Welcome. You are about to begin a two-day journey into open source collaboration using GitHub, VS Code, and GitHub Copilot - all designed for screen reader and keyboard-only navigation. This guide is your starting point and table of contents for everything in this workshop.
This is a two-day workshop built around one idea: you will make real contributions to a real open source project. Not simulated. Not pretend. Real.
Day 1 - GitHub Foundations (Browser) You learn GitHub's web interface using only your keyboard and screen reader. By the end of Day 1, you will have filed issues, opened pull requests, reviewed someone else's work, and resolved a merge conflict - all in the browser.
Day 2 - VS Code + Accessibility Agents (Desktop) You move to Visual Studio Code, learn GitHub Copilot, and activate Accessibility Agents - six AI agents that amplify every skill you built on Day 1. By the end of Day 2, your name is in the commit history of a real open source accessibility project.
Day 1 - Learn the skill in the browser
Navigate → Issue → Pull Request → Review → Merge
↓ (bridge: press . on any GitHub repo - VS Code opens in your browser)
github.dev - VS Code on the web, no install needed
Same keyboard shortcuts · Same screen reader mode · Edit files · Open PRs
↓ (you've earned the desktop - now it makes sense)
Day 2 - Deepen with VS Code + Accessibility Agents
VS Code basics → Copilot inline → Copilot Chat
@daily-briefing → @issue-tracker → @pr-review → @analytics → ship upstream
The key principle: Learn the manual skill first, then see how it is automated. The agents only make sense when you already understand what they are doing.
Complete everything in Chapter 0: Pre-Workshop Setup before Day 1. This chapter walks you through:
- Creating a GitHub account
- Installing Git
- Setting up VS Code (optional for Day 1, required for Day 2)
- Configuring your screen reader for GitHub
- Verifying everything works
Time needed: About 30 minutes.
These chapters are designed to be read and practiced in order. Each builds on the one before it.
| # | Chapter | What You Will Learn | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 00 | Pre-Workshop Setup | Install and configure everything before Day 1 | 30 min |
| 01 | Understanding GitHub's Web Structure | How GitHub is organized - page types, headings, landmarks, screen reader orientation | 1 hr |
| 02 | Navigating Repositories | Explore any repo using your screen reader - tabs, files, commits, branches | 45 min |
| 03 | The Learning Room | Your shared practice environment - challenges, PR workflow, bot feedback, peer review | 30 min |
| 04 | Working with Issues | File, search, filter, comment on, and manage issues | 1 hr |
| 05 | Working with Pull Requests | Create, review, comment on, and merge pull requests | 1 hr |
| 06 | Merge Conflicts | Understand why conflicts happen and how to resolve them | 1 hr |
| 07 | Culture and Etiquette | Open source communication - tone, reviews, inclusive language | 30 min |
| 08 | Labels, Milestones and Projects | Organize and cross-reference work | 45 min |
| 09 | Notifications and Mentions | Manage your inbox, @mentions, and subscriptions | 30 min |
Day 1 Total: ~7.5 hours of structured time
Day 2 moves you from the browser to the desktop. Every skill maps directly to what you learned on Day 1.
| # | Chapter | What You Will Learn | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | VS Code: Setup & Accessibility Basics | VS Code interface, github.dev, screen reader mode, keyboard navigation, Accessible Help and Diff | 45 min |
| 11 | VS Code: Git & Source Control | Clone, branch, stage, commit, push, merge - all from VS Code | 1 hr |
| 12 | VS Code: GitHub Pull Requests Extension | View, review, create, and merge PRs from inside VS Code | 45 min |
| 13 | VS Code: GitHub Copilot | Inline suggestions, Copilot Chat, effective prompting, custom instructions | 1 hr |
| 14 | Accessible Code Review | Navigate diffs and review PRs with a screen reader - the culminating skill before automation | 1.5 hrs |
| 15 | Issue Templates | Create and customize GitHub issue templates with YAML | 1.5 hrs |
| 16 | Accessibility Agents | Six agents, 28 slash commands, building custom agents, agentic workflows | 1.5 hrs |
Day 2 Total: ~8 hours of structured time
Open these at any time during the workshop. They are not part of the chapter sequence - use them when you need them.
