Global Accessibility Awareness Day at UCF
On May 21, UCF comes together to recognize Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), a day to highlight the importance of creating digital experiences that everyone can use.
This year, the Digital Accessibility Lab, the Center for Distributed Learning, and other campus partners are proud to host a series of engaging opportunities to learn, connect, and take action. We’ll be hosting a live webinar exploring key accessibility topics, best practices, and real-world insights that empower our campus community to create more accessible digital content.
You can also stop by our tabling event on the Student Union’s South Patio from 9 to 2 p.m., where you can connect with staff members to discover valuable campus resources, and pick up giveaways while learning how to make a meaningful impact.
Whether you’re new to accessibility or advancing your expertise, GAAD at UCF is your opportunity to be part of a more inclusive digital future.
UCF GAAD Webinar
Join us on May 21 at 11 a.m. for UCF’s live Global Accessibility Awareness Day Webinar. This webinar includes sessions designed to spark conversation, share practical insights, and empower you to create more inclusive digital experiences. Some topics we’ll cover are:
- accessibility features in Webcourses
- captioning content accurately
- using AI to build foundational preparedness for accessible materials
- how UCF Graduate Studies uses templates and resources to create accessible thesis and dissertation formatting
- a video on understanding student expectations and responsibilities related to accessible content.
- and a demonstration on how to scan webpages for accessibility
Webinar Agenda
Introductions
11 a.m.
We’ll begin with a brief introduction from Kevin Price and Delaney Gunnell, who will provide an overview of digital accessibility and highlight UCF’s ongoing commitment to fostering an inclusive and accessible online community.
Captioning Quality Assurance: Tips for Effective Deaf/Hard of Hearing (DHH) Support
11:10 a.m.
Want to learn how to make high quality and accurate captions? Attend this session to enhance your captioning practices and improve access for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) audiences. Karen Tinsley-Kim and Audrey Ford will share hands-on strategies for evaluating and improving captions, addressing common challenges, and creating more accessible multimedia experiences.
AI + Accessibility Course Planner
11:35 a.m.
Learn how to take advantage of AI in shaping more accessible course design. Nafije Prishtina and Karen Tinsley-Kim will present practical ways to leverage AI for accessibility planning, simplify course development workflows, and create learning materials that better support a wide range of student needs.
Built-in Accessibility in Webcourses@UCF
12 p.m.
This online session is designed for instructors and designers who want to explore integrated accessibility tools in Webcourses@UCF (Canvas). Elisabeth Greenwood and Ryan Wilcox will focus on practical uses and recent features of tools such as the Canvas Accessibility Checker, UDOIT 4.0, student accessibility tools and resources, and updated accessible templates.
Access from the Start: Embedding Digital Accessibility in Thesis & Dissertation Formatting with Microsoft Word
12:30 p.m.
This presentation provided by Nathalia Bauer and Wendy Cartier explores how UCF’s College of Graduate Studies integrates digital accessibility into thesis and dissertation formatting through a Microsoft Word template and related resources, emphasizing key accessibility principles and their role in creating well‑structured, compliant scholarly documents.
What Does Accessibility Mean to UCF Students?
1 p.m.
This video introduces students to their rights and responsibilities in promoting digital accessibility at UCF. It covers what accessible content looks like in Webcourses, how accommodations work, and practical ways students can contribute to creating inclusive digital environments both inside and outside the classroom.
Spot the Barrier
1:15 p.m.
In this quick demo, participants will learn how to uncover hidden accessibility barriers on web pages by using evaluation tools. Keyur Patel and Andrea Marcano will demonstrate how to review checker results, recognize common problem areas, and take meaningful first steps toward improving user access.
Presenter Bios
Delaney Gunnell
Hello, my name is Delaney Gunnell. I just graduated from UCF this spring with a BS in biotechnology and a minor in technical communication.
After working at the Digital Accessibility Lab for almost a year now, I have learned a lot about how to implement digital accessibility into all of my projects! I am passionate about creating accessible communication tools and have been eager to contribute to various trainings and events. Working in accessibility leads to life-long learning, and I am excited to continue to find ways to make information more accessible.
Kevin Price, MSW
Kevin Price, MSW, is the Digital Accessibility Program Manager for the University of Central Florida’s Digital Accessibility Lab. He has worked in assistive technology and digital accessibility for more than thirty-three years across multiple higher education institutions. Kevin’s work focuses on helping faculty, staff, and campus partners create accessible digital content, technology, and learning environments for people with disabilities.
