December 2025 Newsletter
Features
2026 Predictions: The Next Big Shifts in Web Accessibility
As I gaze ahead to 2026, several trends are already taking shape. These are more than theories and ideas; they are practical shifts that website owners are beginning to feel today.
Global Digital Accessibility Salary Survey #2
A few days remain to submit your responses to this survey that seeks to collect salary and job-related data from digital accessibility professionals.
Upcoming WebAIM Events
- Accessibility in Technology Procurement and Use - January 21
- Virtual Web Accessibility Training - February 18–19
- Document Accessibility Course - January cohort is now open for registrations
Resources
HTMHell Advent Calendar 2025
2025's edition of 24 fantastic articles from dozens of authors worldwide on security, accessibility, UX, and performance.
How to use the WAVE extension and start manual accessibility testing
WAVE is an extension you can install on Chrome, Firefox, or Edge. The WAVE extension gives everyone a free and secure way to check most web content for accessibility. It can also help with manual testing.
You Can't Make Something Accessible to Everyone
Broadly, when someone says something is "accessible" that's a hopeful statement that is based on some best efforts.
Can you make toast messages accessible?
Justification and commentary on the ban on toast messages in Github’s Design System.
Common misconceptions about disability
Disability is often misunderstood or misrepresented online and in mainstream media. In this post, we look at some common misconceptions surrounding disability.
How to Avoid Boiling the Accessibility Ocean
Accessibility programs become manageable when responsibility shifts to the people who create the work in the first place. The accessibility team guides.
5 reasons why WCAG AA compliance does not mean your website is accessible
In this post, I'll cover 5 examples which highlight why WCAG, as great as it is, is not enough on its own.
Designing For Stress And Emergency
Practical guidelines on designing time-critical products that prevent errors and improve accuracy.
Understanding aria-live timing: a two-layer model
Did you know that there are two completely separate systems that determine when live regions are spoken?
The Accessibility Problem With Authentication Methods Like CAPTCHA
CAPTCHAs were meant to keep bots out, but too often, they lock people with disabilities out, too. From image classification to click-based tests, many "human checks" are anything but inclusive. There’s no universal solution, but understanding real user needs is where accessibility truly starts.
Quick Tip: "Invisible" text can still be announced
Content hidden with techniques like opacity: 0, off-screen positioning, or zero-height containers may still be read by assistive technologies. This is useful for accessible labels or hints—but dangerous if you accidentally duplicate information or leave outdated text in the DOM. Always verify what a screen reader announces, not just what you see.