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Number of posts in this thread: 36 (In chronological order)

From: Jared Smith
Date: Aug 22, 2025 3:11PM
Subject: Decommissioning the WebAIM email discussion list
No previous message | Next message →

It is with sadness that I share that effective next Wednesday, August 27th, this email list will be shut down.

Unfortunately with modern spam filters and complex and inane requirements for sending bulk emails (especially on behalf of others) it has simply become untenable for us to maintain the list. Many of the major email providers are currently blocking all list messages from being delivered and no suitable resolution has been achieved with them. Our hardware – which has sent 10s of millions of emails – is nearing its end of life. We have also seen a drop in participation and content quality in recent years. We’re very sad to see it go, but it is time.

The WebAIM list was started almost 26 years ago with a small group of WebAIM staff members conversing back and forth. Since then there have been nearly 50,000 distinct messages distributed to thousands of subscribers. Once described as “the water cooler of web accessibility”, the list has provided invaluable information sharing and collaboration. The list archives (https://webaim.org/discussion/archives) will be maintained to provide ongoing access to this body of knowledge. WebAIM also hosts a blog (https://webaim.org/blog/), monthly newsletter (https://webaim.org/newsletter/), and will host another WebAIM online conference (https://conference.webaim.org/) next month – all to support the incredible WebAIM community.

We’re grateful to all of you for your participation over the years!

Jared Smith
Director, WebAIM

From: Ilana Gordon
Date: Aug 22, 2025 3:13PM
Subject: Re: Decommissioning the WebAIM email discussion list
← Previous message | Next message →

Hi Jared,

That is really a shame. There have been so many times where reaching out to
the list has been so helpful.

Thanks for 26 years of making it work.

Regards,
Ilana

On Fri, Aug 22, 2025 at 5:11 PM Jared Smith via WebAIM-Forum <
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:

> It is with sadness that I share that effective next Wednesday, August
> 27th, this email list will be shut down.
>
> Unfortunately with modern spam filters and complex and inane requirements
> for sending bulk emails (especially on behalf of others) it has simply
> become untenable for us to maintain the list. Many of the major email
> providers are currently blocking all list messages from being delivered and
> no suitable resolution has been achieved with them. Our hardware – which
> has sent 10s of millions of emails – is nearing its end of life. We have
> also seen a drop in participation and content quality in recent years.
> We’re very sad to see it go, but it is time.
>
> The WebAIM list was started almost 26 years ago with a small group of
> WebAIM staff members conversing back and forth. Since then there have been
> nearly 50,000 distinct messages distributed to thousands of subscribers.
> Once described as “the water cooler of web accessibility”, the list has
> provided invaluable information sharing and collaboration. The list
> archives (https://webaim.org/discussion/archives) will be maintained to
> provide ongoing access to this body of knowledge. WebAIM also hosts a blog (
> https://webaim.org/blog/), monthly newsletter (
> https://webaim.org/newsletter/), and will host another WebAIM online
> conference (https://conference.webaim.org/) next month – all to support
> the incredible WebAIM community.
>
> We’re grateful to all of you for your participation over the years!
>
> Jared Smith
> Director, WebAIM
>
>
>

--
Ilana Gordon
CEO
Word Wizards, Inc
8609 2nd Avenue, Unit 406-B
Silver Spring, MD 20910
*v.*301-986-0808 *fax.*301-986-0809
*Direct: 240-380-2639*
www.wordwizardsinc.com

From: Hayman, Douglass
Date: Aug 22, 2025 3:16PM
Subject: Re: - Decommissioning the WebAIM email discussion list
← Previous message | Next message →

Nooooo! Could it move to a mailman list? When I was at UW we had at least 90 lists we ran and I think that Athen is still hosted there. I'm no longer there and instead across Puget Sound but perhaps one of the people still in Accessible Technology services would host?

Doug Hayman
IT Accessibility Coordinator
Information Technology
Olympic College
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
(360) 475-7632

From: Steve Green
Date: Aug 22, 2025 3:17PM
Subject: Re: Decommissioning the WebAIM email discussion list
← Previous message | Next message →

That's very sad. I participate in a few other discussion forums such as IAAP and WCAG GitHub, but WebAIM has a different vibe and has members I don't see elsewhere. It would be interesting to hear which other forums people participate in.

Steve Green
Managing Director
Test Partners Ltd

From: Ryan E. Benson
Date: Aug 22, 2025 3:39PM
Subject: Re: Decommissioning the WebAIM email discussion list
← Previous message | Next message →

I am in a number Google Groups that are on this topic, but they have been
dead for 10+ years. There's a number of groups on Facebook, and subreddits.

