Accessibility Awareness Week aims to increase awareness and provide resources

From: Office for Equity and Accessibility and Technology-enhanced Learning and Online Strategies

The inaugural Virginia Tech Accessibility Awareness Week is scheduled for March 18 - 22. Modeled after Global Accessibility Awareness Day, the goal of this week is to provide learning opportunities and resources that engage the campus community to think, discuss, learn, and take action regarding digital and physical accessibility. 

Featuring keynote speakers Eve Hill and David Kutch, the weeklong series of speakers, workshops, and discussions are designed to increase awareness and provide employees and students with resources to create a more accessible Virginia Tech.

Hill is a noted expert on disability law and partner at Brown, Goldstein & Levy. Ms. Hill is a sought-after speaker who has provided testimony to the United States Senate Special Committee on Aging, delivering information on the discrimination and inaccessibility to vital services, employment, and education experienced by individuals with disabilities. She will provide insight into the legal landscape surrounding disability and accessibility.

Kutch is a member of the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights' (OCR) National Digital Access Team. He joined OCR after working in the Educational Opportunities Section of the Civil Rights Division in the U.S. Department of Justice. Prior to entering the government, David’s primary focus was labor and employment law and policy. The mission of the Office for Civil Rights is to ensure equal access to education and to promote educational excellence throughout the nation through vigorous enforcement of civil rights. 

Registration for the week’s events is open now. The list of events is evolving as details are finalized. University community members are invited to submit related activities to be included on the event list.

Accessibility Awareness Week is sponsored by the Office for Equity and Accessibility, Campus Accessibility Working Group, and Technology-enhanced Learning and Online Strategies.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Amber Hagan at 540-231-2010 or equityandaccess@vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.