Student Programs

Teach Access Student Academy

The event has concluded. Session recordings will be released soon!

Discover how to build empathy and awareness for accessibility in this engaging and interactive workshop! All students are welcome to join; whether you are enrolled in a college or university or are a lifelong learner, this workshop will increase your knowledge about accessibility. Learn practical accessibility skills that can be applied to your projects and gain the confidence to have impactful conversations that inspire others to prioritize inclusion.

Whether you’re new to accessibility or looking to deepen your understanding, this workshop will empower you to create a more accessible world—starting now.

Our opening speaker is Haben Girma, the first Deafblind person to graduate from Harvard Law School and a human rights lawyer who advances disability justice.

Teach Access Student Academy. Free 2 day virtual workshop on accessibility! Thursday, February 20th & Friday, February 21st. Whether you're new to accessibility or looking to deepen your understanding, this workshop will empower you to create a more accessible world! Students of all kinds are welcome. Sponsored by verizon, google, microsoft, meta, and salesforce. Presenting sponsor Merck.

Student Academy Schedule

The Student Academy was a two-day event, held virtually on Thursday, February 20, 2025, and Friday, February 21, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET (8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. PT).

Session recordings will be available soon!

Day 1: February 20, 2025

What is accessibility, and why is it important?

The focus for day 1 is to build empathy and awareness for disability and accessibility. Click on the linked session title in the schedule below to learn more about the session details and speaker(s).

11:00 am- 12:15 pm ET: Keynote Presentation, Haben Girma and moderated by Lainey Feingold
12:30 pm- 1:00 pm ET: Introduction to Disability Inclusion, Alan Hejl
2:00 pm- 2:30 pm ET: Disability History for Technologists & Designers, Dr. Emma McDonnell
2:45 pm- 3:15 pm ET: Assistive Technology Bootcamp, Jordan Colbert
3:30 pm- 4:00 pm ET: A Story about a Classroom, Samantha Christopher
4:15 pm- 5:00 pm ET: Inclusive, Accessible, and Collaborative Storytelling, Doug Roland, Roberto Cabrera, and Sue Ruzenski

Day 2: February 21, 2025

Everybody has a career in accessibility, so how do you get started?

The focus for day 2 is to understand how to get started in accessibility, learn practical accessibility skills, and how to advocate for accessibility. Click on the linked session title in the schedule below, to learn more about the session details and speaker(s).

11:00 am- 12:15 pm ET: Careers in Accessibility Panel, Meena Das, Fred Moltz, Laura Allen, Lucia Rios, and Rob Haverty
12:30 pm- 1:00 pm ET: Accessibility Principles, Jeff Zundel
2:00 pm- 2:30 pm ET: An Overview of Accessible Digital Communication, Jenny Kowalski
2:45 pm- 3:15 pm ET: How to Make Sure A.I. Doesn’t Discriminate Against People with Disabilities, Lucy Greco
3:30 pm- 4:00 pm ET: Digital Accessibility Program 101, Dr. Stephen Framil
4:15 pm- 5:00 pm ET: Digital Accessibility in Your Job Search: Aligning on Inclusion, Catherine Sherry and Hannah Holmgren

Past Student Programs

2023-2024 Student Academy

During the 2023-2024 academic year, a monthly series was offered for students to explore various topics on disability and accessibility. The recorded sessions are available to watch on the Student Academy YouTube Playlist and are linked in the session schedule below.

Session 1: Introduction to Disability with Ani Grigorian
Session 2: Introduction to Assistive Technology with Jordan Colbert
Session 3: Accessibility Principles with Jeff Zundel
Session 4: How Technology has Transformed Our Lives: A Story of Two Married Googlers Who Are Blind/Low Vision with Victor Tsaran and Karo Caran
Session 5: Accessibility and Neurodiversity with Margaux Joffe
Session 6: Creating Inclusive Events with Mariella Paulino, Adriana Mallozzi, and Yaara Kedem
Session 7: Careers in Accessibility with Fred Moltz, Jonathan Thurston, Crystal Preston-Watson, and Regine Gilbert

Teach Access Student Ambassadors Program

The Teach Access Student Ambassadors program was launched in September 2023, with over 80 registered students. In the fall, students met once a month to discuss disability and accessibility topics. Then, in the spring, they collaborated in modified design sprints to create accessibility awareness and advocacy projects.

Student Ambassadors Program. Become a part of a cohort of engaged student advocates at college campuses across the United States. Apply today. Photo of college students laughing and speaking to one another. Sponsored by: Verizon, Google, Salesforce, and Meta.