Speaker
Description
Free and open-source software is meant to be for everyone. But that promise often falls short when digital barriers are built into our interfaces. Accessibility (a11y) is not an afterthought—it's a foundational design principle that determines who gets to participate in the open-source ecosystem.
This session will demonstrate how to integrate accessibility into the frontend development process from day one. We’ll walk through practical strategies for building inclusive components using React, Tailwind CSS, and Storybook. Attendees will learn how to test their interfaces with tools like axe-core, eslint-plugin-jsx-a11y, and Lighthouse, and how to design UI patterns that serve users with diverse abilities.
We'll also explore the human side of a11y in open source: writing inclusive documentation, reviewing pull requests with empathy, and encouraging contributors from all backgrounds.
By making accessibility part of your everyday workflow—not an extra task—you help build software that reflects the values of the community: openness, equity, and collaboration.
Any other info we should know?
This is a practical talk with real code examples, aimed at developers and maintainers of open-source projects who want to make their software more inclusive. The presentation is not interactive but will include short demo segments and tools the audience can try later. The topic is moderately technical but accessible to anyone with basic HTML/CSS/JS knowledge. No prior accessibility experience required.
Session author's bio
Abelardo Valdez is a Team Lead and Full-Stack Developer with over 7 years of experience building scalable web applications in cloud-native environments. He specializes in frontend architecture with React and Angular, with a strong focus on accessible UI design, component reusability, and modular systems.
Abelardo has led cross-functional teams in designing inclusive interfaces for multi-brand platforms, implementing design systems, and integrating accessibility best practices.
| Please confirm that there are included headshots of all speakers in their profiles | Yes |
|---|---|
| Social Media | https://www.linkedin.com/in/abelardovp/ |
| In Person Attendance | In-person |
| Level of Difficulty | Beginner |
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