Time: April 10, 9:45 am – 10:45 am
Speakers: Craig Boassaly
Creating truly accessible digital experiences requires more than just passing a validation check; it demands a strategic shift in how we plan, design, and maintain content. This session explores the complete lifecycle of accessible content from web and documents to video, demonstrating why accessibility must start at the planning stage.
Time: April 10, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Speakers: Kathryn Jordan and Michael Harshbarger
Most organizations treat accessibility as a checklist—meeting WCAG requirements for color contrast, alt text, and navigation. But this approach often overlooks a large, underserved group: people with invisible disabilities such as ADHD, autism, and dyslexia. Neurodivergent individuals make up 15–20% of the population, yet their needs are rarely addressed in design systems or accessibility strategies. This session challenges participants to move beyond compliance and toward true inclusion. We’ll explore practical design patterns that support memory, focus, comprehension, and flexible interaction. Attendees will leave with concrete strategies to create digital experiences that welcome neurodivergent users—whether they are designers, developers, content creators, or UX professionals. By reframing accessibility as more than a legal requirement, this talk positions neurodiversity as a driver of innovation, usability, and equity in today’s workplace.
Time: April 10, 9:45 am – 10:45 am
Speakers: Michael Harshbarger
Accessibility doesn’t thrive on checklists alone — it thrives when leaders create the conditions for inclusion. This session explores how accessibility leadership can transform organizations beyond compliance. Attendees will learn how to set strategy, influence culture, and support teams in driving sustainable accessibility practices. Through case examples, we’ll examine how leaders can foster accountability, navigate resistance, and secure resources to scale accessibility. Participants will leave with practical leadership techniques for guiding both technical and non-technical teams, ensuring accessibility becomes an embedded value rather than a side project.
Time: April 10, 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm
Speakers: Courtney Fleeger
Neurodiversity brings unique perspectives and needs to digital experiences. This session explores how we can support these users through inclusive design strategies grounded in research. Learn how to apply cognitive-friendly design patterns and create interfaces that reduce friction and foster engagement. Whether you’re new to accessibility or deep in inclusive design, you’ll leave with actionable insights to make your work more empathetic and effective.
Time: April 10, 9:45 am – 10:45 am
Speakers: Meenal Dobariya
Micro-interactions—such as form validation, filter panels, status updates, and feedback messages—play an important role in how users experience digital systems. When designed thoughtfully, they improve clarity and usability; when overlooked, they can create accessibility barriers.
In this session, Meenal Dobariya, a Usability and Accessibility Specialist at the University of Illinois, will share examples of accessible and inaccessible micro-interactions using design prototypes from enterprise university systems. Attendees will learn how small design decisions can significantly affect accessibility and when it is helpful to involve an accessibility specialist in the design process.
Participants will leave with practical tips and a simple checklist they can apply when designing or reviewing digital interfaces.
Time: April 10, 9:45 am – 10:45 am
Speakers: Rachel Berry
In December 2024, the Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering dropped what became the university’s first truly viral video. With fewer than 1,000 Instagram followers at the time, the ME 370 Inverted Crawlers reel rocketed to the top, the second most-watched reel ever across all university and athletics accounts. See how a spotlight on our undergraduate course, Mechanical Design I, turned into a viral sensation, fueled explosive organic growth, and gave us a powerful platform to showcase our programs to a global audience.
Time: April 10, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Speakers: Mikael Arvola
Our new standards and guidelines for developing web applications at the Graduate College. We’ll talk about system-level architecture as well as design choices for individual parts, and the reasoning behind each. The whole stack from server to user interface will be covered. While most of the presentation is not specific to individual technologies, examples are from our applications using SQL Server, .NET Core C#, and Vue.js.
Time: April 10, 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Speakers: Matthew Luken
Design plays a critical role in digital accessibility. This team can help reduce 67% percent of defects & violations. Join us to learn best practices that all designers – UX, UI, Content, UX Researchers, and Graphic Designers – should be implementing to ensure their designs are as accessible as they can be prior to development.
Time: April 10, 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm
Speakers: Junaid Majaz
This presentation investigates existing disparities in online education by gaining a deeper understanding of how students interact with virtual spaces and how new tools can be designed to enhance learning experience by understanding the needs of the audience. By identifying these gaps, his research seeks to: Create frameworks that improve the sense of belonging and engagement for all students. Prepare the next generation of teachers to effectively utilize emerging technologies and utilize design and technology to make high-quality education more accessible to a global audience.
Time: April 10, 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Speakers: Cassidy Marcum, Charlotte (Peloquin) Voznyuk
Did you know that the average person scrolls through 300 feet of content on their phone every day… about the height of the Statue of Liberty? Good design isn’t just decoration, it’s essential for standing out in an oversaturated digital landscape. This session will explore how thoughtful design choices in social media and digital ads can capture attention and extend your brand’s reach and impact. Through examples of scroll-stopping campaigns, practical design strategies, and our social media tips and tricks, you’ll leave with actionable tools to design content that stands out and connects with your audiences.