When she created the Collaborative for Access and Equity: A Microsoft-UTexas Partnership (Pilot) in 2022, Stephanie had an exciting idea to transform higher education — and spark a shift in the mindset about disabled people.
An innovative and highly successful pilot project — now a model used at the National Disability Center for Student Success and replicable at other institutions — the Collaborative is designed to improve accessibility, equity, and inclusion through vibrant cross-campus collaboration that promotes a greater understanding of disabled people’s experiences and obstacles.
“It is essential that disabled students and faculty are at the heart of any accessibility initiative focused on them. It is also critical to leverage technology tools to provide the embedded, just-in-time support that is necessary in every accessible and inclusive classroom,” says Stephanie.