University of Phoenix to host Educational Equity Webinar on reframing disability through accessibility, allyship, and the power of friendship

Speakers to offer actionable insights on transitioning DEIB efforts from limitations to opportunities

University of Phoenix is holding a new webinar in its Educational Equity Webinar Series, titled “Reframing Disability: Accessibility, Allyship, and the Power of Friendship,” on October 17, 2024, at 11 a.m. AZT. The event will feature speakers Autumn Shearer, digital technology product management senior analyst for the Digital Accessibility Center of Excellence (DACE) and Cynthia Leimbach, lead conversation designer at University of Phoenix.

The webinar will discuss the transformative power of reclaiming the “dis” in disability, shifting the focus from limitations to the unique strength and resilience of workers with disabilities. The speakers will delve into the critical elements often absent in DEIB spaces today and discuss new ways to be inclusive in accessible environments where everyone can thrive. From rethinking everyday interactions with technology to championing systemic change, this session will provide fresh insights into building authentic relationships and communities where disability is embraced as an essential part of diversity.  

“While organizations have made significant strides in DEIB efforts, there is still work to be done to ensure full representation for people with disabilities,” shares Saray Lopez, MBA, director, Student Diversity & Inclusion. “At University of Phoenix, we are committed to embracing strategies that break down barriers and create genuinely inclusive environments where everyone, including those with disabilities, can thrive.”

Key takeaways will include developing an acute awareness of how language, attitudes, and assumptions shape our understanding of disability; implementing innovative solutions that go beyond basic compliance; the transformative power of relationship building to dismantle barriers; becoming a catalyst for change through advocacy; and understanding the complexities at the intersection between disability and identity. 

Shearer works on the Digital Accessibility Technical team within DACE. Along with her colleagues, she helps stakeholders understand the web accessibility guidelines and how to implement them in products, tools, and creative touch points. 

Shearer has a unique perspective on Digital Accessibility as she is impacted by it firsthand having lost her vision in her mid-twenties. It was through her vision loss that she began to see the gaps in digital accessibility both as a consumer and in her career. 

Along with her team, Leimbach creates copy that delights users and defines brands from chatbots to branding. She is an author and expert conversation designer, with a demonstrated history of success in the global tech industry. She is also the Founder/CEO and driving force behind Creative Content Services, LLC, a fresh new company creating relevant content that is empathetic and inclusive.

The discussion will be hosted by Tondra Richardson, MBA, director of Student Diversity & Inclusion and Saray Lopez, MBA, director, Student Diversity & Inclusion, both with the Office of Educational Equity (OEE) at University of Phoenix. The event is part of a public series intended for educators, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) practitioners, higher education leaders and administrators, employers, nonprofit organizations, government affiliates, and University of Phoenix faculty, staff, students, and alumni across the globe. 

Register for the webinar here. 

Previous webinars can be accessed here.

About University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix innovates to help working adults enhance their careers and develop skills in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, skills-mapped curriculum for our bachelor’s and master’s degree programs and a Career Services for Life® commitment help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit  phoenix.edu/blog.html.