--
Ryan E. Benson


On Fri, Aug 22, 2025 at 5:26 PM Steve Green via WebAIM-Forum <
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:

> That's very sad. I participate in a few other discussion forums such as
> IAAP and WCAG GitHub, but WebAIM has a different vibe and has members I
> don't see elsewhere. It would be interesting to hear which other forums
> people participate in.
>
> Steve Green
> Managing Director
> Test Partners Ltd
>

From: Dean.Vasile---
Date: Aug 22, 2025 6:15PM
Subject: Re: Decommissioning the WebAIM email discussion list
← Previous message | Next message →

Wow, Jared
I only found this list maybe about two years ago.
I’m sad to see it go but thank you for doing all that you did for all these years
Dean Vasile
IAAP, CPACC
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
617-799-1162

> On Aug 22, 2025, at 5:11 PM, Jared Smith via WebAIM-Forum < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:
>
> It is with sadness that I share that effective next Wednesday, August 27th, this email list will be shut down.
>
> Unfortunately with modern spam filters and complex and inane requirements for sending bulk emails (especially on behalf of others) it has simply become untenable for us to maintain the list. Many of the major email providers are currently blocking all list messages from being delivered and no suitable resolution has been achieved with them. Our hardware – which has sent 10s of millions of emails – is nearing its end of life. We have also seen a drop in participation and content quality in recent years. We’re very sad to see it go, but it is time.
>
> The WebAIM list was started almost 26 years ago with a small group of WebAIM staff members conversing back and forth. Since then there have been nearly 50,000 distinct messages distributed to thousands of subscribers. Once described as “the water cooler of web accessibility”, the list has provided invaluable information sharing and collaboration. The list archives (https://webaim.org/discussion/archives) will be maintained to provide ongoing access to this body of knowledge. WebAIM also hosts a blog (https://webaim.org/blog/), monthly newsletter (https://webaim.org/newsletter/), and will host another WebAIM online conference (https://conference.webaim.org/) next month – all to support the incredible WebAIM community.
>
> We’re grateful to all of you for your participation over the years!
>
> Jared Smith
> Director, WebAIM
>
>

From: Joshua Hori
Date: Aug 22, 2025 6:17PM
Subject: Re: Decommissioning the WebAIM email discussion list
← Previous message | Next message →

Athen has recently moved to google groups as UW also closed down their listservs. Sad to see WebAIM go but thankful for bringing us all together over the years.

Best,

Joshua Hori

Get Outlook for Android<https://aka.ms/AAb9ysg>

From: WebAIM-Forum < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > on behalf of Ryan E. Benson via WebAIM-Forum < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
Sent: Friday, August 22, 2025 2:40:09 PM
To: WebAIM Discussion List < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
Cc: Ryan E. Benson < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] Decommissioning the WebAIM email discussion list

I am in a number Google Groups that are on this topic, but they have been
dead for 10+ years. There's a number of groups on Facebook, and subreddits.

--
Ryan E. Benson


On Fri, Aug 22, 2025 at 5:26 PM Steve Green via WebAIM-Forum <
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:

> That's very sad. I participate in a few other discussion forums such as
> IAAP and WCAG GitHub, but WebAIM has a different vibe and has members I
> don't see elsewhere. It would be interesting to hear which other forums
> people participate in.
>
> Steve Green
> Managing Director
> Test Partners Ltd
>

From: Philip Kiff
Date: Aug 22, 2025 7:56PM
Subject: Re: Decommissioning the WebAIM email discussion list
← Previous message | Next message →

This is indeed sad news, Jared. Though understandable, given the
challenges of mailing lists these days, and the other reasons you mention.

I cannot express strongly enough how grateful I am to you and the WebAIM
team for starting this list and keeping it going all these years. It is
not often that anything on the web lasts more than 5 years, let alone
more than 25.

I just checked my files, and I see that I first subscribed to this list
around 2002-2003 - they year when I first started to learn about web
accessibility. My first post was in 2004. Since then, I have learned
more about accessibility from this list and its members than from any
other single source on the web. It has served as a virtual community for
me, and a vast, detailed archive of (sometimes obscure, and sometimes
arcane!) knowledge on all kinds of accessibility issues.

A sincere, deeply felt, thank you. I know that WebAIM will continue to
do great work moving forward, and I will no doubt consult the archives
for many years to come, but this list and its community and collective
knowledge will be sorely missed.

Philip Kiff
D4K Communications

On 2025-08-22 5:11 p.m., Jared Smith via WebAIM-Forum wrote:
> It is with sadness that I share that effective next Wednesday, August 27th, this email list will be shut down.
>
> Unfortunately with modern spam filters and complex and inane requirements for sending bulk emails (especially on behalf of others) it has simply become untenable for us to maintain the list. Many of the major email providers are currently blocking all list messages from being delivered and no suitable resolution has been achieved with them. Our hardware – which has sent 10s of millions of emails – is nearing its end of life. We have also seen a drop in participation and content quality in recent years. We’re very sad to see it go, but it is time.
>
> The WebAIM list was started almost 26 years ago with a small group of WebAIM staff members conversing back and forth. Since then there have been nearly 50,000 distinct messages distributed to thousands of subscribers. Once described as “the water cooler of web accessibility”, the list has provided invaluable information sharing and collaboration. The list archives (https://webaim.org/discussion/archives) will be maintained to provide ongoing access to this body of knowledge. WebAIM also hosts a blog (https://webaim.org/blog/), monthly newsletter (https://webaim.org/newsletter/), and will host another WebAIM online conference (https://conference.webaim.org/) next month – all to support the incredible WebAIM community.
>
> We’re grateful to all of you for your participation over the years!
>
> Jared Smith
> Director, WebAIM
>
>