| Appendix | Document | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| A | Glossary | Every term, concept, and piece of jargon explained |
| B | Screen Reader Cheat Sheet | NVDA, JAWS, and VoiceOver navigation commands plus GitHub keyboard shortcuts |
| Appendix | Document | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| C | Accessibility Standards Reference | WCAG 2.2, ARIA roles and patterns, PR accessibility checklist |
| D | Git Authentication | SSH keys, Personal Access Tokens, credential storage, commit signing |
| E | GitHub Flavored Markdown | Alert blocks, Mermaid diagrams, math, footnotes, heading anchors |
| F | GitHub Gists | Code snippets, sharing, embedding, cloning |
| G | GitHub Discussions | Forum-style conversations, Q&A, polls, accessibility navigation |
| H | Releases, Tags, and Insights | Versioned releases, semver, pulse, contributors, traffic |
| I | GitHub Projects Deep Dive | Boards, tables, roadmaps, custom fields, cross-repo projects |
| J | Advanced Search | Complete query language reference for issues, PRs, code, and repos |
| K | Branch Protection and Rulesets | Required reviews, status checks, diagnosing blocked PRs |
| L | Security Features | Dependabot, secret scanning, code scanning, private advisories |
| Appendix | Document | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| M | VS Code Accessibility Reference | All accessibility settings, audio signals, diff viewer, screen reader configs |
| N | GitHub Codespaces | Cloud development environments, accessibility setup, screen reader usage |
| V | Accessibility Agents Reference | Six agents, 28 slash commands, customization, workspace configuration |
| W | Copilot Reference | Copilot features, chat participants, slash commands, MCP servers |
| X | Copilot AI Models | Model comparison, strengths, plan availability, selection guidance |
| Appendix | Document | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| O | GitHub Mobile | VoiceOver and TalkBack guide for iOS and Android |
| P | Publishing with GitHub Pages | Deploy a static site from your repository |
| Q | GitHub Actions and Workflows | Automation, CI/CD, agentic workflows |
| R | Profile, Sponsors, and Wikis | Profile README, GitHub Sponsors, GitHub Wikis |
| S | Organizations and Templates | Organizations, repo templates, visibility, archiving |
| Appendix | Document | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| T | Contributing to Open Source | Finding issues, scoping contributions, writing PRs, building a habit |
| U | Resources | Every link, tool, and reference from this event |
| Y | Accessing Workshop Materials | How to download, read offline, and keep updated |
The workshop includes 24 structured exercises across the curriculum. Every exercise is designed to be completed in 1-5 minutes, is impossible to fail, and follows the same pattern: Try It → You're done when → What success feels like.
| Chapter | Exercise | What You Do |
|---|---|---|
| Ch 1 | 60-Second Orientation | Press 1, D, 2, H on a repo page - prove you can navigate by ear |
| Ch 2 | Five-Tab Tour | Visit Code, Issues, PRs, file finder, and README on a real repo |
| Ch 3 | Individual Challenges | 12 progressive challenges in the Learning Room |
| Ch 3 | Group Challenges | 7 collaborative exercises in the Learning Room |
| Ch 4 | File Your First Issue | Create an introduction issue in the Learning Room |
| Ch 5 | Read a Real PR | Navigate a PR's description, conversation, and diff |
| Ch 6 | Read a Conflict | Read merge conflict markers and identify both versions |
| Ch 7 | Rewrite One Comment | Transform a dismissive review comment into constructive feedback |
| Ch 8 | Label and Link | Add a label to an issue and create a cross-reference |
| Ch 9 | Tame Your Inbox | Mark a notification as done and configure watch settings |
| Ch 10 | Try It Right Now | Open a repo in github.dev, enable screen reader mode, explore |
| Ch 11 | Clone, Branch, Commit | Complete the full Git cycle: clone → branch → edit → stage → commit → push |
| Ch 12 | Review a PR from VS Code | Open a diff, use Accessible Diff Viewer (F7), leave a comment |
| Ch 13 | First Copilot Conversation | Ask Copilot Chat a question about your repo and read the response |
| Ch 14 | Exercise A | Complete a web-based PR review using screen reader navigation |
| Ch 14 | Exercise B | Use the VS Code Accessible Diff Viewer on the same PR |
| Ch 14 | Exercise C | Compare web vs. VS Code review and document findings |
| Ch 15 | Exercise A | Use an existing issue template in Accessibility Agents |
| Ch 15 | Exercise B | Create an accessibility bug report template locally |
| Ch 15 | Exercise C | Submit your template upstream via a real PR |
| Ch 15 | Exercise D | Design a custom template for your own project |
| Ch 16 | Exercise 1 | Generate a template with the @template-builder agent |
| Ch 16 | Exercise 2 | Extend the @template-builder agent with new workflows |
| Ch 16 | Exercise 3 | Practice iterative refinement with agents |
If you get stuck at any point during the workshop, these resources are always available:
| Resource | What It Is | When to Use It |
|---|---|---|
| FAQ | Answers to common questions | When you have a question about the workshop, GitHub, or screen readers |
| Troubleshooting | Step-by-step solutions to common problems | When something is not working |
| Quick Reference | Condensed shortcuts and commands | When you need a keyboard shortcut or command fast |
| Glossary | Term definitions | When you encounter an unfamiliar word |
| Screen Reader Cheat Sheet | Navigation commands | When you need a screen reader shortcut |
| Resources | External links and documentation | When you want to learn more about a topic |
Still stuck? Open an issue on this repository describing what you tried, what happened, and what you expected. Include your screen reader and operating system.
| Aspect | Day 1 | Day 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | GitHub web interface | VS Code + Accessibility Agents |
| Tools | Browser, screen reader | VS Code, Copilot, Accessibility Agents |
| Skills | Navigate, Issue, PR, Review, Merge | Git in VS Code, Copilot Chat, Agents, Ship |
| Outcome | You can use GitHub independently | Your name is in a real project's commit history |
| Time | ~7.5 hours | ~8 hours |
Ready to begin? Start with Chapter 0: Pre-Workshop Setup.
Last updated: February 2026