Faculty, staff and students: Each of you has been granted a free, all-access pass to a campus conference on electronic accessibility.

The E-Access Committee organizes this annual event in observance of Global Accessibility Awareness Day. It’s held the third Thursday of May — May 19 this year.

Your pass for next week’s conference is all-access because the program is about accessibility for all. This means, when we’re developing websites and digital documents, that we need to be sure everyone can use them, regardless of disabilities affecting how people learn or interact with technology.

“If our courses, websites and materials are not accessible, these members of the UC Davis community are left behind,” committee members said. Indeed, the University of California is committed to providing electronic materials that are accessible to everyone (learn more about UC's Information Technology Accessibility Policy).

“If you work with students or instructors, maintain a website or distribute materials, please join us to learn more about electronic accessibility and what you can do to reach everyone,” committee members said. 

The conference program includes a drop-in accessibility lab (9 a.m.-noon) and a general information session, “Accessibility Resources for Everyone,” (10-11 a.m.), both for anyone who creates documents, fliers or Web content.

The event also includes two workshops and a roundtable:

• Workshop for instructors — Universal Design for Learning: Reaching Learners with Diverse Needs by Creating Flexible Courses, Activities and Assessments, presented twice, 9-10 a.m. and 11 a.m.-noon., for faculty and graduate student instructors.
• Workshop for programmers — Accessibility Resources for Developers and Programmers, 2-3:30 p.m., for programmers, developers, computer science students and anyone with Web content responsibilities.
• Disability studies roundtable — “The Future of Critical Disability Studies and Disability Access at UC Davis,” 12:10-1:40 p.m., for undergraduates, graduate students and faculty. The roundtable is sponsored by Office of the Dean, Division of Humanities, Arts and Cultural Studies; Department of American Studies, UC Humanities Research Institute, and UC Office of the President Multicampus Research Programs and Initiative Funding.

Overall sponsors: Electronic Accessibility Committee, Center for Educational Effectiveness, Human Resources, Student Disability Center, Academic Technology Services and Office of Campus Community Relations.

More information about each session is available online. Refreshments will be provided. Conference sessions will take place in various rooms at the Student Community Center. Need accommodations to fully participate in this event? Send an email to the GAAD event planning committee.

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