WordPress Accessibility Day 2026

What if We Choose Accessibility Over Beauty? My Story with Epilepsy.

Beginner

October 7, 2026 at 17:00 UTC

Do people really know what it means to live with epilepsy? Or do they think it’s just about seizures and loss of consciousness? Virginia Ciambriello has been asking herself this question since 2008, when she was diagnosed with epilepsy. What does it really mean to be on the web with this condition? It’s not just about seizures—it’s about eyes moving up and down, exhaustion, and headaches.

She has often struggled to find information on websites while trying to avoid flashing banners or low-contrast elements. Being a community also means thinking about accessibility from a human perspective, listening to the needs of people with chronic illnesses. It means realizing that it’s time to prioritize a navigable website, and yes, that website will still be beautiful. Through her story, she will share the most important information about designing for people with epilepsy, starting from a key principle: listening to their stories.

Speaker

Virginia Ciambriello is a gender fluid person in her 30's, with really short and brown hair, brown eyes and colourful glasses. She is smiling in front of the camera, with a blue background.
Communication and Accessibility Consultant, Freelance