Mike Gifford, CPWA
@ox.ca
Open Standards & Practices lead at @CivicActions.com | #Drupal #Accessibility | Digital Services Coalition Board | @w3c Invited Expert #SustainableWeb #ARRM | http://ox.ca | #SolarPunk #Quaker #Feminist #Canadian #WebAlmanac #IAAPCPWA
#UNOpenSourceWeek
#UNOpenSourceWeek
Reposted by Mike Gifford, CPWA
Canadians travelling to U.S. will be photographed upon entry and exit starting Boxing Day toronto.citynews.ca/2025/12/26/u...
Canadians travelling to U.S. will be photographed upon entry and exit starting Boxing Day
All individuals traveling to the United States will now be photographed before entering or leaving the country starting Friday.
toronto.citynews.ca
December 27, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Canadians travelling to U.S. will be photographed upon entry and exit starting Boxing Day toronto.citynews.ca/2025/12/26/u...
We definitely need more support for the Accessible Canada Act. It is only with political pressure that we are going to see governments actually regulating this. The Act is just the beginning, and is just one tool to make Canada more accessible.
vancouver.citynews.ca/2025/11/25/a...
#accessibility
vancouver.citynews.ca/2025/11/25/a...
#accessibility
Accessibility office in limbo as it calls out federal government's failures
OTTAWA — The federal Office of Public Service Accessibility is in limbo months after it produced a document accusing the government of falling behind on supports for public servants with disabilities....
vancouver.citynews.ca
December 23, 2025 at 3:48 PM
We definitely need more support for the Accessible Canada Act. It is only with political pressure that we are going to see governments actually regulating this. The Act is just the beginning, and is just one tool to make Canada more accessible.
vancouver.citynews.ca/2025/11/25/a...
#accessibility
vancouver.citynews.ca/2025/11/25/a...
#accessibility
What strategies have worked to get organizations to stop advertising for Twitter/X? Some orgs have made the shift here but most still seem to promote their presence on X more than any other. It is tolerable for organizations to meet their users where they are. It is not ok to give free advertising!
December 23, 2025 at 11:50 AM
What strategies have worked to get organizations to stop advertising for Twitter/X? Some orgs have made the shift here but most still seem to promote their presence on X more than any other. It is tolerable for organizations to meet their users where they are. It is not ok to give free advertising!
Reposted by Mike Gifford, CPWA
New on the CivicActions Medium blog: Advancing the Open Web, IRL: Global Standards at W3C TPAC 2025
@ox.ca Mike Gifford reflects on attending W3C TPAC 2025.
medium.com/civicactions...
#OpenWeb #WebStandards #Accessibility #WebSustainability #W3C #FOSS
@ox.ca Mike Gifford reflects on attending W3C TPAC 2025.
medium.com/civicactions...
#OpenWeb #WebStandards #Accessibility #WebSustainability #W3C #FOSS
Advancing the Open Web, IRL: Global Standards at W3C TPAC 2025
By Mike Gifford, Open Standards and Practices Lead
medium.com
December 17, 2025 at 8:24 PM
New on the CivicActions Medium blog: Advancing the Open Web, IRL: Global Standards at W3C TPAC 2025
@ox.ca Mike Gifford reflects on attending W3C TPAC 2025.
medium.com/civicactions...
#OpenWeb #WebStandards #Accessibility #WebSustainability #W3C #FOSS
@ox.ca Mike Gifford reflects on attending W3C TPAC 2025.
medium.com/civicactions...
#OpenWeb #WebStandards #Accessibility #WebSustainability #W3C #FOSS
Reposted by Mike Gifford, CPWA
Thank you to Andy Hawks, our Sr. Director of Drupal Engineering, for creating a Spotify-style wrap that thoughtfully captures the scope of our Drupal team's accomplishments and the gratitude we feel across the organization!
andyhawks.github.io/civicactions...
#CivicActions #FOSS #Drupal
andyhawks.github.io/civicactions...