From: shankar
Date: Aug 22, 2025 9:29PM
Subject: Re: Decommissioning the WebAIM email discussion list
← Previous message | Next message →

I am sorry to know about the shutting down of this list.
I am the member since 2018 and learnt a lot from the list.
All the best for list owner and the moderators.

From: Jeevan Reddy
Date: Aug 23, 2025 12:04AM
Subject: Re: Decommissioning the WebAIM email discussion list
← Previous message | Next message →

It is sad to hear that webaim list is decommissioning. Thanks for serving
Jared for all these 26 years. This list help me a lot in my career Initial
days 2010-2015. Those times there was no much information about Web
accessibility except webaim forum. Wonderful serving. Jared, hope you will
come up with new innovative solution for the accessibility community

All the best.

Best Regards,
Jeevan Reddy,
Accessibility Consultant,
Infosys Ltd,
Bangalore, India.




On Sat, Aug 23, 2025, 9:16 AM shankar via WebAIM-Forum <
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:

> I am sorry to know about the shutting down of this list.
> I am the member since 2018 and learnt a lot from the list.
> All the best for list owner and the moderators.
>
>
>
>

From: Brandon Keith Biggs
Date: Aug 23, 2025 12:41AM
Subject: Re: Decommissioning the WebAIM email discussion list
← Previous message | Next message →

Hello,
Could consideration please be made to transitioning to:
https://groups.io/
Which is a free email list service with modern spam controls?
This is a very active email list, and I find it extremely valuable.
Thank you,


Brandon Keith Biggs <http://brandonkeithbiggs.com/>;


On Fri, Aug 22, 2025 at 2:40 PM Ryan E. Benson via WebAIM-Forum <
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:

> I am in a number Google Groups that are on this topic, but they have been
> dead for 10+ years. There's a number of groups on Facebook, and subreddits.
>
> --
> Ryan E. Benson
>
>
> On Fri, Aug 22, 2025 at 5:26 PM Steve Green via WebAIM-Forum <
> = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:
>
> > That's very sad. I participate in a few other discussion forums such as
> > IAAP and WCAG GitHub, but WebAIM has a different vibe and has members I
> > don't see elsewhere. It would be interesting to hear which other forums
> > people participate in.
> >
> > Steve Green
> > Managing Director
> > Test Partners Ltd
> >

From: Nicholas Bromley
Date: Aug 23, 2025 6:47AM
Subject: Re: Decommissioning the WebAIM email discussion list
← Previous message | Next message →

Sad news indeed. A big thank you to everyone who's contributed over the years, both behind the scenes to keep things running, and in the many messages and discussions that have provided invaluable advice and frequently made me think differently about things.

I use the IAAP Connections board, though that's pretty quiet and is behind a paywall, the W3C mailing lists and GitHub sites, and - more than anything these days - the web-a11y Slack community (https://accessibility.github.io/a11yslack/), which has a whole load of different channels for specialist areas and is very active. It's free but invite only.

All the best to everyone.

Nick

---
Nick Bromley
Director & Accessibility Consultant
Red Kite Digital Accessibility Ltd

From: BrianD
Date: Aug 23, 2025 8:16AM
Subject: Re: Decommissioning the WebAIM email discussion list
← Previous message | Next message →

I agree with Steve, this is sad news.
I've gotten a lot from this list as an accessibility professional over the last number of years, from other professionals in this space too.
Would you consider moving the list to another provider?

I'm also interested in hearing other forums that accessibility people participate in.

Best wishes,

Brian Dalton.

From: Léonie Watson
Date: Aug 23, 2025 1:40PM
Subject: Re: Decommissioning the WebAIM email discussion list
← Previous message | Next message →

Thank you Jared, to you and everyone at WebAIM.



