Microsoft Accessibility sessions slated for CSUN 2018
Update: New Resources for CSUN Attendees
- For those of you attending the CSUN conference, you can Download Presentation Slides in advance.
- Our staff will be on hand to welcome you to our booth 213 in the Exhibit Hall. Stop by for one of our short lightening talk demos happening every 30 minutes. Download the Microsoft Exhibit Booth Demo & Short Talks Schedule.Â
- Microsoft Accessible resources:
Microsoft at CSUN 2018
The 33rd annual CSUN Assistive Technology Conference is March 19-23 in San Diego, California. At Microsoft, we’re busy preparing for exhibit hall demonstrations and a record number of sessions, which we’ve scheduled Wednesday through Friday. Thursday, our annual Microsoft Reception will be from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Seaview Room (lobby level.)
Throughout the conference, our engineers, program managers, and world-class researchers are presenting Microsoft’s commitment to – and progress in – accessibility, with sessions addressing:
- New features for accessibility in Microsoft products, including the latest for Windows, Office 365, and Xbox.
- How we’ve built – and sustain – an inclusive work environment and culture at Microsoft.
- How cutting-edge work in Microsoft research is paving the way for the future in accessibility, such as with Hearing AI and the Seeing AI app.
- Developer, IT, and enterprise news.
- A new, paid user research program, suitable for remote participation.
As you plan your conference schedule, we invite you to join us at our sessions, listed below. Links are included to easily add sessions to your calendar, through iCal or Outlook.
All sessions, unless otherwise noted, are in Seaport Ballroom H-Microsoft, 2nd Floor, Seaport Tower in the Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel. See you there!
Wednesday, March 21
9 a.m. Accessibility at Microsoft
Kicking off our CSUN sessions is Chief Accessibility Officer Jenny Lay-Flurrie, who will share Microsoft’s approach to accessibility and how we’re helping people achieve more with technology.
- Session details: Accessibility at Microsoft – Presented by Jenny Lay-Flurrie.
- Add Wednesday 9 a.m. session to calendar
- Follow Jenny on Twitter @jennylayfluffy
10 a.m. Accessibility in Windows 10: What’s New
The Windows team presents accessibility in Windows 10, including features introduced in the Fall Creators Update and what’s planned for 2018.
- Session details: Accessibility in Windows 10: What’s New – Presented by Jeff Petty and Brett Humphrey.
- Add Wednesday 10 a.m. session to calendar
- Follow Jeff on Twitter @JeffreySPetty
11 a.m. What’s New in Microsoft Office 365
Discover how Office 365, with accessibility built-in, empowers you to communicate, consume, and create content in your preferred way and helps everyone collaborate inclusively.
- Session details: What’s New in Microsoft Office 365 – Presented by Malavika Rewari and Anita Mortaloni.
- Add Wednesday 11 a.m. session to calendar
- Follow Malavika on Twitter @MalavikaRewari
- Follow Anita on Twitter @anitamortaloni
1:20 p.m. Inclusive Hiring: People with Disabilities at Microsoft
Microsoft Inclusive Hiring team shares learnings, best practices, and approach for finding, onboarding, and retaining top talent in the disability community.
- Session details: Inclusive Hiring: People with Disabilities at Microsoft – Presented by Megan Lawrence and Devan Vaughn.
- Add Wednesday 1:20 p.m. session to calendar
- Follow Megan on Twitter @accessgo
2:20 p.m. Outside the Box: Innovation at Microsoft
Learn how great ideas can be found and harnessed outside the pipeline, and what this means for future innovation in the accessibility field.
- Session details: Outside the Box: Innovation at Microsoft – Presented by Mary Bellard.
- Add Wednesday 2:20 p.m. session to calendar
3:20 p.m. Accessibility Suite of Knowledge
Learn best practices and methodology to drive fundamental changes within a technical product, website, and services environment, in order to include everyone.
- Session details: Accessibility Suite of Knowledge – Presented by Wendy Chisholm, Norm Hodne, Catherine Waterson, and Jennifer Zhang.
- Add Wednesday 3:20 p.m. session to calendar
- Follow Wendy on Twitter @wendyabc
4:20 p.m. Accessibility User Research Collective: Partnership for User Input
The new Accessibility User Research Collective is a Microsoft-Shepherd Center partnership to improve the quality and quantitative of user feedback from the disability community.
- Session details: Accessibility User Research Collective: Partnership for User Input – Presented by Megan Lawrence.