Audrey Ford
Audrey is a UCF alumna who currently works as a Student Success Coach supporting UCF Online students across a variety of programs. She previously worked with the Florida Division of Blind Services and served as an Accessibility Specialist at a Florida state college, where she developed a strong understanding of the importance of accessible digital communication.
Karen Tinsley-Kim
Karen Tinsley-Kim, on the iDev Team at CDL, coordinates Deaf/Hard of Hearing (DHH) reactive online modality accessibility reviews for students connected with Student Accessibility Services (SAS). She enjoys learning the latest to enhance online accessibility and, likewise, orient, inspire, and equip instructors who use Webcourses@UCF. In 2013, she proposed the idea for the LTI now known as UDOIT (Universal Design Online content Inspection Tool, pronounced “You do it”), which continues to receive widespread accolades and awards thanks to the continuing robust development by the LS&T team at CDL.
Nafije Prishtina
Nafije Prishtina is an Instructional Technology Specialist at CDL, where she supports and oversees more than 6,000 non-academic and professional development courses in Webcourses@UCF. Her work focuses on accessible course design, learner engagement, AI-enhanced instructional practices, and creating inclusive learning experiences for diverse audiences. Nafije holds a master’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with concentrations in Cognitive Science and Instructional Design, and she regularly presents on, instructional innovation, mindfulness-based learning design, and the practical integration of AI in education.
Elisabeth Greenwood
Elisabeth Greenwood is the Manager of Training and Development in the Center for Distributed Learning, and as such provides training to faculty on how to implement accessibility principles in their online content and ensures that documentation and materials provided meet accessibility standards. She has been advocating for accessibility for over 20 years, and uses a variety of accommodations herself. You can recognize her car because it is the one with all the cats on it!
Ryan Wilcox
Ryan Wilcox serves as the Team Lead for the Webcourses@UCF Support team at the Center for Distributed Learning. Ryan is a proactive advocate for digital inclusion, ensuring that all new support content is born-accessible and leading efforts to retroactively resolve accessibility barriers within existing courses. He is known for his coaching approach with faculty, often using routine support calls as an opportunity to demonstrate the Webcourses@UCF Accessibility Checker and empower instructors to fix errors in real-time. Outside of the office, Ryan is a dedicated DIYer who enjoys the challenge of home improvement projects.
Nathalia Bauer
Nathalia Bauer is a higher education professional with over 18 years of experience in graduate education and academic support. As Associate Director of Academic Support Services in the Office of Graduate Research and Scholarship, she oversees thesis and dissertation processes, research compliance, and Graduate Faculty and thesis/dissertation committee approvals. She collaborates on training in research, writing, and publishing, and is particularly interested in promoting digital accessibility across the graduate community.
Fun fact: I was a participant in an event that set a Guiness world record.
Wendy Cartier
Wendy Cartier has worked as a professional in higher education since 2012. In her role within the College of Graduates Studies, she oversees the thesis and dissertation submission process, ensuring compliance with institutional formatting standards with an emphasis on digital accessibility. She oversees a Graduate Assistant to provide one-on-one formatting support for graduate students. Wendy also develops and delivers workshops focused on formatting and submission requirements to support the quality of scholarly work published in the university’s institutional repository.
Fun fact: I have a 4-year-old bearded dragon.
Andrea Marcano
My name is Andrea Marcano. I am a junior majoring in Information Technology at UCF, where I also work as a student assistant at the Digital Accessibility Lab. My work at the lab focuses on web management and development, as well as contributing to training campus organizations on accessibility topics. Throughout my time in this position, I have developed a passion for ensuring access to digital media regardless of disability.
Keyur Patel
My name is Keyur Patel, and I am a sophomore studying Computer Engineering at UCF. I work as a Student Assistant at the Digital Accessibility Lab, where I contribute to web development and media content creation. Outside of the lab, I am a member of IEEE on campus, currently serving on the Software Team, and I am also conducting research involving Meta glasses. A fun fact is that when I was a kid, I was a background actor in a very popular Bollywood movie!
Melanie Moreno
My name is Melanie Moreno, I’m from Colombia and I’m a journalism student at the University of Central Florida currently working with the UCF Digital Accessibility Lab. I support the lab through social media content creation, multimedia projects, outreach initiatives, and student engagement efforts focused on promoting digital accessibility awareness across campus. Through my work, I’ve become passionate about making information more inclusive and accessible for all users, especially through digital media and communication. Fun fact: I’ve been dancing since I was four years old and love combining creativity and storytelling in everything I do.