On 22/08/2025 22:11, Jared Smith via WebAIM-Forum wrote:
> It is with sadness that I share that effective next Wednesday, August 27th, this email list will be shut down.
>
> Unfortunately with modern spam filters and complex and inane requirements for sending bulk emails (especially on behalf of others) it has simply become untenable for us to maintain the list. Many of the major email providers are currently blocking all list messages from being delivered and no suitable resolution has been achieved with them. Our hardware – which has sent 10s of millions of emails – is nearing its end of life. We have also seen a drop in participation and content quality in recent years. We’re very sad to see it go, but it is time.
>
> The WebAIM list was started almost 26 years ago with a small group of WebAIM staff members conversing back and forth. Since then there have been nearly 50,000 distinct messages distributed to thousands of subscribers. Once described as “the water cooler of web accessibility”, the list has provided invaluable information sharing and collaboration. The list archives (https://webaim.org/discussion/archives) will be maintained to provide ongoing access to this body of knowledge. WebAIM also hosts a blog (https://webaim.org/blog/), monthly newsletter (https://webaim.org/newsletter/), and will host another WebAIM online conference (https://conference.webaim.org/) next month – all to support the incredible WebAIM community.
>
> We’re grateful to all of you for your participation over the years!
>
> Jared Smith
> Director, WebAIM
>
>

--

Léonie Watson (she/her)
Director
https://tetralogical.com

Looking to kick start or refresh your accessibility knowledge? Then
sign-up for our free six day newsletter Accessibility Unlocked!
<https://tetralogical.com/newsletters/accessibility-unlocked/>

From: ecrire---
Date: Aug 23, 2025 4:31PM
Subject: Re: Decommissioning the WebAIM email discussion list
← Previous message | Next message →

Dear WebAim,

I want to thank you for giving us this valuable forum for over 2
decades. It has been one of the most important tools in the field and
also contributed immensely to the web accessibility community. You will
be missed.

Best,
Catherine


On 2025-08-22 17:11, Jared Smith via WebAIM-Forum wrote:
> It is with sadness that I share that effective next Wednesday, August
> 27th, this email list will be shut down.
>
> Unfortunately with modern spam filters and complex and inane
> requirements for sending bulk emails (especially on behalf of others)
> it has simply become untenable for us to maintain the list. Many of the
> major email providers are currently blocking all list messages from
> being delivered and no suitable resolution has been achieved with them.
> Our hardware – which has sent 10s of millions of emails – is nearing
> its end of life. We have also seen a drop in participation and content
> quality in recent years. We’re very sad to see it go, but it is time.
>
> The WebAIM list was started almost 26 years ago with a small group of
> WebAIM staff members conversing back and forth. Since then there have
> been nearly 50,000 distinct messages distributed to thousands of
> subscribers. Once described as “the water cooler of web accessibility”,
> the list has provided invaluable information sharing and collaboration.
> The list archives (https://webaim.org/discussion/archives) will be
> maintained to provide ongoing access to this body of knowledge. WebAIM
> also hosts a blog (https://webaim.org/blog/), monthly newsletter
> (https://webaim.org/newsletter/), and will host another WebAIM online
> conference (https://conference.webaim.org/) next month – all to support
> the incredible WebAIM community.
>
> We’re grateful to all of you for your participation over the years!
>
> Jared Smith
> Director, WebAIM

From: Srinivasu Chakravarthula
Date: Aug 23, 2025 11:52PM
Subject: Re: Decommissioning the WebAIM email discussion list
← Previous message | Next message →

This has been my first mailing I got subscribed to in 2005 when Ibstarted my accessibility journey.

Thank you Kared and entire WebAIM team.

Regards,
Srinivasu Chakravarthula
Director of Accessibility
Freshworks

Sent from Outlook for iOS<https://aka.ms/o0ukef>
From: WebAIM-Forum < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > on behalf of ecrire--- via WebAIM-Forum < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
Sent: Sunday, August 24, 2025 4:01:44 AM
To: WebAIM Discussion List < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
Cc: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] Decommissioning the WebAIM email discussion list

Dear WebAim,

I want to thank you for giving us this valuable forum for over 2
decades. It has been one of the most important tools in the field and
also contributed immensely to the web accessibility community. You will
be missed.

Best,
Catherine


On 2025-08-22 17:11, Jared Smith via WebAIM-Forum wrote:
> It is with sadness that I share that effective next Wednesday, August
> 27th, this email list will be shut down.
>
> Unfortunately with modern spam filters and complex and inane
> requirements for sending bulk emails (especially on behalf of others)
> it has simply become untenable for us to maintain the list. Many of the
> major email providers are currently blocking all list messages from
> being delivered and no suitable resolution has been achieved with them.
> Our hardware – which has sent 10s of millions of emails – is nearing
> its end of life. We have also seen a drop in participation and content
> quality in recent years. We’re very sad to see it go, but it is time.
>
> The WebAIM list was started almost 26 years ago with a small group of
> WebAIM staff members conversing back and forth. Since then there have
> been nearly 50,000 distinct messages distributed to thousands of
> subscribers. Once described as “the water cooler of web accessibility”,
> the list has provided invaluable information sharing and collaboration.
> The list archives (https://webaim.org/discussion/archives) will be
> maintained to provide ongoing access to this body of knowledge. WebAIM
> also hosts a blog (https://webaim.org/blog/), monthly newsletter
> (https://webaim.org/newsletter/), and will host another WebAIM online
> conference (https://conference.webaim.org/) next month – all to support
> the incredible WebAIM community.
>
> We’re grateful to all of you for your participation over the years!
>
> Jared Smith
> Director, WebAIM