- Add Wednesday 4:20 p.m. session to calendar
- Follow Megan on Twitter @accessgo
Thursday, March 22
8 a.m. Strategies to Make your IT Applications More Accessible and Usable
Learn how the Office engineering team approaches making all Office 365 applications accessible with scalable techniques, durable engineering processes, and a customer-first focus.
- Session details: Strategies to Make your IT Applications More Accessible and Usable – Presented by Anita Mortaloni and Wendy Chisholm.
- Add Thursday 8 a.m. session to calendar
- Follow Anita on Twitter @anitamortaloni
- Follow Wendy on Twitter @wendyabc
9 a.m. Windows Narrator: What’s New in Windows 10
We’ll provide an outline of Microsoft’s screen reading strategy and roadmap. Plus, recap Windows 10 improvements to enable screen reading partners and improvements to Microsoft’s inbox screen reader, Narrator.
- Session details: Windows Narrator: What’s New in Windows 10 – Presented by Jeff Petty and Brett Humphrey.
- Add Thursday 9 a.m. session to calendar
- Follow Jeff on Twitter @JeffreySPetty
10 a.m. Beyond Compliance:Â Staying Out in Front of Digital Accessibility Legal Trends
Join Microsoft lawyer Sue Boyd and disability rights lawyer and author Lainey Feingold for a lively discussion about best practices that keep pace – and outpace – current legal developments in the accessibility space.
- Follow Lainey on Twitter @LFLegal
11 a.m. Create Inclusive Classrooms with Microsoft 365 Education
Discover accessible and intelligent technologies to personalize learning for students with disabilities and create content that engages a diverse classroom audience.
- Session details: Create Inclusive Classrooms with Microsoft 365 Education – Presented by Malavika Rewari and Megan Lawrence.
- Add Thursday 11 a.m. session to calendar
- Follow Malavika on Twitter @MalavikaRewari
- Follow Anita on Twitter @anitamortaloni
1:20 p.m. Microsoft Reading and Writing Tools: Designed for Learning Differences
Discover Microsoft tools specially designed for users with learning differences, such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, ADHD, and language learners.
- Session details: Microsoft Reading and Writing Tools: Designed for Learning Differences – Presented by Jeff Petty, Mari Olsen, and Kenichiro Chiba.
- Add Thursday 1:20 p.m. session to calendar
- Follow Jeff on Twitter @JeffreySPetty
2:20 p.m. Seeing AI: Leveraging Artificial Intelligence to Augment Visual Awareness
Discover behind the scene details, user stories, upcoming research, and best practices that help guide the development of Seeing AI app.
- Session details: Seeing AI: Leveraging Artificial Intelligence to Augment Visual Awareness – Presented by Anirudh Koul, Saqib Shaikh, and Eugene Seleznev.
- Add Thursday 2:20 p.m. session to calendar
- Follow Anirudh on Twitter @anirudhkoul
- Follow Saqib on Twitter @saqibs
- Follow Eugene on Twitter @EugeneSeleznev
3:20 p.m. Excel 101 Tips and Tricks
Explore creating accessible Excel worksheets with tables, learn about new accessibility features and shortcuts, and ask an Excel expert questions.
- Session details: Excel 101 Tips and Tricks – Presented by Sasha Sproch
- Add Thursday 3:20 p.m. session to calendar
4:20 p.m. Easily create accessible documents and communications with Office 365
Learn about proven techniques and upcoming investments in Office 365 for easily creating accessible and standards-aligned documents and communications in your school or workplace.
- Session details: Easily create accessible documents and communications with Office 365 – Presented by Anita Mortaloni and Peter Frem.
- Add Thursday 4:20 p.m. session to calendar
- Follow Anita on Twitter @anitamortaloni
Friday, March 23
8 a.m. Microsoft IT’s Journey to an Accessible Enterprise Organization
Insights and lessons from our experience with governance, resourcing, operating models, and working with suppliers to drive accessibility.
- Session details: Microsoft IT’s Journey to an Accessible Enterprise Organization – Presented by Rajesh Kalidindi, Michael Vanderhyde and Heather Dowdy.
- Add Friday 8 a.m. session to calendar
- Follow Rajesh on Twitter @RajeshDesign
- Follow Michael Vanderhyde on Twitter @vandertri
9 a.m. Modernization of IT with SharePoint Accessibility
Learn how government and educational institutions are increasing accessibility through modernization of IT initiatives. Plus, demo of how SharePoint 365 can transform the accessibility of your organization.
