Thank you to everyone who joined us for Access in Action, a conference dedicated to strengthening accessibility, belonging, and community across our teaching and learning communities. We explored how access is about the everyday choices we make to reduce barriers and create ease of use so students and colleagues can fully participate and succeed. Accessibility is the ongoing practice of anticipating needs, applying best practices, and continually learning and adapting. Together, these two concepts inform our work and ask us to continually evaluate and evolve alongside our communities. Like any great Olympic event, the day reminded us that accessibility isn’t about the single finish line of compliance (although that is an important part of it!), It’s about showing up, training intentionally, and improving one step at a time.
Throughout the conference, presenters and participants alike emphasized a shared message: eat the elephant one bite at a time, or practice and progress over perfection. We explored accessibility as a marathon, not a sprint, one where progress happens through small, meaningful changes rather than perfection. Sessions highlighted practical workflows, tools, and techniques to increase students’ access and motivation, innovative uses of AI, thoughtful discussion design, and the art (and science) of audio description, all grounded in classroom and real-world experiences.
The energy of the conference reflected curiosity, encouragement, and community. Faculty and Staff asked thoughtful questions, shared ideas, and celebrated those “aha” moments that make professional learning stick. Many participants shared that they left feeling both inspired and empowered, with tools they could immediately apply and a clearer understanding that accessibility is about action, not overwhelm.
We’re grateful to our incredible speakers Melissa “Mo” Martinez, Stephanie Burchett, Alisa Cooper, Krysten Pampel, Tony Stephens, and Michelle Jung for sharing their expertise, creativity, and passion, and to our faculty for bringing openness, humor, and honesty to the conversation. Additional thanks to Jennifer Alton for our wonderful graphics, Beth Eyres for co-hosting the event, and Meghan Kenedy for assisting with our Accessibility Lab following the conference. Access in Action was a powerful reminder that inclusive design is a team effort, and when we support one another, everyone moves forward.
If you’re interested in reviewing available presentation materials, please visit the resources section of our participant guide.
Here’s to continuing the work, one step at a time. 🏅