From: Birkir R. Gunnarsson
Date: Aug 24, 2025 4:40AM
Subject: Re: Decommissioning the WebAIM email discussion list
← Previous message | Next message →

Thanks Jared and team for running this show for us.
I started bugging people on here around 15 years ago as an aspiring
unemployed software engineer looking for a career change. Thanks in large
part to this list and the awesome people on here I learned enough to get
into the digital accessibility business.
It is, as I usually say in my presentations "the best job I wish I never
had", because in the perfect world accessibility wouldn't be the
responsibility of a relatively small community of experts, it'd be built
into everything. Still, we've come a long way towards that goal in the last
decade though there's still a much longer way to go.




On Sun, Aug 24, 2025 at 1:52 AM Srinivasu Chakravarthula via WebAIM-Forum <
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:

> This has been my first mailing I got subscribed to in 2005 when Ibstarted
> my accessibility journey.
>
> Thank you Kared and entire WebAIM team.
>
> Regards,
> Srinivasu Chakravarthula
> Director of Accessibility
> Freshworks
>
> Sent from Outlook for iOS<https://aka.ms/o0ukef>
> > From: WebAIM-Forum < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > on behalf of
> ecrire--- via WebAIM-Forum < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> Sent: Sunday, August 24, 2025 4:01:44 AM
> To: WebAIM Discussion List < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> Cc: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> Subject: Re: [WebAIM] Decommissioning the WebAIM email discussion list
>
> Dear WebAim,
>
> I want to thank you for giving us this valuable forum for over 2
> decades. It has been one of the most important tools in the field and
> also contributed immensely to the web accessibility community. You will
> be missed.
>
> Best,
> Catherine
>
>
> On 2025-08-22 17:11, Jared Smith via WebAIM-Forum wrote:
> > It is with sadness that I share that effective next Wednesday, August
> > 27th, this email list will be shut down.
> >
> > Unfortunately with modern spam filters and complex and inane
> > requirements for sending bulk emails (especially on behalf of others)
> > it has simply become untenable for us to maintain the list. Many of the
> > major email providers are currently blocking all list messages from
> > being delivered and no suitable resolution has been achieved with them.
> > Our hardware – which has sent 10s of millions of emails – is nearing
> > its end of life. We have also seen a drop in participation and content
> > quality in recent years. We’re very sad to see it go, but it is time.
> >
> > The WebAIM list was started almost 26 years ago with a small group of
> > WebAIM staff members conversing back and forth. Since then there have
> > been nearly 50,000 distinct messages distributed to thousands of
> > subscribers. Once described as “the water cooler of web accessibility”,
> > the list has provided invaluable information sharing and collaboration.
> > The list archives (https://webaim.org/discussion/archives) will be
> > maintained to provide ongoing access to this body of knowledge. WebAIM
> > also hosts a blog (https://webaim.org/blog/), monthly newsletter
> > (https://webaim.org/newsletter/), and will host another WebAIM online
> > conference (https://conference.webaim.org/) next month – all to support
> > the incredible WebAIM community.
> >
> > We’re grateful to all of you for your participation over the years!
> >
> > Jared Smith
> > Director, WebAIM
>
>
>

--
Work hard. Have fun. Make history.

From: Patrick H. Lauke
Date: Aug 24, 2025 4:49AM
Subject: Re: Decommissioning the WebAIM email discussion list
← Previous message | Next message →

Sad news...end of an era.

P
--
Patrick H. Lauke

* https://www.splintered.co.uk/
* https://github.com/patrickhlauke
* https://flickr.com/photos/redux/
* https://mastodon.social/@patrick_h_lauke

From: L Snider
Date: Aug 24, 2025 5:37AM
Subject: Re: Decommissioning the WebAIM email discussion list
← Previous message | Next message →

Very sad to hear! I remember when this started and joined early on. Thanks
to everybody who shared their knowledge, and thanks to WebAim for bringing
us together for those years.

Cheers

Lisa

On Sun, Aug 24, 2025 at 7:50 AM Patrick H. Lauke via WebAIM-Forum <
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:

> Sad news...end of an era.
>
> P
> --
> Patrick H. Lauke
>
> * https://www.splintered.co.uk/
> * https://github.com/patrickhlauke
> * https://flickr.com/photos/redux/
> * https://mastodon.social/@patrick_h_lauke
>
>
>

From: Sandy Feldman
Date: Aug 24, 2025 10:22AM
Subject: Re: Decommissioning the WebAIM email discussion list
← Previous message | Next message →

Jared and everyone at WebAim, thank you for keeping the list going for
all these years. It's been a wonderful resource and an extraordinary
community.