- Session details: Modernization of IT with SharePoint Accessibility – Presented by Dean Halstead, Aneetha Jayaraman, and Ben Truelove.
- Add Friday 9 a.m. session to calendar
- Follow Dean on Twitter @DeanHalstead
10 a.m. Controlling Your Computer with Your Eyes
A presentation and demonstration of the eye control feature in Windows 10 for people with mobility disabilities and motor impairments.
- Session details: Controlling Your Computer with Your Eyes – Presented by Harish Kulkarni, Eric Badger, Ann Paradiso, Pete Ansell, and Dwayne Lamb.
- Add Friday 10 a.m. session to calendar
10 a.m. Teach Access 2018 Update
Teach Access unites technology companies and universities in an effort to expose college students to accessibility. 2017 milestones and 2018 strategies will be presented.
- Session details: Teach Access 2018 Update – Presented by Mary Bellard, Jeffrey Wieland (Facebook) and Larry Goldberg (Yahoo/Oath).
- Location: Gaslamp CD, 2nd Floor, Seaport Tower.
- Add Friday Teach Access 10 a.m. session to calendar
11 a.m. Create Engaging and Accessible Presentations with PowerPoint and Sway
Use PowerPoint and Sway to create engaging and accessible presentations with minimal effort.
- Session details: Create Engaging and Accessible Presentations with PowerPoint and Sway – Presented by Peter Wu.
- Add 11 a.m. session to calendar
1:20 p.m. Xbox Gaming for Everyone
Demonstrating accessible technologies in Xbox, our research, and how we design our interfaces and games to be more inclusive.
- Session details: Xbox Gaming for Everyone – Presented by Bryce Johnson.
- Add Friday 1:20 p.m. session to calendar
- Follow Bryce on Twitter @brycej
2:20 p.m. How I used Microsoft OneNote to Manage a Medical Crisis
Hear Steve Sawczyn’s journey as a blind professional and father staying organized at work and home. Learn useful features and shortcuts for using Microsoft OneNote.
- Session details: How I used Microsoft OneNote to Manage a Medical Crisis – Presented by Ailsa Leen and Steve Sawczyn.
- Add Friday 2:20 p.m. session to calendar
- Follow Ailsa on Twitter @missaleeneous
- Follow Steve on Twitter @steveofmaine
3:20 p.m. Inclusive Design for Deaf and Hard of Hearing using AI in a Scaleable Way
Learn more about the role inclusive design, Artificial Intelligence, and developers to make the auditory world more inclusive.
- Session details: Inclusive Design for Deaf and Hard of Hearing using AI in a Scalable Way – Presented by Swetha Machanavajhala, Wee Hyong Tok, and Xiaoyong Zhu.
- Add Friday 3:20 session to calendar
- Follow Swetha on Twitter @SwethaMVNV
4:20 p.m. Software Architecture Used in Microsoft Office for Exposing Accessible Content
Learn the software architecture used by Office to expose document content programmatically so that it can be consumed by screen readers on multiple platforms.
- Session details: Software Architecture Used in Microsoft Office for Exposing Accessible Content – Presented by Peter Frem, Khalef Hosany, and Andreas Eulitz.
- Add Friday 4:20 session to calendar
Visit Microsoft Exhibits in the Grand Hall, Booth 213
Microsoft accessibility team members will be in Booth 213 (Grand Hall). Come by for product demonstrations, quick tips and tricks, or just to say hello.
Send us your feedback and suggestions
We are only as good as the feedback we receive, and we want more of it! We know that accessibility is the foundation for building inclusive experiences, which enable everyone to create accessible content, develop diverse environments, and be more connected, independent, and productive.
CSUN attendees provide us with the crucial feedback that we need and use to improve the usability of our products and services. There are many ways to submit feedback:
- On PC, Windows Key + F to submit feedback through the Feedback Hub.
- Through the Microsoft Accessibility User Voice Forum.
- Through the Xbox Ease of Access Forum.
- On Twitter @MSFTEnable.
- By email for Seeing AI, [email protected]
- On Product User Voice forums with dedicated categories for accessibility, such as outlook.com in beta.
- With our Disability Answer Desks
Together, we are pushing the boundaries of what technology can do to empower everyone to achieve more. Visit us online at Microsoft Accessibility, and we’ll see you at CSUN 2018!