The Latest: Bless the Mood 🧡

👋 Welcome to the May edition of The Latest, where we’re seeking lulls in our schedule anywhere we can find them. 

This month’s newsletter is 1,156 words — a 5-6 minute read  

🎓 The Main Takeaway: A New Sense of Celebration

I’ve attended more graduation ceremonies than I can count, but this year’s experience felt new to me in so many ways.

• A Newfound Sense of Community 

At UT Austin’s College of Education’s Spring Commencement, I was struck by how much I appreciated witnessing students walk the stage who were not my advisees. It reminded me of my daily engagement and direct work with our students. Students I’ve seen in the hallways (or in Zoom). Students whose paperwork I’ve signed in my role as EDP graduate advisor. Students who may not have been in my classes but who showed up in other ways in our department, college, and university. It was thrilling to clap and cheer for them, full-throated, as their names were called. 

• A New Appreciation for Families

 It’s rare for us faculty members to have a chance to connect with and hang out with the families of our students. While we are only in student spaces for a short period of time (at most a few years), it is during a pivotal and transformational time, and a lot happens. I was particularly eager to meet the family of my MA student (soon to be PhD!), Ana G. Vielma. Through all the challenges of the last four years, Ana has persevered. To be able to finally meet her family and spend time with them was truly a gift. 

• A Thrilling New Space

Graduation was the first time I had been inside the all-new Moody Center at the University of Texas at Austin, which just hosted the Country Music Awards. 

• To quote actor and professor of practice Matthew McConaughey at the venue’s ribbon-cutting ceremony last year: “It’s time to BLESS the MOOD!” 

This graduation had a feeling of a new beginning, not just for our graduates but also that this was the first time that the College of Education held its ceremonies at the Moody Center. It was awe-inspiring to see all the students, families, staff, and faculty coming together to honor the Class of 2023.

The last graduation I attended was virtual, back in 2020 when I delivered the commencement address in a remote ceremony, so it was truly special to finally be in person in an amazing space this year. 

✨ Now Where’s the Lull? 

After graduation and before summer sessions begin, there’s a sense of quiet that descends on campus. It’s easier to find parking. Meetings are smaller and more social in nature.  (Sometimes even over lunch!)

I find my mind and body wanting to sink into this post-marathon space, seeking the lull and some rest.

• It can be tempting to race right into the next season of productivity because, well, the calendars are as empty as the parking garages. But as I commented to a friend yesterday, “Where’s the lull?” 

We were bonding over the shared feeling of being overwhelmed by all that *didn’t* get done during the long semester and all that is slated for those deeper work times in the summer. It’s a sense of urgency to both catch-up and get started, but doing it on an empty tank sets off some big internal alarms.

• Find YOUR lull, especially if you’ve just come off an intensely busy work season. If you’re anything like me, it’s better to find it than have it find you. Here’s to some downtime so that summer projects are both fruitful and fulfilling. (And get done!)

🍀 My Q&A with Dr. Melissa Gholson

What a joy to shine a spotlight on Melissa!

I’ve worked Melissa-adjacent for years but never really had a chance to sit down and learn about her and her work. Last month we took a break from the whirlwind of AERA conference sessions to have a quiet moment and get to know each other a bit better.

• Lucky me. Lucky you. 

#️⃣ Do You Use Hashtags?

Make sure they are accessible! 

• alllowercasehastagsarenotaccessible 

CamelCaseHashtagsAreMuchBetter. Yes, we know the social media default is the lowercase kind. Take the time for accessible content. Edit them. 

• Thank you from your disabled clients, friends, family, and colleagues.

📚 The Art of Gathering

Need a book that will delight, challenge, and inspire you? I highly recommend a new addition to my bookshelf: The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters by Priya Parker.  

• It’s about to change your life. I’m not exaggerating, especially – if you’re like me –  your work and social worlds turned upside down three years ago. 

I’m still feeling my way through all the people things. I am also someone who both loves a good meeting and has little to no patience for a bad one. This book is teaching me how to be better both as a leader and as a participant. But more importantly, I’m learning how to human just a bit better than even in the before times. 

• I can’t wait to weave these ideas into all of our work on accessibility and inclusion!

💡 Interview with In Her Sight: Advice to Managers and Leaders 

When the careers platform In Her Sight reached out to me on LinkedIn for an interview, I seized the opportunity to address disability awareness and make management more inclusive.

• Check out an excerpt of the article.

🤑 Accessibility Benefits Your Bottom Line

Myth: Accessibility drives down business profit margins. Think again. Accessibility is key to long-term business success. Why?

Accessible businesses retain more talent, reach more clients, and have a broader impact. Make some simple moves toward greater accessibility: 

• Create accessible social media posts

• Recruit for diverse and inclusive team members

• Include disability in product and program design

And check out my video on YouTube: Accessible Businesses Win. 

🔆 Support Disabled People for Mental Health Awareness Month

Here are four ways to support disabled people in your spaces:

• Learn about ableism and how it affects disabled people. 

• Learn about language related to disability as well as strategies to improve accessibility. 

• Develop a sense of empathy and respect for disabled people.

• Commit yourself to practice and actions in your spheres of influence. 

Always learning, always growing. 🌱

📆 See You at a Summer Conference!

On June 15, I’ll be speaking at the 2023 Health Communication Leadership Institute (HCLI) on “Designing Accessible Health Communication Campaigns.” HCLI is the UT Center for Health Communication’s premier professional education event that provides current and aspiring health communicators with best practices and strategies for leadership, management, and innovation. 

Also in June is the National Conference on Student Assessment organized by the Council of Chief State School Officers. I am thrilled to be chosen as a plenary speaker on “Ableism, Accessibility, and Assessment” and a co-presenter on “Data-Driven Assessment Development and Quality Review: Accessibility and Inclusion Consideration.”

🥰 And Finally…

What a joy this season of celebration is! Congratulations to my advisee and student Ana…

.…and congratulations to all of your students, colleagues, and loved ones who completed a graduation milestone this year. They have our deepest blessings, wishes, hopes, and dreams.