It's been a privilege to be privy to the conversations that happen here,
and to be able to get help from the knowledgeable and accomplished
people on this list. It's been more than once I've been completely stuck
and within minutes of posting someone's written back saying, "here's
what's going on ...".

Thank you for making that possible.

Sandy
https://sandyfeldman.com
https://www.a11yready.com


On 2025-08-22 5:11 p.m., Jared Smith via WebAIM-Forum wrote:
> It is with sadness that I share that effective next Wednesday, August 27th, this email list will be shut down.
>
> Unfortunately with modern spam filters and complex and inane requirements for sending bulk emails (especially on behalf of others) it has simply become untenable for us to maintain the list. Many of the major email providers are currently blocking all list messages from being delivered and no suitable resolution has been achieved with them. Our hardware – which has sent 10s of millions of emails – is nearing its end of life. We have also seen a drop in participation and content quality in recent years. We’re very sad to see it go, but it is time.
>
> The WebAIM list was started almost 26 years ago with a small group of WebAIM staff members conversing back and forth. Since then there have been nearly 50,000 distinct messages distributed to thousands of subscribers. Once described as “the water cooler of web accessibility”, the list has provided invaluable information sharing and collaboration. The list archives (https://webaim.org/discussion/archives) will be maintained to provide ongoing access to this body of knowledge. WebAIM also hosts a blog (https://webaim.org/blog/), monthly newsletter (https://webaim.org/newsletter/), and will host another WebAIM online conference (https://conference.webaim.org/) next month – all to support the incredible WebAIM community.
>
> We’re grateful to all of you for your participation over the years!
>
> Jared Smith
> Director, WebAIM
>
>

From: Jeff Gutsell
Date: Aug 24, 2025 12:12PM
Subject: Re: Decommissioning the WebAIM email discussion list
← Previous message | Next message →

I second Brandon’s proposal. I think this listserv has just been wonderful for making it clear to newbies that web. Accessibility is doable.
Sent from my iPhone

> On Aug 23, 2025, at 1:41 AM, Brandon Keith Biggs via WebAIM-Forum < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:
>
> Hello,
> Could consideration please be made to transitioning to:
> https://groups.io/
> Which is a free email list service with modern spam controls?
> This is a very active email list, and I find it extremely valuable.
> Thank you,
>
>
> Brandon Keith Biggs <http://brandonkeithbiggs.com/>;
>
>
>> On Fri, Aug 22, 2025 at 2:40 PM Ryan E. Benson via WebAIM-Forum <
>> = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:
>>
>> I am in a number Google Groups that are on this topic, but they have been
>> dead for 10+ years. There's a number of groups on Facebook, and subreddits.
>>
>> --
>> Ryan E. Benson
>>
>>
>> On Fri, Aug 22, 2025 at 5:26 PM Steve Green via WebAIM-Forum <
>> = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:
>>
>>> That's very sad. I participate in a few other discussion forums such as
>>> IAAP and WCAG GitHub, but WebAIM has a different vibe and has members I
>>> don't see elsewhere. It would be interesting to hear which other forums
>>> people participate in.
>>>
>>> Steve Green
>>> Managing Director
>>> Test Partners Ltd
>>>

From: Nicholas Bromley
Date: Aug 24, 2025 12:52PM
Subject: Re: Decommissioning the WebAIM email discussion list
← Previous message | Next message →

Sad news indeed. A big thank you to everyone who's contributed over the years, both behind the scenes to keep things running, and in the many messages and discussions that have provided invaluable advice and frequently made me think differently about things.

I use the IAAP Connections board, though that's pretty quiet and is behind a paywall, the W3C mailing lists and GitHub sites, and - more than anything these days - which has a whole load of different channels for specialist areas and is very active. It's free but invite only.

All the best to everyone.

Nick

From: Richter,Susan
Date: Aug 25, 2025 3:46AM
Subject: Re: Decommissioning the WebAIM email discussion list
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I echo the thanks from everyone here. I only recently joined this list and in my short time here have found the discussion here extremely informative and have really appreciated everyone's willingness to share knowledge and opinion. I was just getting prepared to ask my first question on the list, and now it's going away ☹

To that end, if anyone has any suggestions on alternative lists and/or resources like this - I hope it's not a violation of list policy to ask if you might share the names and/or URLs. I would love to find an alternative resource for accessibility questions. I know of the IAAP list, but I am not "currently" a member there - but it's on my "to do" list.

Many thanks to everyone

Susan Richter
Senior Web Interface Developer

From: Mosley, Leigh
Date: Aug 25, 2025 6:25AM
Subject: Re: Decommissioning the WebAIM email discussion list
← Previous message | Next message →

Hi Susan,

The Educause IT Accessibility Community listserv is quite active and I find it helpful https://www.educause.edu/community/it-accessibility-community-group

But I definitely share your sadness over the demise of the WebAIM list.

