Global Accessibility Awareness Day - 2025

What is Digital Accessibility?

Every user deserves a first-rate digital experience on the web. Someone with a disability must be able to experience web-based services, content and other digital products with the same successful outcome as those without disabilities. This awareness and commitment to inclusion is the goal of Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), a global event that shines a light on digital access and inclusion for people with disabilities.

Lunch Provided

For our in-person attendees, we will have delicious empanadas from Maria’s Empanadas, a local Denver restaurant that serves a variety of meat and vegetarian empanadas.

 

Agenda

• 9:00 am Opening Statement - Joshua Kaufman, ADA Coordinator
• 9:15 am – Matthew Saunders
• 10:30 am Break
• 10:45 am Keynote Speaker - Ben Meyerhoff
• 12:00 am Lunch
• 12:30 pm Digital Accessibility Awards! (Student, Department, and Faculty)
• 12:45 pm Break
• 1:00 pm Student Panel
• 2:15 pm Break
• 2:30 pm - 3:45 pm Breakout groups

Guest Speakers

Matthew Saunders, digital strategy leader and neurodiversity advocate

Matthew Saunders is a digital strategy leader and neurodiversity advocate with deep expertise in AI, digital transformation, and inclusive design. With a career spanning pharma, nonprofits, and tech, he has led multi-million-dollar digital initiatives at Pfizer, driven AI-powered efficiencies, and championed neurodivergent inclusion in the workplace. A speaker, mentor, and thought leader, Matthew is passionate about leveraging technology to create accessible, inclusive experiences for all. 
 https://jamesmatthewsaunders.ai

Benjamin Meyerhoff,  Funding Coordinator for the Colorado Disability Funding Committee

Benjamin Meyerhoff is the Funding Coordinator for the Colorado Disability Funding Committee, the all-volunteer funding and grant making committee of the Colorado Disability Opportunity Office.  Ben’s previous experience working in hospital finance and management, ended abruptly when he broke his neck (sustaining a permanent spinal cord injury) while commuting on his bicycle to work. After an extensive recovery, Ben embarked on a modified life of advocacy for persons with disabilities. Ben continues to volunteer with organizations like the Craig Hospital, the Wheelchair Rugby Clubs of Colorado, adaptive athletics organizations, and the Home Builders Foundation of Metro Denver. Ben received his education at the University of Rochester (NY) and the University of Colorado.

 

Student Panel Speakers (1:00-2:00)

Five DU students will participate in an open discussion moderated by Dr. Niki Latino. 

Questions include:

• Share a time at DU where considerations of accessibility supported your learning.
• Share a time at DU where you experienced barriers to accessibility and what are possible solutions.
• Are there any specific technologies or assistive tech that have significantly improved your educational experience?
• How can DU raise awareness about the importance of accessibility among students, faculty, and staff on campus?
• What initiatives or resources do you think could promote more inclusivity and accessibility for DU community members?  

Students: M. Vail, K.Heston, M.Barlow, G. Womsley, and C.West

Breakout Groups (2:30 - 3:45)

• Kaltura: How Video Supports Accessibility
  Discover how video can enhance accessibility and support neurodiverse learners in this informative session. Learn how features like playback control, keyword search, closed captioning, and video quizzing empower students to engage with content on their own terms. Explore Kaltura’s latest innovations, including AI-powered tools like Class Genie and Content Lab, which enable personalized learning pathways, automatic video chaptering, quizzing, clips, and summaries. The session will also highlight Kaltura’s expanding accessibility services—such as audio descriptions, dubbing, and OCR support—and how these tools can help the University of Denver stay aligned with ADA Title II compliance requirements.
• College Board: This session introduces essential digital accessibility practices for creating inclusive, effective educational materials. Grounded in the POUR framework—Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust—the presentation covers clear writing strategies, accessible visuals and media, thoughtful hyperlinking, color contrast considerations, and accessible document design. Participants will also learn how to test materials using basic tools and manual checks to ensure all students, faculty, and staff can access and engage with digital content equitably.
• Accessibility Check – Get Feedback on Your Website
  Join Bill Casson and Alex Martinez from the University of Denver for a hands-on accessibility review of your website. In this session, participants will receive a personalized 10-minute accessibility audit. Bill will demonstrate how a screen reader navigates your site, evaluating heading structure, alt text, and overall ease of navigation. Alex will assess the site for neurodiversity-friendly design, focusing on layout clarity, plain language, effective use of bullets, and intuitive navigation. You'll leave with practical, friendly feedback and actionable tips to improve accessibility for all users.

