The 2025 CSUN Assistive Technology Conference 2025 was a big one for Intopia! Not only was it the 40th year of the conference, but it was also the first time we had our own booth. We had fun connecting with the accessibility community, chatting with attendees, and sharing what we’ve been working on.
Several of our team members also presented sessions, which were very well received. They sparked many insightful conversations about the future of accessibility. We left with plenty of insights and we’re excited to share some of our key takeaways.
As AI advances, we must ensure it’s used responsibly in accessibility
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is evolving fast. Tess attended some sessions to open their mind about generative AI. One of the most thought-provoking presentations came from Oliver Emberton (Silktide). He sees AI as a way to deliver truly personalised experiences.
“It’s difficult to create accessible content that suits everyone when every person’s needs are so different. AI could be the key to delivering these experiences at the point of the user”, Tess added.
That means being able to ask our AI copilot about an image. For example, being able to request specific information from a chart without having to read through the immense long-form image description. Or getting AI to rewrite content in the language you need. For example, requesting a reading grade level or even a dialect.
This sparked a bigger question: should we be equipping people with the skills to use AI responsibly for tasks like writing plain language or alt text? As technology advances, ensuring ethical and effective use is more important than ever.
People at CSUN love to share
Attending CSUN for the first time, Ani was struck by the generosity of attendees willing to share their knowledge and helpful tips with someone they just met.
Networking made easy
Hilda Cardenas (JPMorgan Chase) showed Ani how to use LinkedIn’s QR code for seamless connections.
- Step 1: Tap the ‘Search’ field
- Step 2: Click on the QR icon button
- Step 3: Have the other person scan the QR Code to add you
Smarter note-taking
Shivan Mahabir (Princeton University) introduced her to Jamworks, an AI-powered tool that helps students capture key information.
Accessibility lawsuits shape perception
Charlii’s most impactful moment at CSUN happened outside the conference, during an Uber ride. When Charlii mentioned she was in town for a digital accessibility conference, the driver groaned: “Those people make it hard for small business owners because they just sue them”.
It turned out the driver owned a donut shop that had been targeted by a legal firm using automated accessibility scans to send demand letters. She went through a 12-month legal battle and now associates accessibility with lawsuits rather than inclusion. Her website was built by GoDaddy, which, as Charlii noted, “should know better”. Yet small businesses, not web providers, are left vulnerable to litigation.
Americans can’t get enough of Tim Tams
Okay, so we already knew this which is why we came prepared! We brought 300 Tim Tams to CSUN and they were much sought after. It turns out this was the exact right amount, as we ran out of them at Friday lunchtime. Tim Tams are a legendary Australian chocolate biscuit that melt in your mouth.
Small acts of support can spark big conversations
Over the years, Stewart has discovered some of the best CSUN connections happen in unexpected moments, like in a café line or while helping someone navigate the venue. With so many attendees who are blind or have low vision, it’s common to see people pausing conversations to offer directions or a guiding arm.
“I usually don’t give it a second thought and will politely ask if someone needs assistance. I also love that so many other attendees do this to support their fellow attendees”, Stewart shared.
Helping someone navigate the venue isn’t just about getting from A to B. It can lead to unexpected and meaningful conversations. Last year, it was about a documentary. This year, it led Stewart to someone he’d been hoping to meet.
Sometimes, these moments even turn into inside jokes when one of the team went the extra mile (literally) to help a fellow attendee find their hotel room. Top-tier customer service at its finest!
What assertions could mean for accessibility
Sam found one of the standout sessions at CSUN to be an update on WCAG 3’s evolving conformance model, specifically the introduction of assertions. The draft defines these as:
“A formal claim of fact, attributed to a person or organization. An attributable and documented statement of fact regarding procedures practiced in the development and maintenance of the content or product to improve accessibility”.
Sam describes them as “claims that count towards a level of conformance”. An example given was an assertion for text alternatives that might say that they follow an internal style guide.
This raises plenty of questions: How do you prove an assertion? Are all assertions equal? How will they shape compliance? Sam is eager to see how this new approach evolves.
There is strength in community
A CSUN veteran, Andrew was expecting the mood to be low at the conference this year with all the anti-Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) actions happening in the USA. But he was pleasantly surprised at the positive vibe.
This was summed up well by Lainey Feingold in her US Legal Update presentation. She concluded with thoughts along the lines of “even when things seem bad and you seem to be making no progress with accessibility, there is still joy and small successes to be found and a community to support you”. The audience stood and applauded at that!
Everyone loves a mascot
One of the standout moments for many people at CSUN was the appearance of the JAWS shark. Tess summed it up perfectly: “The JAWS shark was roaming for their 30th anniversary. He was more popular than Stevie Wonder”.
JAWS, which stands for Job Access With Speech, is a widely used screen reader that translates on-screen text into speech, helping blind and low-vision users navigate the digital world. The playful ‘JAWS shark’ added a fun touch to the celebration, drawing attention to the incredible impact JAWS has had in enhancing accessibility over the last three decades.
CSUN 2025 was an amazing opportunity to connect, learn, and share with some of the brightest minds in accessibility. We loved meeting so many new people, catching up with a11y friends, and having great conversations. You’re welcome to view our CSUN presentation slides to see what our team presented about.
We’re excited about the future, and grateful for an event that is shaping a more inclusive digital world. We can’t wait for what’s next. See you at CSUN 2026!