Best
Leigh

Leigh Mosley, MA, MLS, CPWA
Accessibility Coordinator
University of Tennessee Libraries
1015 Volunteer Boulevard
Knoxville, TN 37996-1000
865-974-0011
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =

Schedule a meeting with me: https://calendly.com/leighmosley

From: Andrews, David B (DEED)
Date: Aug 25, 2025 7:01AM
Subject: Re: Decommissioning the WebAIM email discussion list
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This makes me sad indeed, mailing lists work particularly well for blind people, but I share your pain.

I run over 300 lists for the National Federation of the Blind, NFB, and fighting with Microsoft, Yahoo, etc., has almost become a fulltime job. We suffer from one ban to another. We are doing, what we have been doing for over 20 years, and all of a sudden it isn't acceptable.

Thanks for all the messages, and education and knowledge.

Dave

From: Andrews, David B (DEED)
Date: Aug 25, 2025 7:04AM
Subject: Re: - Decommissioning the WebAIM email discussion list
← Previous message | Next message →

You could run it on Mailman, I would consider it, but you would have the same problems with spam filters, bans etc. This is a problem for list providers.

Dave

From: Tom Livingston
Date: Aug 25, 2025 7:27AM
Subject: Re: Decommissioning the WebAIM email discussion list
← Previous message | Next message →

Thanks for all you have done and all the help. This and the venerable CSS-D
list by Eric Meyer were a great source of support.


––

Tom Livingston



>

From: Andrews, David B (DEED)
Date: Aug 25, 2025 9:44AM
Subject: Re: Decommissioning the WebAIM email discussion list
← Previous message | Next message →

It is free for smaller lists, but if I remember right, the cut off is 100 members.

Dave

From: Gill Rawlings
Date: Aug 26, 2025 1:18AM
Subject: Re: : Decommissioning the WebAIM email discussion list
← Previous message | Next message →

It's a sad, sad day - I have found this forum immensely helpful over the many years I've been a member. Thanks for keeping it running over the years.

I'm not on many other things, so am going to have to start looking where else to go to get this valuable support and information! It's been a great community.

G

Gill Rawlings
Durham County Council
website/electronic information management

From: Joshue O'Connor - InterAccess
Date: Aug 26, 2025 2:03AM
Subject: Re: : Decommissioning the WebAIM email discussion list
← Previous message | Next message →

Sorry to see this.

Kudos for the work that Jared and the team have done for the community
(for this list and the still excellent resource that is WebAIM).

It's much appreciated and brought us all together to share and learn
from back in the day.

Thanks

--
Joshue O’Connor
Director | InterAccess.ie



------ Original Message ------
From "Gill Rawlings via WebAIM-Forum" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
To "'WebAIM Discussion List'" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
Cc "Gill Rawlings" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
Date 26/08/2025 08:18:57
Subject Re: [WebAIM] [EXTERNAL]: Decommissioning the WebAIM email
discussion list

>It's a sad, sad day - I have found this forum immensely helpful over the many years I've been a member. Thanks for keeping it running over the years.
>
>I'm not on many other things, so am going to have to start looking where else to go to get this valuable support and information! It's been a great community.
>
>G
>
>Gill Rawlings
>Durham County Council
>website/electronic information management
>

From: Sailesh Panchang
Date: Aug 26, 2025 9:23AM
Subject: Re: Decommissioning the WebAIM email discussion list
← Previous message | Next message →

Thanks Jared and the Team,
WebAIM has done yeoman's service to the field of digital accessibility and
has always been a resource to everyone engaged in this field.
It will be sorely missed by many.
Thanks very much,
Sailesh Panchang

Email: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
Deque Systems Inc | - Accessibility for Good | www.deque.com














On Mon, Aug 25, 2025 at 11:44 AM Andrews, David B (DEED) via WebAIM-Forum <
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:

> It is free for smaller lists, but if I remember right, the cut off is 100
> members.
>
> Dave
>
>
>

From: E.A. Draffan
Date: Aug 26, 2025 9:41AM
Subject: Re: Decommissioning the WebAIM email discussion list
← Previous message | Next message →

I could not agree more with all the sentiments. Quarter of a century plus of amazing support for us all.
So much access and assistive technology knowledge shared and gained. Thank you to all the team.
Best wishes
E.A.
Sent from my mobile phone

> On 26 Aug 2025, at 16:23, Sailesh Panchang via WebAIM-Forum < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:
>
> CAUTION: This e-mail originated outside the University of Southampton.
>
> Thanks Jared and the Team,
> WebAIM has done yeoman's service to the field of digital accessibility and
> has always been a resource to everyone engaged in this field.
> It will be sorely missed by many.
> Thanks very much,
> Sailesh Panchang
>
> Email: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
> Deque Systems Inc | - Accessibility for Good | http://www.deque.com/
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>> On Mon, Aug 25, 2025 at 11:44 AM Andrews, David B (DEED) via WebAIM-Forum <
>> = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:
>>
>> It is free for smaller lists, but if I remember right, the cut off is 100
>> members.
>>
>> Dave
>>
>>
>>

From: Ashley Abaragu
Date: Aug 26, 2025 1:56PM
Subject: Re: Invitation to the W3C WAI Accessibility Discussion List [was: Decommissioning the WebAIM email discussion list]
← Previous message | Next message →

Hi everyone,

This is Ashley Abaragu, Chair of the W3C Web Accessibility Initiative
Interest Group (WAI IG). As Jared shared last week, the WebAIM list is
unfortunately shutting down after 25+ years of facilitating valuable
collaboration and discussion.

