Digital Accessibility Community of Practice (DACoP)
The DACoP is a welcoming, inclusive space for people across Aotearoa New Zealand to connect, share, and learn about making digital experiences more accessible.
2026 DACoP meeting dates
Future presentations
: Lightning talks
Lightning talks are short, 5-10 minute talks on a particular topic, in this case accessibility. In September we have 4 lightning talks:
Maia Miller will share her top 3 audit checks: what to test before anything else
Benni Eustace will demonstrate using Voice control on IOS and Voice assistance on Android
Daniela Lopez will discuss getting accessibility certified by the International Association of Accessibility Professionals
Katherine Barcham will demonstrate using speech recognition software as an assistive technology
Previous presentations
: Using AI to improve accessibility
Whaikaha-Ministry of Disabled People run the programme for providing all-of-government information in alternate formats including audio, Braille, Easy Read, large print and NZSL.
Jasmine Lindsay, Manager of Operations and Delivery at Whaikaha discussed how AI is being piloted to improve document accessibility and support kaimahi to create clearer, plain-language information. She shared the Whaikaha AI journey so far, looked closely at the document accessibility pilot, and reflected on what's shown promise, what's been challenging, and what others might take forward in their own work.
: UI design systems for digital delivery
Peter Koenders from Ministry of Social Development (MSD) explored how a UI design system provides a shared foundation for consistent, accessible digital delivery. He discussed what a design system is (and is not), how it supports teams working at scale, accessibility by design, measurable outcomes, and the role of governance, contribution, and continuous improvement.
2026
What resonates when introducing accessibility? Reflections from 2 design lecturers
Drs Catherine Cauldwell and Gillian McCarthy discussed how arguments for greater accessibility awareness resonate with students, and where the students see opportunities to make improvements in their own workplaces.
2026
Dr Claire Bretherton from Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People shared their recent experience accessible surveys for consulting with disabled people.
2026
Katherine Barcham from the Government Digital Delivery Agency (GDDA) talked about:
how hidden disabilities can affect how our audience understands or interacts with our content
what you can do to make your writing stand up to the test.
2026
Digital accessibility coaching: a practical experience
Chandra Harrison from Access Advisors talked about her experience mentoring a group of 4 Victoria University students participating in the Masters UX Design Capstone project.
The goal was to give them hands-on experience with digital accessibility — evaluating real not-for-profit websites, identifying issues, and designing improvements using best practice guidelines.
2026
Free accessibility tools and how to use them
Maia Miller from Aleph Accessibility explored a range of free tools that fit into each part of the development lifecycle. These can help you check, improve and maintain accessibility in your digital products.
2025 Presentations
November - Getting accessibility ready for a design system (Intopia)
October – Whaikaha Ministry of Disabled People: Accessibility Charter, alternate formats, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) strategy
September – Gaining senior stakeholder engagement (Catalyst)
August – Research insights from the Digital Accessibility Standard (Katherine Barcham, Web Standards team)
July – Basic accessibility testing (Ministry of Social Development (MSD))
June – Accessibility in large-scale web development (Department of Conservation)
May – Accessible documents and training for screen reader users (Wellington City Council and MSD)
April – EN 301 549 demystified (Jason Kiss, Web Standards team)
March – Structured accessibility audits (MSD)
February – DACoP welcome and updates (Web Standards team)
What DACoP is about
DACoP brings together people from the public and private sectors who care about digital accessibility. Each month there are presentations and discussions that explore practical solutions, share lessons learned, and highlight different approaches to accessibility.
It’s a place to:
hear from others working in the field
ask questions — technical, theoretical, or practical
discover best practices and new resources
connect with a supportive network of peers.
Whether you're just starting out or have years of experience, DACoP is here to support your journey.
Join DACoP
To join the Digital Accessibility Community of Practice, email web.standards@gdda.govt.nz. You will get a link to the monthly Teams meetings and you will be added to the mailing list.
Who can join
DACoP is open to anyone with an interest in digital accessibility. You do not need to work for government and you do not need to be an expert — just be curious and keen to learn. The community includes designers, developers, policy advisors, testers, content creators and more.
Who runs DACoP
DACoP is hosted by the Web Standards team at the Government Digital Delivery Agency (GDDA). The team supports the work of the Government Chief Digital Officer (GCDO) by maintaining the NZ Government Web Standards and helping government agencies to meet them.
DACoP mailing list
DACoP members will receive 1 email a month including things like:
topics of interest from the community
upcoming presentations
recent accessibility guidance and resources
news or invitations to accessibility-related events
updates from the Web Standards team.
To opt out at any time, email web.standards@gdda.govt.nz. You’re still welcome to attend sessions even if you’re not on the mailing list.
Monthly sessions
DACoP meets online using Microsoft Teams on the last Thursday of each month, from 10am to 12pm. Attendance is free and you can come and go as you like, depending on your schedule.
Each session typically includes 1 or 2 presentations, followed by open discussion. The format is informal and supportive — perfect for asking questions and sharing ideas.
Sessions are not recorded
To foster open conversation, sessions are not recorded. We only record the organisations represented and the topics discussed.
