Register for Summit and One Session in Each Block
Identifying barriers and Implementing UDL in course design (Blocks 1 & 3)
Presenter: Erin Scanlon
Instructors will be introduced to the Variations Planning Tool (VPT) to critically examine who is being privileged and taxed based on their ability and the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework to identify and guide implementation and inclusive instructional practices. Select one session below
Register for Identifying Barriers and Implementing UDL in Course Design Block 1
Introduction to Neurodiversity (Block 1)
Presenter: Liam McDermott
This will be a discussion on neurodiversity in higher education. It will start with an introduction of the neurodiversity paradigm for research and education and then a discussion will follow about the experiences of neurodivergent students, staff, and faculty in higher education. It will end with an open discussion on how we can make higher education neuroinclusive, both at the student and the faculty/staff level.
Register for Introduction to Neurodiversity
Making Digital Instructional Materials and Course Sites Accessible (Blocks 1 & 3)
Presenter: Kelsey Keefe
The eCampus Accessibility Checklist is a tool instructors can use to make their course content accessible to students with disabilities. While initially created to aid faculty developing online courses, it can be applied to digital content (e.g., HuskyCT sites, PowerPoint slides, Word documents) in courses of any modality. By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Recognize the prevalence of students with disabilities and assistive technology use in higher education.
- Compare the experiences of navigating inaccessible and accessible HuskyCT course sites with assistive technology.
- Describe how the eCampus Accessibility Checklist items align with Universal Design for Learning (UDL) considerations.
- Recognize eCampus Accessibility Checklist items, their purpose, and resources for implementation.
Use accessibility tools to identify accessibility issues in HuskyCT course sites and documents. Register for one session below.
Register for Making Instructional Materials and Course Sites Accessible Block 1
Introduction to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) (Block 1)
Presenter: Karen Skudlarek
The individuals that use WCAG vary widely, so, to meet the varying needs of this audience, several layers of guidance are provided including overall principles, general guidelines, testable success criteria and a rich collection of sufficient techniques, advisory techniques, and documented common failures with examples, resource links and code.
Register for Introduction to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
Introduction to Disability Experience (Block 1)
Presenter: Xian Wu
This session shares key insights from the Courses to Careers (C2C) project—a multi-institutional effort to dismantle ableism in physics through community-centered professional development. Grounded in disability justice, the project brings together physics instructors and disabled students to create inclusive educational practices and explore equitable transitions from college to careers. The session invites reflection, dialogue, and action toward creating a more inclusive academic culture.
Register for the Introduction to Disability Experience
Moving beyond access: intermediate UDL (Block 2)
Presenter: Andi Kent
This session will discuss strategies to create inclusive learning environments that foster engagement, participation, and meaningful learning experiences for all students. Gain practical tools to transform your teaching and enhance learner agency – creating students who are authentic, reflective, and action-oriented.
Register for Moving Beyond Access: Intermediate UDL
Introduction to Disability Theory and Models (Block 2)
Presenter: Matt Guthrie
Register for Introduction to Disability Theory and Models
How to Navigate Student Accommodations (Blocks 2 & 4)
Presenters: Christine Wenzel, Megan Nemeroff, and Terran Turetsky
As a faculty member, you have undoubtedly received an accommodation letter from the Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD). This session will aim to:
- explain the process students and the CSD engage in to request and approve accommodations
- legal mandates that guide the work we do
- break down accommodation letters
- review specific accommodations and applying them to your courses
Attendees will be able to talk with CSD staff to ask specific questions and will be given a faculty handbook to consult as a resource. Accommodations process at the regional campuses will also be discussed.
Register for How to Navigate Student Accommodations Block 2
Color and Images: How to ensure they are accessible (Block 2)
Presenter: Tyler Alexander
Ensure colors and images on your documents, presentations, and websites. etc., are accessible. Topics include color contrast, color blindness, tools for checking color contrast, when to add alt text, and how to write alt text.
Register for Color and Images: How to ensure they are accessible
10 ways to improve your website accessibility and Tools to check website accessibility (Block 2 & 3)
Presenter: Karen Skudlarek
Creating an accessible website is easier than you think and is a smart business decision. But mostly, it’s the right thing to do. In this session, we’ll dive into creating accessible websites.
Register for 10 ways to improve your website accessibility and Tools to check website accessibility
Assistive technology in and out of the classroom (Lunch)
Presenter: Cheryl Slane
UConn’s Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD) will provide a tour and demonstration of commonly used classroom assistive technologies. Emphasis will be placed on how instructors can support students in using assistive technology in the classroom setting.
