NAAW Kickoff
2026-05-24 14:00 - 16:30 (America/Toronto) | Assisted Living Southwestern Ontario (ALSO), 1100 University Ave. West, Windsor, Ontario, N9A 5S7, Canada
📍 Assisted Living Southwestern Ontario (ALSO) – 1100 University Ave. West👥 In Person Only 💲 Free

Technology should be a bridge, not a wall. While tech helps many of us access knowledge and share insights, that experience isn’t universal. Too often, the tools meant to connect us actually get in the way. For our 2026 National AccessAbility Week kickoff, Hackforge is hosting an open forum to bridge these gaps.

We are inviting community members with access needs to share their lived experiences. We want to hear the honest truth about:

The Hurdles: Where does technology fall short? Where do digital systems or physical public spaces exclude you?

The Wins: What apps, websites, or services have actually improved your accessibility? Who is doing things right, and what can we learn from them?

These shared barriers will become the Hackforge community’s “to-do list” for the coming year. We aim to develop and share real-world solutions for these challenges over the next twelve months.

Sign up to speak? No need! This is a moderated, open-floor session. Everyone will have the chance to contribute in a respectful, supportive environment.

What experiences count? All of them. Whether your need is temporary or chronic, a minor friction point or a major barrier, your perspective is valuable.

Who Should Attend?

Advocates & Individuals facing accessibility barriers who want their voices heard.

The Tech-Curious & Makers looking to use their skills for social good.

Community Members interested in building a more inclusive city.

If you’ve been looking for a way to use your skills to help your neighbors, this is your chance to start.

Beyond the Screen: Live Website Reviews
2026-05-26 18:00 - 20:30 | Assisted Living Southwestern Ontario (ALSO), 1100 University Ave. West, Windsor, Ontario, N9A 5S7, Canada
📍 Assisted Living Southwestern Ontario (ALSO) – 1100 University Ave. West👥 In Person Only 💲 Free

As a business owners or web developer, you may be aware that you should be following Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, and you might even know what those guidelines are. But do you know why they’re important? Have you ever seen what actually happens when these best practices aren’t followed? Join us for a look beyond the screen as accessibility consultant David Best provides live demonstrations of internet use with a screen reader.

We’ve partnered with local community organizations to review their sites in real-time, but we want to see yours, too! Attendees are invited to offer up their own projects for instant, expert feedback

During the session, we will:

Navigate content using a screen reader

Identify common accessibility issues

Demonstrate accessible and inaccessible design patterns

Review keyboard navigation, headings, forms, buttons, links, images, and ARIA usage

Discuss practical improvements aligned with WCAG guidelines

Who Should Attend?

Web Developers & Designers looking to sharpen their technical skills.

Business Owners wanting to ensure their digital storefront is open to everyone.

Product Managers & Content Creators who want to understand the impact of their work.

📆 May 26, 2026🕦 6-8:30 PM📍Assisted Living Southwestern Ontario (ALSO) – 1100 University Ave. West🎟️ RSVP Below

Accessible City: an inclusive round table discussion on city services
2026-05-28 18:00 - 20:00 | Windsor Hackforge, 300 Ouellette Ave, Unit 210, Windsor, Ontario, N9A7B4, Canada
📍 Hackforge HQ (300 Ouellette Ave, Unit 210) & Online Via Zoom💻👥Hybrid💲 Free

More Info Coming Soon!

📆 May 28, 2026🕦 6:00pm – 8:00pm📍Hackforge HQ (300 Ouellette Ave., Unit 210) & Online via Zoom📩 RSVP for Zoom Here👥 RSVP for In Person Below

NAAW Closing
2026-05-30 13:00 - 15:00 | Assisted Living Southwestern Ontario (ALSO), 1100 University Ave. West, Windsor, Ontario, N9A 5S7, Canada
📍 Assisted Living Southwestern Ontario (ALSO) – 1100 University Ave. West👥 In Person Only 💲 Free

As a business owners or web developer, you may be aware that you should be following Join Hackforge and ALSO as we conclude NAAW 2026. This session is more than just a recap; it’s a strategy meeting for the year ahead. We’ll review the insights gathered during our discussions and outline how we plan to integrate these lessons into our future programming.

