From May 24th to 30th, Windsor Hackforge teamed up with Assisted Living of Southwestern Ontario (ALSO) to mark our third annual National AccessAbility Week (NAAW). The week was packed with collaborative learning, eye-opening discussions, and community-led innovation, and we’re so excited to share the amazing outcomes and next steps with you.
Putting Web Accessibility Into Practice
There is no substitute for experiencing the web from someone else’s perspective. We owe a massive thank you to David Best for helping organize this week’s programming and for leading a deeply impactful, live web accessibility audit session.
During the demonstration, David guided attendees through various websites, offering a firsthand look at how internet users navigate the web using screen readers. The eye-opening lessons and best practices shared in this session are already making a tangible impact, with local organizations currently utilizing these insights to improve their own websites.
Now Live: The Community Accessibility Directory (Beta)
Earlier this spring, alongside our partners at ALSO, we launched a community survey to map out the region’s most inclusive spots.
Thanks to your feedback and additional data sources, the beta version of our Community Accessibility Directory is now officially live! This public catalogue is designed to help everyone navigate Windsor-Essex with ease by providing information on physical, communication, and sensory accessibility at various locations throughout the region.
Because this is a community-driven resource, we need your help to keep it growing and accurate.
Get Involved: Check out the directory, submit new entries or corrections using our online forms, or join us as a volunteer coder to help build out the platform!
City Services Roundtable
True accessibility requires systemic conversation. We partnered with Engage Windsor for a vital round-table discussion that explored accessibility specifically within the context of city services. If you missed the live discussion, you can catch up by watching the recording.
Project Spotlight: Jason’s 5-Day Navigation Prototype
We want to give a massive shout-out to Jason, a dedicated community member who attended every single Hackforge event during NAAW. Taking his existing skills and layering on the new knowledge gained throughout the week, Jason managed to prototype an accessible navigation mobile app in just five days!
Jason’s app focuses on a “Pre-Trip Exploration” (Scouting) feature, responding seamlessly to standard accessibility gestures like swiping and double-tapping.
“For friends with visual impairments, a well-optimized user experience isn’t just a feature, it is an absolute necessity, especially when it comes to independent travel and mobility,” says Jason.
This quick prototype is just the start, and Jason has plans to expand! He aims to integrate additional features such as real-time audio navigation and public transit routing. We’re thrilled to see what he’s already accomplished, and look forward to supporting the continuation of this project.
What’s Next? Join Our New Monthly Interest Group!
We are excited to announce the launch of a brand-new, accessibility-focused tech interest group!
- When: Tuesday, July 7th (and continuing the first Tuesday of every month)
- What: A space to explore the intersection of technology and accessibility. We will gather monthly to share knowledge, review digital tools, and ensure technology is built inclusively for everyone. All are welcome.
This July event is your primary gateway to staying involved. Whether you want to know more about the initiatives launched during NAAW, contribute code to the directory, collaborate on Jason’s navigation app, or just connect with new people, this is the place to be.
Stay in the Loop
We are also launching a new, dedicated accessibility newsletter. Sent out irregularly (but no more than once a month), it will keep you updated on Hackforge’s ongoing accessibility events, project updates, and other curated content.