Level Up 2026

AI is changing how accessibility work gets done, but AI alone does not replace the program foundations that make progress sustainable. Drawing on new data from the Eighth Annual State of Digital Accessibility Report, Jackie Dutot (Lead Engagement Manager, Program and Strategy, Level Access) explore why AI amplifies a mature accessibility program rather than replacing one. You’ll learn what the highest-performing programs have in common, how to extend your governance framework to cover AI agents and their output, and where AI can lower the barrier to accessibility best practices across your teams.

Speakers

Jackie Dutot Lead Engagement Manager (Program and Strategy), Level Access

Samantha Evans Certification Director, IAAP

AI is reshaping how digital experiences are designed, built, and tested. As the software development life cycle accelerates and the lines between product, design, development, and testing continue to blur, accessibility leaders face a critical challenge: ensure accessibility scales at the same pace as innovation. In this session, Gina Bhawalkar will share Forrester’s perspective on how AI is changing product development, where organizations are successfully applying AI to accessibility today, and why mature accessibility practices, design systems, and human-led governance are essential to turning AI into an accessibility amplifier, not a risk multiplier. You will:

• Learn about the major shifts AI is creating in the SDLC and what they mean for accessibility teams.
• Understand the foundational practices that help organizations reduce risk, sustain investment, and scale accessibility effectively.
• Discover how to apply AI in targeted ways that augment human expertise and amplify the impact of your accessibility program.

Speakers

Gina Bhawalkar Principal Analyst, Forrester

AI-assisted development is enabling teams to build and deploy digital experiences faster than ever. But what happens when the generated code works exactly as intended, yet the resulting experience still creates accessibility barriers?

In this joint customer case study and industry perspective session, attendees will explore a real-world accessibility review involving an AI-generated web component that appeared successful but ultimately failed to deliver an accessible user experience. What initially seemed like a coding issue revealed a deeper challenge: The intended interaction pattern was never clearly defined.

Through the lens of an accessibility audit, participants will examine how modal dialogs, disclosures, tooltips, user expectations, and assistive technology experiences can quickly become misaligned when requirements are unclear. The discussion will then broaden to explore what organizations across the industry are learning as AI-assisted development becomes a larger part of modern software delivery.

Attendees will leave with practical strategies for validating AI-generated solutions, understanding the limits of automation, and ensuring that accessibility intent, user experience, and implementation remain aligned throughout the development life cycle.

Speakers

Brad Held Sr. Lead Quality Assurance – Digital Accessibility, American Public University System

Helen Henriques VP, Customer Experience Strategy, Level Access

This lab helps you move from reacting to accessibility issues toward building a more intentional foundation for accessibility across your digital experiences. You’ll learn how to identify accessibility issues across websites, mobile applications, and documents using a combination of automated testing, ongoing monitoring, AI-assisted capabilities, and expert review.

As you take the first step in your accessibility maturity journey, you’ll explore how organizations establish a baseline, prioritize remediation efforts, and use accessibility data to measure progress over time. You’ll also discover practical approaches for document accessibility, mobile accessibility testing, reporting, and workflow management while gaining a clearer understanding of where automation can accelerate accessibility efforts and where human expertise remains essential.

Speakers

Jon Avila Chief Accessibility Officer, Level Access

Tom Emola Training Consultant, Level Access

Through a “torn from the headlines” scenario facing designers every day, this hands-on lab demonstrates how accessibility can become a repeatable part of modern product delivery rather than a final checkpoint before launch. You’ll follow an AI-assisted product development journey spanning design, development, testing, and deployment while learning how accessibility guidance, automation, and validation can be incorporated throughout the process.

Using industry-leading designer and developer tools and workflows, the session explores practical ways to identify issues earlier, reduce costly rework, and improve consistency across teams.

Speakers

Dana Randall Executive Creative Director, Level Access

Blake Mathews Senior Solutions Engineer, Level Access

As accessibility programs mature, success depends on more than individual projects. It requires a scalable approach that enables teams across the organization to work consistently, measure progress, and continuously improve.

In this lab, you’ll explore how to assess the maturity of your accessibility program, identify operational gaps, benchmark progress, and create a roadmap for continued improvement. You’ll learn how organizations can use metrics, reporting, planning, and shared accessibility knowledge to scale accessibility beyond individual teams and establish it as a sustainable organizational capability. The session also examines how emerging AI technologies can help extend accessibility expertise throughout an enterprise while maintaining consistency and accountability.

Speakers

Erika Congreves Engagement Manager, Level Access

Corbb O’Connor Director of Thought Leadership, Level Access

Nathalia Marins Senior Product Manager, Level Access