Registration is not required.
Poster Sessions (Lunch)
Registration is not required.
Identifying barriers and Implementing UDL in course design (Blocks 1 & 3)
Presenter: Erin Scanlon
Instructors will be introduced to the Variations Planning Tool (VPT) to critically examine who is being privileged and taxed based on their ability and the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework to identify and guide implementation and inclusive instructional practices. Select one session below
Register for Identifying Barriers and Implementing UDL in Course Design Block 3
Making Digital Instructional Materials and Course Sites Accessible (Blocks 1 & 3)
Presenter: Kelsey Keefe
The eCampus Accessibility Checklist is a tool instructors can use to make their course content accessible to students with disabilities. While initially created to aid faculty developing online courses, it can be applied to digital content (e.g., HuskyCT sites, PowerPoint slides, Word documents) in courses of any modality. By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Recognize the prevalence of students with disabilities and assistive technology use in higher education.
- Compare the experiences of navigating inaccessible and accessible HuskyCT course sites with assistive technology.
- Describe how the eCampus Accessibility Checklist items align with Universal Design for Learning (UDL) considerations.
- Recognize eCampus Accessibility Checklist items, their purpose, and resources for implementation.
Use accessibility tools to identify accessibility issues in HuskyCT course sites and documents. Register for one session below.
Register for Making Instructional Materials and Course Sites Accessible Block 3
Rubrics and Accessible Assessments (Block 3)
Presenter: Sally Chamberland
Description to come!
Register for Designing Accessible Assessments
10 ways to improve your website accessibility and Tools to check website accessibility (Blocks 2 & 3)
Presenter: Karen Skudlarek
Creating an accessible website is easier than you think and is a smart business decision. But mostly, it’s the right thing to do. In this session, we’ll dive into creating accessible websites.
Register for 10 ways to improve your website accessibility and Tools to check website accessibility
Collaborating for Access: Working Effectively with Interpreters, Captioners, and Tech Tools (Block 3)
Presenters: Audrey Silva and Keri Darling
Ensuring accessible communication is essential for inclusive learning and engagement. Knowing how to effectively support ASL interpreting and live captioning (CART) services isn’t always intuitive. This interactive workshop offers practical guidance for faculty, staff, event organizers, and campus partners on how to collaborate with communication access providers before, during, and after an event or class session. Participants will learn the differences between ASL and CART services, when and how to request them, and how to avoid common mistakes that can impact access. As our community becomes more proactive about accessibility planning (a great step forward!), we’ll also address the reality of limited resources and explain how requests are prioritized. When live ASL or CART services are not available, we’ll share best practices and recommended tools for enabling auto-generated captions and building in baseline accessibility. Whether you’re new to these services or looking to refine your approach, you’ll leave with actionable strategies to make your events and programs more inclusive and communication-friendly.
Creating Accessible STEM Documents (Block 4)
Presenter: Matt Guthrie
Description to come!
Register for Creating Accessible STEM Documents
Supporting Disabled Graduate Students Outside the Classroom (Block 4)
Presenter: Erin Scanlon
Graduate students hold dual roles – as employees and students. This session will focus on best practices to support disabled graduate students in research and teaching (outside of their learning environment).
Register for Supporting Disabled Graduate Students Outside the Classroom
How to Navigate Student Accommodations (Blocks 2 & 4)
Presenters: Christine Wenzel, Megan Nemeroff, and Terran Turetsky
As a faculty member, you have undoubtedly received an accommodation letter from the Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD). This session will aim to:
- explain the process students and the CSD engage in to request and approve accommodations
- legal mandates that guide the work we do
- break down accommodation letters
- review specific accommodations and applying them to your courses
Attendees will be able to talk with CSD staff to ask specific questions and will be given a faculty handbook to consult as a resource. Accommodations process at the regional campuses will also be discussed.
Register for How to Navigate Student Accommodations Block 4
Creating accessible Word, PowerPoint, and PDF Files (Block 4)
Presenter: Karen Skudlarek
This workshop is designed for anyone who creates documents, including Word documents, PDFs, presentations, and online content. This course prioritizes core accessibility principles and provides a basic understanding of creating and repairing accessible documents.
Register for Creating accessible Word, PowerPoint, and PDF Files
Introduction to Neurodiversity
Presenter: Andi Kent
This workshop will have two main parts. First an introduction to the concepts of neurodiversity and neurodivergent learners – who are these folks, what strengths do they bring to the classroom and where they might struggle. Second, this workshop will focus on practical strategies for creating neuroinclusive learning environments across our university contexts