#CivicActions #FOSS #Drupal
CivicActions 2025 Wrapped
andyhawks.github.io
December 15, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Thank you to Andy Hawks, our Sr. Director of Drupal Engineering, for creating a Spotify-style wrap that thoughtfully captures the scope of our Drupal team's accomplishments and the gratitude we feel across the organization!
andyhawks.github.io/civicactions...
#CivicActions #FOSS #Drupal
andyhawks.github.io/civicactions...
#CivicActions #FOSS #Drupal
I invested in Gander Social. You can too.
gandersocial.ca/blog/i-inves...
#Gander #GanderSocial #Canada #DigitalSovereignty
gandersocial.ca/blog/i-inves...
#Gander #GanderSocial #Canada #DigitalSovereignty
December 13, 2025 at 1:50 AM
I invested in Gander Social. You can too.
gandersocial.ca/blog/i-inves...
#Gander #GanderSocial #Canada #DigitalSovereignty
gandersocial.ca/blog/i-inves...
#Gander #GanderSocial #Canada #DigitalSovereignty
Climate models & weather models all deal with chance and probability. Most of us (including me) do not understand probability all that well. Can we use checking the #weather, personally, to better understand #ClimateChange?
mgifford.github.io/risky-weather/
#ClimateRisk #ExtremeWeather
mgifford.github.io/risky-weather/
#ClimateRisk #ExtremeWeather
Risky Weather: Model Comparison
mgifford.github.io
December 12, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Climate models & weather models all deal with chance and probability. Most of us (including me) do not understand probability all that well. Can we use checking the #weather, personally, to better understand #ClimateChange?
mgifford.github.io/risky-weather/
#ClimateRisk #ExtremeWeather
mgifford.github.io/risky-weather/
#ClimateRisk #ExtremeWeather
Organizing meetings across timezones takes so much time. Here is a way I am hoping to make it a bit easier.
mgifford.github.io/timezone-hel...
It's another open source web app hosted on GitHub.
#OpenSource #Timezones #Meetings #DaylightSavings #Privacy
mgifford.github.io/timezone-hel...
It's another open source web app hosted on GitHub.
#OpenSource #Timezones #Meetings #DaylightSavings #Privacy
Global Meeting Time Helper
mgifford.github.io
December 12, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Organizing meetings across timezones takes so much time. Here is a way I am hoping to make it a bit easier.
mgifford.github.io/timezone-hel...
It's another open source web app hosted on GitHub.
#OpenSource #Timezones #Meetings #DaylightSavings #Privacy
mgifford.github.io/timezone-hel...
It's another open source web app hosted on GitHub.
#OpenSource #Timezones #Meetings #DaylightSavings #Privacy
@a11y-collective.com why isn't this ordered by newest first? www.a11y-collective.com/blog/
Blog
Web Accessibility: What is it? For whom is it important? What can you do to improve the accessibilty of your website? Read it on our blog!
www.a11y-collective.com
December 9, 2025 at 7:41 PM
@a11y-collective.com why isn't this ordered by newest first? www.a11y-collective.com/blog/
I like this call to action for governments from Mastodon blog.joinmastodon.org/2025/12/the-...
The world needs social sovereignty
The world needs to log off corporate-owned, centrally-controlled social media platforms and log on to a better way of being online. The world needs an open social web through the fediverse and Mastodo...
blog.joinmastodon.org
December 9, 2025 at 1:25 PM
I like this call to action for governments from Mastodon blog.joinmastodon.org/2025/12/the-...
Reposted by Mike Gifford, CPWA
APCA + WCAG 2 contrast checker. @ox.ca’s tool to test colors for both WCAG 2.x and APCA compliance with modern CSS support. #a11y #color
mgifford.github.io/contrast-plus/
mgifford.github.io/contrast-plus/
December 8, 2025 at 3:39 PM
APCA + WCAG 2 contrast checker. @ox.ca’s tool to test colors for both WCAG 2.x and APCA compliance with modern CSS support. #a11y #color
mgifford.github.io/contrast-plus/
mgifford.github.io/contrast-plus/
Reposted by Mike Gifford, CPWA
Jutta Treviranus is one of the chapter authors for "Digital Accessibility Ethics: Disability Inclusion in All Things Tech," published in March 2026: buff.ly/HbAHUap
Jutta’s chapter addresses the impacts of #AI for the #disability community and explores ethical AI in our complex, evolving landscape.
