WordPress Accessibility Day is a nonprofit event organized and run by volunteers. We need your help to ensure the event goes smoothly! Read on to learn more about ways that you can help, and fill out our volunteer application if you’re interested in getting involved.
Areas Where Volunteers Are Needed
WordPress Accessibility Day 2026 will run over a 24-hour period from Wednesday, October 7 to Thursday, October 8. Volunteers are needed before, after, and during the event in a variety of roles.
Day-of positions:
Emcees
Emcees are an on-camera role that facilitate sessions. There are responsibilities both before and during the event:
- Provide pre-recorded video introductions for assigned sessions. Pre-recorded introductions are 2 minutes each (or shorter), and we will provide a script for you to read. If you are selected, you must provide us with video recordings by September 1.
- During the event: attend your live session, engage in the chat, then come on camera with the speaker following the pre-recorded session to moderate Q&A. You will read questions from the Zoom Q&A panel to the speaker(s) and close the session out following a pre-written script.
Emcees must have strong English proficiency and an accent that is easily understood by a global audience. Emcee applicants must upload a recording of their voice as part of the application process.
Session Moderators
Session Moderators attend live sessions as an attendee and engage in Zoom chat to:
- Enforce the code of conduct. And, if needed, alert tech admins if users need to be removed.
- Remind attendees to move their questions into the Zoom Q&A feature (if posted in chat) so they can be read during Q&A.
- Answer general questions about the event (we provide you with answers to a list of common questions).
Volunteer Point-of-Contact/Backup Support
Ensure all volunteers check in on Slack 15 minutes before their shift begins, and provide backup support for other volunteers as needed.
Event media positions:
Event Video Reviewer
We’re looking for 4-6 people to help ensure our session videos are correct both before and after the event. Time frames listed below are approximate; exact dates will depend on turnaround time with our video editor.
- September 1-18: Review session videos after they come back from the editing vendor. Spot check assigned videos to ensure that the sponsors’ pre-roll and session introduction were properly edited onto the start of the presentation.
- October 12-28: Review final videos. Check the final edited videos to ensure that the live Q&A was properly edited into the video. As videos are uploaded to the website with the captions and sign language videos, ensure that captions and ASL are available and functional (can be turned on and off, captions and ASL match the duration of the session video, captions are accurate — ASL knowledge is not required, but if you have it, that’s great!).
Post-event Captioning
During the event, captioning will be provided by certified CART providers. After the event, we need volunteers to help ensure that captions for the final videos are accurate. We will provide access to a Descript account and training as needed. Volunteers will review the captions/transcript in Descript and make spelling and accuracy corrections as needed. Strong English proficiency is required.
Post-event Translations
We are looking for individuals who are fluent in English (our primary event language) and another language. We pay for translations into Spanish (South/Latin American), German, and French (European). However, if you are fluent in another language and interested in volunteering, we would love to hear from you!
We will provide the original English transcript and an automatically-generated translation of each 1-hour long presentation. We ask volunteers to review the generated translations and make any edits, as needed, for clarity, readability, and accuracy in the new language to the original English.
If you’re interested, use our Translator Application instead.
Volunteer FAQ
Who can volunteer?
Anyone interested in supporting WordPress Accessibility Day is encouraged to apply! You do not have to have experience volunteering for or organizing an event. Jobs are available for people of all skill levels and abilities and for people with technical and non-technical backgrounds. All you need is enthusiasm for accessibility and excitement to be part of a team putting on a unique global WordPress event.
What time zone do I have to be in?
It doesn’t matter where you are in the world — we’ll have something you can help with. Because WordPress Accessibility Day is a global event taking place over a 24-hour period, there will be volunteer needs over everyone’s day and night. On the volunteer application, you can select your time zone and let us know your preferred times for volunteering.
Most of our organizers are located in North America, so we especially have a need for volunteers in other parts of the world that can help run sessions during our middle-of-the-night hours. (That’s not to say we don’t need North American volunteers. We do!)
Is there a minimum time commitment?
The time commitment depends upon which role you select. Day-of positions are assigned in 3-hour blocks.
Some volunteer tasks can be completed in a few hours on a single day. Other jobs will require a larger commitment. Let us know what time you can give, and we’ll work with that.
What accessibility accommodations do you have for volunteers?
As an accessibility-focused event, we strive to be inclusive and support all people participating in all capacities. We will have live captioners and sign language interpreters available during the event. Pre-event communications take place via Slack or Zoom. During planning meetings, we use automated captions.
If there is a specific accommodation you need to be successful as a volunteer, you can notify us on the volunteer application.
When are volunteers selected and notified?
We’ll be reviewing volunteer applications on a rolling basis. Day-of volunteer applications will close August 21, and volunteers will be notified the following week.
How can I get other questions answered?
If you have other questions about volunteering that were not answered here, please fill out our contact form.