We invite you to join the WAI Interest Group
<https://www.w3.org/WAI/about/groups/waiig/#mailinglist> Discussion List to
continue important conversations about digital accessibility. Before
sending a message, please ensure you read the section on Using the
Discussion List.
<https://www.w3.org/WAI/about/groups/waiig/#using-the-discussion-list>

Thank you!

--
Best Regards,
Ashley

*Ashley Abaragu* (she/they)
AccessWorks Program Manager | WAI IG Chair
Knowbility <https://knowbility.org/> / AccessWorks
<https://access-works.com/> / WAI Interest Group
<https://www.w3.org/WAI/about/groups/waiig/>
#: (512) 527-3138 x108 / = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
Hours: Mon-Thu 8AM-5PM CT, Fri by appointment

From: Espinosa-Aguilar, Amanda (ESD)
Date: Aug 26, 2025 2:11PM
Subject: Re: Decommissioning the WebAIM email discussion list
← Previous message | Next message →

I'm so sad to read this message and completely understand why you all have made this decision.

This listserv has been an invaluable community, especially for those of us who didn't start as actual accessibility specialists but have become accessibility advocates. Thank you all for making this space available to us to learn and share in for so long.

Most sincerely yours,
Amanda

From: Max Starkenburg
Date: Aug 27, 2025 12:34PM
Subject: Re: Decommissioning the WebAIM email discussion list
← Previous message | Next message →

I can also second the web-a11y Slack as a wonderful resource of
knowledgable folks sharing web-accessibility
information/resources/answers/support. I may be able to provide invites if
you email me (off-list) with your email address.

In mourning,

Max
--
Maxwell M. Starkenburg
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =



On Sat, Aug 23, 2025 at 8:47 AM Nicholas Bromley via WebAIM-Forum <
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:

> Sad news indeed. A big thank you to everyone who's contributed over the
> years, both behind the scenes to keep things running, and in the many
> messages and discussions that have provided invaluable advice and
> frequently made me think differently about things.
>
> I use the IAAP Connections board, though that's pretty quiet and is behind
> a paywall, the W3C mailing lists and GitHub sites, and - more than anything
> these days - the web-a11y Slack community (
> https://accessibility.github.io/a11yslack/), which has a whole load of
> different channels for specialist areas and is very active. It's free but
> invite only.
>
> All the best to everyone.
>
> Nick
>
> ---
> Nick Bromley
> Director & Accessibility Consultant
> Red Kite Digital Accessibility Ltd
>

From: Laura Roberts
Date: Aug 27, 2025 2:46PM
Subject: Re: Decommissioning the WebAIM email discussion list
← Previous message | No next message

I'm saddened to hear this. This listserv has saved me so many times! Has
adding a forum to the WebAim website been considered?

Thanks for all you have done and continue to do for us.

Best regards,
Laura Roberts

On Fri, Aug 22, 2025, 5:11 PM Jared Smith via WebAIM-Forum <
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:

> It is with sadness that I share that effective next Wednesday, August
> 27th, this email list will be shut down.
>
> Unfortunately with modern spam filters and complex and inane requirements
> for sending bulk emails (especially on behalf of others) it has simply
> become untenable for us to maintain the list. Many of the major email
> providers are currently blocking all list messages from being delivered and
> no suitable resolution has been achieved with them. Our hardware – which
> has sent 10s of millions of emails – is nearing its end of life. We have
> also seen a drop in participation and content quality in recent years.
> We’re very sad to see it go, but it is time.
>
> The WebAIM list was started almost 26 years ago with a small group of
> WebAIM staff members conversing back and forth. Since then there have been
> nearly 50,000 distinct messages distributed to thousands of subscribers.
> Once described as “the water cooler of web accessibility”, the list has
> provided invaluable information sharing and collaboration. The list
> archives (https://webaim.org/discussion/archives) will be maintained to
> provide ongoing access to this body of knowledge. WebAIM also hosts a blog (
> https://webaim.org/blog/), monthly newsletter (
> https://webaim.org/newsletter/), and will host another WebAIM online
> conference (https://conference.webaim.org/) next month – all to support
> the incredible WebAIM community.
>
> We’re grateful to all of you for your participation over the years!
>
> Jared Smith
> Director, WebAIM
>
>
>