Jutta’s chapter addresses the impacts of #AI for the #disability community and explores ethical AI in our complex, evolving landscape.
December 5, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Jutta Treviranus is one of the chapter authors for "Digital Accessibility Ethics: Disability Inclusion in All Things Tech," published in March 2026: buff.ly/HbAHUap
Jutta’s chapter addresses the impacts of #AI for the #disability community and explores ethical AI in our complex, evolving landscape.
Jutta’s chapter addresses the impacts of #AI for the #disability community and explores ethical AI in our complex, evolving landscape.
Quite enjoyed www.gctc.ca/shows/big-st... at the #GCTC tonight.
In Ottawa for only a few more days, but then Winnipeg and Victoria
In Ottawa for only a few more days, but then Winnipeg and Victoria
Big Stuff — GCTC | Great Canadian Theatre Company
She wants to keep everything. He wants to throw it all away! Is she a pack rat? Is he a monster? This hilarious and highly addictive couple wants you to decide. “Baram and Snieckus are as much ...
www.gctc.ca
December 5, 2025 at 3:08 AM
Quite enjoyed www.gctc.ca/shows/big-st... at the #GCTC tonight.
In Ottawa for only a few more days, but then Winnipeg and Victoria
In Ottawa for only a few more days, but then Winnipeg and Victoria
Reposted by Mike Gifford, CPWA
🌍 Check out this great article on Drupal at the United Nations!
The article features insights from CivicActioner @ox.ca Mike Gifford, who speaks to Drupal’s growing role in shaping the future of digital public infrastructure.
www.drupal.org/blog/drupal-...
The article features insights from CivicActioner @ox.ca Mike Gifford, who speaks to Drupal’s growing role in shaping the future of digital public infrastructure.
www.drupal.org/blog/drupal-...
Drupal Goes to the U.N.
The recent Talking Drupal episode featuring Mike Gifford and Tiffany Farriss presents how Drupal is playing a role in the global conversation on digital public infrastructure. Their discussion highlig...
www.drupal.org
December 3, 2025 at 6:17 PM
🌍 Check out this great article on Drupal at the United Nations!
The article features insights from CivicActioner @ox.ca Mike Gifford, who speaks to Drupal’s growing role in shaping the future of digital public infrastructure.
www.drupal.org/blog/drupal-...
The article features insights from CivicActioner @ox.ca Mike Gifford, who speaks to Drupal’s growing role in shaping the future of digital public infrastructure.
www.drupal.org/blog/drupal-...
I created a tool to find the differences between how WCAG 2.x evaluates color and how APCA does it. It should be easier to find when one model actually works better than the other.
mgifford.github.io/apca-wcag2/
#accessibility #a11y #APCA #WCAG #Color #ColorContrast
mgifford.github.io/apca-wcag2/
#accessibility #a11y #APCA #WCAG #Color #ColorContrast
Accessibility Contrast Disagreement Explorer (APCA vs WCAG)
mgifford.github.io
December 2, 2025 at 2:49 PM
I created a tool to find the differences between how WCAG 2.x evaluates color and how APCA does it. It should be easier to find when one model actually works better than the other.
mgifford.github.io/apca-wcag2/
#accessibility #a11y #APCA #WCAG #Color #ColorContrast
mgifford.github.io/apca-wcag2/
#accessibility #a11y #APCA #WCAG #Color #ColorContrast
I've just created a APCA + WCAG 2 Contrast Checker tool to help people choose the best color combinations that suit both the WCAG 2.x requirements and also support the APCA which has some real advantages in some contexts.
mgifford.github.io/contrast-plus/
mgifford.github.io/contrast-plus/
APCA + WCAG 2 Contrast Checker
Compare APCA and WCAG 2.x contrast, see previews, and explore suggestions for foreground, background, and focus colors.
mgifford.github.io
December 1, 2025 at 10:58 PM
I've just created a APCA + WCAG 2 Contrast Checker tool to help people choose the best color combinations that suit both the WCAG 2.x requirements and also support the APCA which has some real advantages in some contexts.
mgifford.github.io/contrast-plus/
mgifford.github.io/contrast-plus/
A good theory is self-evident but you need a window to see it as it is - Dr. Victoria Hurth www.listennotes.com/podcasts/eng...