We’ll also be taking this opportunity to launch the first version of our Accessible Community Data Bank! Born from community survey responses and data from ALSO, this living resource tracks specific accessibility supports at businesses and public locations throughout Windsor-Essex. Whether it’s physical ramp access, sensory-friendly hours, or digital accommodations, we’re documenting it all to help neighbors navigate our community with confidence.

Who Should Attend?

NAAW Participants who want to see how their feedback is being used.

Data Enthusiasts & Researchers interested in the new community resource.

Local Business Owners who want to ensure their accessibility features are accurately represented.

Volunteers looking for a meaningful way to contribute throughout the year.

Let’s turn this week’s lessons into next year’s solutions.

📆 May 30th, 2026🕦 1-3pm📍Assisted Living Southwestern Ontario (ALSO) – 1100 University Ave. West🎟️ RSVP Below

Pytheas 101
2026-06-01 18:30 - 20:30 | Windsor Hackforge, 300 Ouellette Ave, Unit 210, Windsor, Ontario, N9A7B4, Canada
📍 Hackforge HQ (300 Ouellette Ave, Unit 210) & Online Via Zoom💻👥Hybrid💲 Free

Pytheas 101, led by Doug Sartori, is a detailed look at Parallel 42’s open source virtual tour app. Attendees will learn about the code and the data, and what’s involved in creating a Pytheas tour of your own.

Who should attend?

This session is open to anyone who is interested in free software, tour creation, and requires no experience.

What should you bring?

A laptop to follow along (we’ll have a few available for loaning during the event)

Get a glimpse into the power of Pytheas at linktr.ee/p42systems

📆 June 1, 2025🕦 6:30pm-8:30pm📍Hackforge HQ (300 Ouellette Ave., Unit 210) & Online via Zoom📩 RSVP for Zoom Here👥 RSVP for In Person Below

Data Literacy for Admins
2026-06-12 12:00 - 12:45 | Windsor Hackforge, 300 Ouellette Ave, Unit 210, Windsor, Ontario, N9A7B4, Canada
📍 Hackforge HQ (300 Ouellette Ave, Unit 210) & Online Via Zoom💻👥Hybrid💲 Free

Join Doug Sartori (Canadian Open Data Society President, Parallel 42 Systems CEO) & Dr. Jessica Sartori (President & Principal Consultant at West 83 and former public sector CEO), for Data Literacy for Admins. Learn how to turn everyday information into actionable insights, support your team more effectively, and make smarter, data-informed decisions in your role.

When used appropriately, data can be a powerful tool for your organization.

Who should attend?

This session is open to anyone who is interested in increasing their data literacy, but especially those in administrative and not-for-profit roles.

What should you bring?

A laptop to follow along (we’ll have a few available for loaning during the event if needed).

📆 June 12, 2026🕦12-12:45pm📍Hackforge HQ (300 Ouellette Ave., Unit 210) & Online via Zoom🎟️ RSVP for Zoom Here👥 RSVP in Person Below

AGM & Lightning Talks
2026-06-25 18:00 - 21:00 | Hackforge HQ, 300 Ouellette Ave Unit 210, Windsor, ON, N9A7B4, Canada
📍 Hackforge HQ (300 Ouellette Ave., Unit 210)👥 In Person Only 💲 Free

As a business owners or web developer, you may be aware that you should be following Hackforge’s Annual General Meeting is your chance to look back on an incredible year of community events, creative projects, collaborations, and growth, while getting a sneak peek at where we’re headed next.

Whether you’ve been part of the community for years or are just getting involved, the AGM is a great opportunity to connect, learn more about what we do, and help chart the course ahead. While only official members of the non-profit will be able to participate in the vote for a new board member, everyone is welcome to attend this meeting and learn more about what happens behind-the-scenes in a non-profit.

Members with voting rights will receive personalized invitations by May 26th. If you have not received yours and believe you should, please reach out to our Managing Director.

Once the meeting wraps up, the energy keeps going with another round of Lightning Talks!

These short, super fun presentations give community members the floor for five minutes to share something they’re passionate about. Talk about your latest side project, a problem you’re trying to solve, or your wicked cool hack! This time around, speaking slots will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis, so look for the signup sheet when you arrive!

📆 June 25, 2026🕦 6-9 PM📍Hackforge HQ (300 Ouellette Ave., Unit 210)🎟️ RSVP Below
