Global Accessibility Awareness Day

Northeastern will be celebrating on Thursday, May 18, 2023 with live virtual events and a new 21-day accessibility awareness learning path. 

Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) focuses on digital access and inclusion for the more than one billion people alive today who live with disabilities or impairments. The purpose of GAAD is to get everyone talking, thinking, and learning about digital access and inclusion.

Live Events

Join Northeastern University’s first Global Accessibility Awareness Day celebration!

GAAD Kickoff Presentation

Thursday, May 18, 2023
12 p.m. ET
Join the GAAD Kickoff Presentation (Microsoft Teams)

Presenters

  • Casey Hickey (he/him) | Digital Accessibility Manager
    Web Solutions, Information Technology Services
  • Anaya Jones (she/her) | Accessibility & Online Learning Librarian
    Library-Research and Instruction

Join Casey and Anaya to kick off Global Accessibility Awareness Day. The presentation will discuss accessibility at Northeastern University and share ways that you can participate and learn more about making a positive impact. 

Topics will include:

  • What does accessibility awareness mean to all of us at Northeastern University?
  • What is Northeastern currently doing to support accessibility?
  • What can you do?
  • Audience questions/comments

Registration and Accommodations

Everyone in the Northeastern community is welcome to attend, and registration is encouraged.

To request disability-related accommodations, please use the registration form or email digital-accessibility@northeastern.edu.

Accessibility and Disability Resources Panel

Thursday, May 18, 2023
3 p.m. ET
Join the Accessibility and Disability Resources Panel (Microsoft Teams)

In this presentation, a panel of Northeastern University professionals will describe resources, services, educational opportunities related to accessibility and disability.

Presenters

  • Diane Ciarletta (she/her) | Director of Career Development and Engagement
    NU PLACE, Career Design
  • Lauren Collier (she/her) | Disability Specialist
    Disability Resource Center
  • Casey Hickey (he/him) | Digital Accessibility Manager
    Web Solutions, Information Technology Services
  • Juliana Hunt (she/her) | Senior ADA Program Specialist
    Absence Management/ADA, HR
  • Betsy Ireland (she/her) | Access Coordinator
    Disability Resource Center
  • Anaya Jones (she/her) | Accessibility & Online Learning Librarian
    Library-Research and Instruction
  • Edna Pressler, PhD | Associate Director
    Center for Advancing Teaching and Learning Through Research
  • Megan Reinle, PhD (she/her) | Instructional Design Consultant
    Academic Technologies, Information Technology Services
  • Steven David Torres, PhD (he/him) | Associate Director of Career Equity and Inclusion
    NU PLACE, Career Design

Registration and Accommodations

Everyone in the Northeastern community is welcome to attend, and registration is encouraged.

To request disability-related accommodations, please use the registration form or email digital-accessibility@northeastern.edu.


21-Day Accessibility Awareness Learning Path

Northeastern University has made a commitment to being inclusive, adaptive, and broadly accessible in our operations and technology. Northeastern is diligently working to expand resources and knowledge, and on crafting a sustainable, achievable roadmap for accessibility growth. As this work continues, it’s up to each member of the community to consider their impact on accessibility and inclusion.

As part of GAAD, a 21-Day Accessibility Awareness Learning Path has been launched. The learning path is provided to help you understand the impact of accessibility and how you can can improve the accessibility of your workplace, classrooms, and communities everyday. Each of the 21 days will provide carefully chosen activities, with additional activities for any topic that you’d like to explore further.