#Sustainability #ESG
#Sustainability #ESG
Purpose-Driven Governance: Building a Sustainable Future EP 30
00:32:21 - Dr. Victoria Hurth joins Jennifer and Kati for our season finale to explore how purpose-driven governance can transform business decision-making for…
www.listennotes.com
December 1, 2025 at 9:55 PM
A good theory is self-evident but you need a window to see it as it is - Dr. Victoria Hurth www.listennotes.com/podcasts/eng...
#Sustainability #ESG
#Sustainability #ESG
It is still funny watching folks fall asleep on Zoom. I always find that it helps me stay awake, too. Good reminder to turn off my video if I'm feeling drowsy, and may not be fully engaged.
December 1, 2025 at 2:35 PM
It is still funny watching folks fall asleep on Zoom. I always find that it helps me stay awake, too. Good reminder to turn off my video if I'm feeling drowsy, and may not be fully engaged.
Today I build a tool (using ChatGPT) to help determine how often people speak in Zoom meetings. If you have a transcript, you can drop it in here and see how often and where people speak. It also cleans up the formatting so it is easier to read.
#VTT #Transcripts
mgifford.github.io/airtime2/
#VTT #Transcripts
mgifford.github.io/airtime2/
Airtime2: Meeting Participation Analyzer
mgifford.github.io
November 27, 2025 at 11:11 PM
Today I build a tool (using ChatGPT) to help determine how often people speak in Zoom meetings. If you have a transcript, you can drop it in here and see how often and where people speak. It also cleans up the formatting so it is easier to read.
#VTT #Transcripts
mgifford.github.io/airtime2/
#VTT #Transcripts
mgifford.github.io/airtime2/
I hate it when there are more AI Note-takers in a meeting than there are actual people in the meeting.
November 26, 2025 at 4:08 PM
I hate it when there are more AI Note-takers in a meeting than there are actual people in the meeting.
Reposted by Mike Gifford, CPWA
At CivicActions, we’re excited to continue growing the Open Requirements Library!
Check out this new how-to video on how anyone can contribute to the Open Requirements Library: vimeo.com/1138656469?s...
#OpenNovember #FOSS
Check out this new how-to video on how anyone can contribute to the Open Requirements Library: vimeo.com/1138656469?s...
#OpenNovember #FOSS
Open Requirements Library and Github
Learn more about the Open Requirements Library: https://github.com/CivicActions/open-practice/tree/main/open-requirements-library#open-requirements-library #OpenNovember
vimeo.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:14 PM
At CivicActions, we’re excited to continue growing the Open Requirements Library!
Check out this new how-to video on how anyone can contribute to the Open Requirements Library: vimeo.com/1138656469?s...
#OpenNovember #FOSS
Check out this new how-to video on how anyone can contribute to the Open Requirements Library: vimeo.com/1138656469?s...
#OpenNovember #FOSS
Reposted by Mike Gifford, CPWA
Canada now in the "Highly Insufficient" zone on GHG reductions climateactiontracker.org/countries/ca...
Canada
Policies and action against modelled domestic pathways
climateactiontracker.org
November 20, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Canada now in the "Highly Insufficient" zone on GHG reductions climateactiontracker.org/countries/ca...
I do love this idea. They absolutely should!
I love this idea.
Personally, I'm kinda sick of reporting bugs (accessibility, security, usability) to big companies who give nothing back.
Personally, I'm kinda sick of reporting bugs (accessibility, security, usability) to big companies who give nothing back.
Chris Yoong asks the question: “If big tech is happy to run security bug bounty programs, why not accessibility bug bounties?”
November 20, 2025 at 12:10 PM
I do love this idea. They absolutely should!
Do they pipe in bird sounds into Japanese train stations or are they very consistent and loud birds?
November 19, 2025 at 5:29 AM
Do they pipe in bird sounds into Japanese train stations or are they very consistent and loud birds?