commissioner Victor Calise

As Commissioner of the New York City Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities, Victor Calise has been an advocate for people with disabilities, working to ensure that people with disabilities have equal access to everything NYC has to offer He will open the day by speaking on his work in cybersecurity, autonomous vehicle development, digital accessibility and his experience participating in the 1998 Paralympic Games.

Heidi Latsky Dance Performance

Peter Trojic, Accessibility Director at Heidi Latsky Dance

Access is not an afterthought but integral to Heidi Latsky Dance’s art making. As a core part of its mission and work, Heidi Latsky Dance is committed to reflecting the diversity that it serves and actively follows the disability rights movement by embracing ‘nothing without us’—that is, its practice in choreography and performance and its composition of board leadership and staff has the representation and full, direct involvement of disabled people.

Internet Human Rights

Brittny Saunders, Deputy Commissioner for Strategic Initiatives at NYC Commission on Human Rights

The NYC Commission on Human Rights (“Commission”) is responsible for enforcing the New York City Human Rights Law (“City HRL”), one of the most robust and protective local human rights statutes in the country. It also educates New Yorkers about their rights and responsibilities under the law. Learn how the agency works online and off to protect New Yorkers and promote the values of equity and inclusion.

10-Minute Break

Dimensions: Community Tools for Making Tactile Graphics & Objects

Chancey Fleet, Assistive Technology Coordinator, New York Public Library | Andrew Heiskell Braille & Talking Book Library

We all need to understand maps, diagrams, images and other spatial information. For people who learn and work non-visually, getting access to quality graphics and 3D models can be hard. The Dimensions project empowers patrons of the Andrew Heiskell Braille & Talking Book Library to make access happen with free, hands-on training about best practices in tactile design and free, accessible hardware and software that anyone can use to start designing. In this session, Chancey Fleet will share how the library has created programming and tools for blind patrons and sighted allies to learn how to create tactile graphics or 3D printed objects for use in classrooms, at work, for events and more.

#SUX: Some Users’ Experience

Billy Gregory, Director of Training at The Paciello Group

When UX doesn’t consider ALL users, shouldn’t it be known as “SOME Users’ Experience” or… #SUX?

When we don’t consider all users, we only consider some. For many users with disabilities, our designs leave them feeling alienated, ignored, and unwelcome. Even designs that might be deemed “accessible” are not always usable.

In our race to be “cutting edge” and “modern” we forgot to be usable. For many users, this #SUX.

Lunch

Designing with People

Christine Gaspar, Executive Director at the Center for Urban Pedagogy (CUP)

What does it look like to use design to center people instead of design itself? The Center for Urban Pedagogy (CUP) has been asking that question in its work for 15 years through its practice of creating accessible visual explanations of complex policy issues with and for communities impacted by those issues. CUP’s Executive Director Christine Gaspar will share CUP’s methods for working with people from historically marginalized communities to break down and represent complex urban issues and lessons learned along the way.

Building a Digital Playbook in 10 Easy Steps

Jonathon Ende, CEO of SeamlessDocs

Jonathon will discuss the journey that SeamlessDocs has gone through in making Accessibility a first principle in their digital products while creating a culture of accessibility within their own organization and other government agencies. SeamlessDocs is committed to building technology that provides better tools and infrastructure to make accessibility more accessible for every user.

10-Minute Break

Tech & Design Showcase

Vispero, Aira, and Datavized will showcase projects that successfully navigated issues of inclusion and accessibility. Attendees are invited to ask project representatives questions during the Q&A session.

Presenters:
Matt Ater, Vispero
Paul W. Schroeder, Aira
Debra Anderson and Hugh McGrory, Datavized
Yng-Ru Chen, Snark.art

How Might We Build an Inclusive and Accessible City?

Moderated by Chi Nguyen, a community organizer and Senior Creative Strategist at the Mayor’s Creative Communications unit, the closing panel will discuss the pros and cons of automated decision-making, the importance of digital accessibility, data ethics, representation, and inclusion in public communications.

Panelists:
Kelly Jin, NYC Chief Analytics Officer
Jess Matthews, NYC Chief Content Officer
Joshua Breitbart, NYC Deputy Chief Technology Officer
Wendy Lu, Journalist
Davis Erin Anderson, Program Manager – Technology, Culture, and Libraries at Metropolitan New York Library Council
Jesse Ayala, Creative Director at Fovrth Studios

Community Building Hour

Interested in being part of the conference committee or sponsors next year? Find a staff member and share your contact information with us. Thank you for being on our team!