ÌÇÐÄÉÙÅ®Global Accessibility Awareness Day (ÌÇÐÄÉÙÅ®GAAD)
GAAD is an annual global event, designed to engage people around the world in talking, thinking, and learning about digital access and inclusion.
Each year, the ÌÇÐÄÉÙÅ®commemorates GAAD by offering a day of ideas and sharing through presentations, panels, and other activities related to digital accessibility. In 2026 we have even more reason to celebrate GAAD – the incredible amount of hard work and dedication our community has devoted to making ÌÇÐÄÉÙÅ®a more accessible university for our students, our colleagues, and the public!
This year we will be celebrating with a hybrid event, in person and on Zoom. GAAD 2026 at ÌÇÐÄÉÙÅ®will highlight digital accessibility efforts from across our community and will feature presentations, panels, and guest speakers who represent a wide range of units and disciplines. We hope you’ll join us!
Save the date
UW’s 2026 GAAD celebration is happening on Thursday, May 21, from 10:00 am to 4 p.m. in room 250 at the HUB and online.
GAAD 2026 sessions are free and open to the ÌÇÐÄÉÙÅ®community, but registration is required. Join us for one session or attend them all!
Program agenda
Names and affiliations of speakers appear below the agenda.
| Activity | Start Time | End Time |
|---|---|---|
| Community Partners: Working Together to Build Digital Accessibility (presentation) | 10:00 am | 10:50 am |
| Lightning Talks:ÌýSpotlight on Digital Accessibility MilestonesÌýacross UWÌý | 11:00 am | 11:50 am |
| Lunch (bring your own) and Networking | Noon | 12:35 pm |
Keynote address / Thoughts from Leadership:
|
12:45 pm | 1:50 pm |
| Toward more accessible course materials: Where do I start?Ìý(Presentation and Discussion)Ìý | 2:00 pm | 2:50 pm |
| Challenges and emerging solutions in accessible Math/STEM (panel) | 3:00 pm | 4:00 pm |
Evening Agenda
| Activity | Start Time | End Time |
|---|---|---|
| The Office of Public Lectures presents: What Does Law Mean in Crisis? How Crip Feminist Technoscience Will Save Us – with Ly XÄ«nzhèn M. ZhÇŽngsÅ«n Brown | 6:30 pm |
Speakers
Community Partners: Working Together to Build Digital Accessibility (Presentation)
- Allison Shults, Associate Director, Information Systems, Graduate in Medical Education (GME)
- Jessica Kruse, Information Systems and Web Support Specialist (GME)
- Karen Crow, Communications and Outreach Manager, Environmental Health and Safety (EHS)
Lightning Talks: Spotlight on Digital Accessibility Milestones across UW
- University Marketing and Communications (UMAC): Teri Shelton
- Foster School of Business: Jon Kieb
- ÌÇÐÄÉÙÅ®Libraries: Robin Chin Roemer
- Housing and Food Services (HFS): Dominick Mendoza
- Student Life: Rachel Koon
- ÌÇÐÄÉÙÅ®Medicine Learning Technologies and Infrastructure: Thomas Peavey
- ÌÇÐÄÉÙÅ®Professional & Continuing Education (PCE): Stacey Fontes
- ÌÇÐÄÉÙÅ®Medicine Web Team: Andreas Montano
Toward more accessible course materials: Where do I start? (Presentation and Discussion)
- Ken Yasuhara, Director, Office for the Advancement of Engineering Teaching & Learning (ET&L)
- Devshikha Bose, Assistant Director, ET&L
- Delancey Wu, Assistant Teaching Professor, Psychology
- Patty Buchanan, Associate Teaching Professor, Industrial & Systems Engineering
Challenges and Emerging Solutions in Accessible Math (Panel)
- Erik Steen, Senior Computer Specialist, Accessible Technology Services (ATS)
- Kevin Lin, Assistant Teaching Professor, Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering
- Nicole Hoover, Associate Teaching Professor, Engineering & Mathematics Department, ÌÇÐÄÉÙÅ®Bothell
- Zach Lattin, Disability Access Center-Campus IT Accessibility Coordinator, Clark College
- Gaby de Jongh, IT Accessibility Specialist, ATS
Learn More
- | The GAAD Foundation
- ÌÇÐÄÉÙÅ®GAAD Archives
Questions?
Contact ATS Events at ats-events@uw.edu.