2026 University of Minnesota Digital Accessibility Summit

Building an Inclusive Campus: Progress, Priorities, and the Road Ahead

Time: 10–10:45 a.m.

Join the Office for Digital Accessibility for a comprehensive update on our collective achievements across the University of Minnesota campuses. Over the past year, our community has reached major milestones through broad system-wide training, the work of Web and Email Digital Accessibility Coordinator (WEDAC) and Academic Digital Accessibility Liaison (ADAL) networks, and steady improvements across university web pages and Canvas courses. In this session, we will celebrate our shared progress, explore new tools and support services, and outline our strategic vision for the year ahead. Discover how we are moving towards a sustainable "right first" culture that embeds accessibility into everyday workflows across all five campuses and extension programs.

Speakers

• Khaled Musa is the Director of the Office for Digital Accessibility (ODA) at the University of Minnesota, where they lead efforts to make digital spaces inclusive and accessible for all. A recognized advocate and expert in accessibility, Khaled collaborates across industries to implement innovative strategies that empower individuals of all abilities. Passionate about mentoring future accessibility leaders and amplifying underrepresented voices in tech, Khaled brings practical insights, creative problem-solving, and an unwavering belief in the power of technology to foster connection and equity. In their free time, they enjoy sports, exploring nature trails, and reading about inclusive design and code development.
• Luke Kudryashov is the Senior Digital Accessibility Analyst and Deputy ADA Coordinator at the Office for Digital Accessibility. Luke performs digital accessibility consultations, evaluations, trainings, and purchasing reviews to ensure the University’s digital resources are accessible to all. His interdisciplinary background in disability studies, gender studies, user experience, and library science allows him to merge cultural and technical approaches to digital accessibility.
• DM Lavoie joined Academic Technology Support Services (ATSS) and the Office of Digital Accessibility in October 2024. As an academic technologist with a digital accessibility focus, they enjoy helping faculty and staff create accessible course content for all learners across campus. DM is able to help content creators create and remediate digital course content utilizing UDOIT, accessibility checkers in Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat, and video captioning services. DM championed user-focused digital content throughout their career, including working in customer support for an email marketing product, product manager for an internal CMS in e-commerce, running a user research and digital accessibility testing lab, and consulting on digital accessibility for non-profit organizations, healthcare and finance companies, and edutech products.
• Neal Sorensen is a Digital Accessibility Specialist at the Office for Digital Accessibility, bringing 17 years of experience in higher education and healthcare. A Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC), Neal specializes in vendor accessibility testing, training, public speaking, and consulting. Beyond their institutional work, Neal is a board member of The Reading Center and a dedicated advocate for dyslexic literacy.

Beyond the Deadline Panel: Building Sustainable Accessibility into Unit Workflows

Time: 11 a.m.–12 p.m.

Beyond compliance deadlines, long-term success requires embedding inclusive practices into our daily routines. Join Web and Email Digital Accessibility Coordinators (WEDACs) and Academic Digital Accessibility Liaisons (ADALs) for a candid discussion on shifting from temporary fixes to "right first" strategies. Panelists will share practical approaches for integrating accessibility into course design, web and email publishing, and onboarding workflows across departmental teams. Attendees will leave with actionable ideas for engaging leadership, managing capacity, and creating lasting culture change in their own units.

Panelists

• Kelly Auxier is a content strategist in the Office of Human Resources (OHR) at the University of Minnesota. With more than 10 years of experience supporting the University, she leads web strategy, operational governance, and digital accessibility compliance across OHR digital properties. Kelly also serves as the lead coordinator for the Web and Email Digital Accessibility Coordinators (WEDAC) team.
• Becky Norstebon is the Manager of User Technology within Information Technology Systems & Services (ITSS), the central IT unit at the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD). Becky has been at the University for 12 years, and spent two years leading academic accessibility initiatives before transitioning to her current role overseeing user technology and web services. She leads the UMD web team in building upon its strong accessibility foundation, focusing on proactive issue identification and empowered communication with content owners, as well as long-term sustainability of the work.
• Micki Fasteland
• Paul McLagan

Moderator

• Jane Flis (she/her) is senior director of marketing and digital strategy at Minnesota Carlson. She works with a team to oversee the school's digital channels such as web and email, paid advertising, marketing analytics, search engine marketing, and recruitment marketing content. She serves as the school's Web and Email Digital Accessibility Coordinator. She has a bachelor's degree in communications from the University of Minnesota and a master's degree in integrated marketing communications from Northwestern University.

Under the Hood: Engineering Accessible Docs, Slides, and Sheets

Time: 1–1:45 p.m.

The 7 core skills will only get you so far in accessibility. Through this presentation, we will build on that understanding by demonstrating the custom detail work of building fully accessible docs, slides, and sheets for all users. We will cover Microsoft Office and Google Workspace tools.

Speakers

• Kalli-Ann Binkowski is currently an Academic Technology Coordinator for Research and Learning Technologies at the College of Biological Sciences at the University of Minnesota. She collaborates with faculty to integrate existing and emerging technologies into their teaching. Her work includes managing projects and initiatives, creating course sites, implementing emerging technologies, and designing new instructional and assessment activities. Prior to her current work, Kalli was a teacher for 18 years. She holds master's degrees in education and plant biology. (LinkedIn Profile)
• Amanda Schmit is the Office and Communication Manager for the Department of Psychology at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, where she leads office operations, communications, digital content management, and innovation initiatives that support faculty, staff, and students. Her experience spans education, digital communications, content strategy, and digital accessibility, with a particular interest in using technology to simplify workflows and improve user experiences. She provides training and consultation, conducts reviews of various digital media, and serves as a grader for the University's Digital Accessibility Badging Program. She holds a BA in Elementary Education from the College of Saint Benedict.

Impact in Action Panel: Elevating Teaching and Learning Through Accessibility

Time: 2–3 p.m.

This interactive panel brings together University of Minnesota faculty and students to share their accessibility journeys, key accomplishments, and real-world outcomes. Panelists will reflect on the specific choices and course adjustments that make the biggest difference in daily learning environments to not only meet compliance goals but provide meaningful access. The session will conclude with an open Q&A, giving attendees the opportunity to connect directly with the speakers and ask questions about their experiences.

Speakers

• Charlie Kroells
• Lasya Makinedi
• Steven Saliterman

Moderators

• Rachel Christie is a senior-year student at the University of Minnesota studying Product Design and minoring in User Experience. Rachel is interested in user-centered design and concept development, identifying people's core needs and translating them into solutions that are both visually engaging and easy to understand. As a product designer, she is primarily focused on the strategic side of design, including skills such as user research, product ideation, and visual brand language: at the end of the day, good design is about being intentional. In her work with Usability Services, Rachel has applied her knowledge of user experience into the web/digital space, having the opportunity to assist client teams in usability testing methods to reshape their websites.
• Nick Rosencrans is a User Experience Analyst at IT@UMN. He studies how products and services affect teaching and research at all University of Minnesota campuses. Nick also goes to regular meetings with the Academic Digital Accessibility Liaisons as they help make academic materials accessible. Besides that, he also teaches a course on usability and human factors in technical communication for the Department of Writing Studies.