Location

The Community Commons room 1700 (2055 E Evans Ave, Denver, CO 80210) is located in the center of campus off Evans Boulder. It's a 15-minute walk (half mile) away from the University of Denver RTD Stop moving south. There are hourly paid parking facilities located at Asbury Ave Hourly Street Parking, Ricketson Law Building Garage, and Evans Garage.

 

Digital Accessibility Tech Tips

1. Use Proper Heading Structure (<h1>, <h2>, etc.)

• Organize content with clear headings.
• Don’t skip heading levels (like jumping from <h1> to <h4>).
• Helps screen reader users and improves navigation.

2. Add Descriptive Alt Text for Images

• Every informative image should have meaningful alt text.
• Decorative images? Use alt="" to skip them for screen readers.

Bad: alt="image1"  
Good: alt="A golden retriever playing in a field"

3. Ensure Sufficient Color Contrast

• Text should have high contrast against its background.
• Use tools like WebAIM Contrast Checker to test.

Example: Light gray text on white = 😬  
Dark blue on white = ✅

4. Make All Interactive Elements Keyboard-Accessible

• Users should be able to navigate and interact using just a keyboard (Tab, Enter, Space).
• Don’t trap focus inside modals or menus!

5. Use Meaningful Link Text

• Avoid "click here" or "read more".
• Link text should describe the destination or action.

Bad: [Click here]  
Good: [Download the accessibility guide (PDF)]

6. Support Neurodivergent Students - Reduce cognitive load

• Simplify Layout & Reduce Visual Clutter
• Use consistent layout pattern
• Use Clear, Concise, and Plain Language
• Break up long paragraphs
• Use bullet points or numbered lists
• Avoid jargon or overly academic language

7. Use the Canvas course accessibility checker 

• Use the UDOIT Accessibility in Canvas to improve course material accessibility

Bonus Tools:

• Screen readers: NVDA (Windows), VoiceOver (Mac), JAWS
• Accessibility checkers: WAVE, axe DevTools, Lighthouse (in Chrome DevTools)
• Digital Accessibility Tech Tips (PDF)
• Fundamentals of Accessible Digital Content in Canvas

Thank you to our financial sponsors!

• Equal Opportunity & Title IX
• Human Resources & Inclusive Community (HRIC)
• Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
• Information Technology
• Kaltura
• College Board
• VZP Digital

Planning Committee

• Annie Blaine, Learning Effectiveness Program
• Joni Rumsey, Student Affairs & Incl Excellence
• Elise Goss-Alexander, Student Employment
• Lucy Edwards, Graduate School of Social Work
• RJ Justice, Student
• Bill Casson, Information Technology
• Josiah Dunn, Information Technology
• Terri Johnson, Office of Teaching and Learning
• Megan Kelly, Writing Program
• Clara Kapustka, Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
• Joshua Kaufman, Equal Opportunity & Title IX
• Brevity Langley, College of Professional Studies
• Brian Majestic, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
• Alex Martinez, Information Technology
• Craig Miller, HR and Inclusive Community
• Cassy Zapotocky, HR and Inclusive Community

Registration

GAAD is a free campus community event. We ask that DU campus members please register to help us with the lunch count order.  
Registration