Just Ask: Accessibility & Disability at UND Conference
The Campus Accessibility Working Group (CAWG) is proud to host Just Ask: Accessibility & Disability at UND!
Just Ask: Accessibility & Disability at UND Conference
October 14-15, 2024
Please join the Campus Accessibility Working Group for Just Ask: Accessibility and Disability at UND. This educational and awareness event brings together experts and peers from across campus and beyond to highlight the lived experience of those who must daily navigate environments, structures, and systems that often do not take their needs into account. Don't know something? Just ask.
Keynote Speakers
Dr. Christina M. Johnson is a curator with the NASA Open Science Data Repository, contracted through KBR. She also is an independent consultant for projects involving the plant module of the Inflatable Lunar and Martian Analog Habitat at the University of North Dakota Space Studies program. She will present her whitepaper, co-authored with Dr. Ashley Macner, "Disabled People: A Quarter of the Population, Yet Often Overlooked In Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Discussions and Efforts.”
Craig Leen is a current partner at K&L Gates in the firm's Labor, Employment, and Workplace Safety practice. Prior to joining the firm, Craig served as the Director of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), a federal civil rights enforcement agency at the U.S. Department of Labor. Before his tenure at OFCCP, he served as the City Attorney of Coral Gables, FL, and as Chief of Appeals and then Chief of Federal Litigation for Miami-Dade County.
Craig is well-known for his development of award-winning disability inclusion programs at both OFCCP and the City of Coral Gables. Craig also received the Secretary's Exceptional Achievement Award - Professional for his service at U.S. DOL, and the Paul S. Buchman Award for Outstanding Contribution in the Area of Legal Public Service for his service in local government.
Conference Schedule
All events are located in the Memorial Union and are accessible via Zoom. Registration is optional but required to access the Zoom webinar. Lunch is provided for those who register by Sept. 29.
Monday, Oct. 14
All sessions are located in Memorial Union, 220 (Henry Family Ballroom) and are accessible via Zoom.
9-9:30 a.m. Pre-conference Social
Light refreshments will be provided prior to the start of the conference. You may also pick up your meal ticket at the registration table.
9:30-10 a.m. Opening Remarks
10-11 a.m. Keynote Address
"Disabled People: A Quarter of the Population, Yet Often Overlooked in Diversity,
Equity, and Inclusion Discussions and Efforts,"
Dr. Christina M. Johnson, KBR, contracted curator with the NASA Open Science Data
Repository
11:10 a.m. - 12:10 p.m. Just Ask: Starting the Conversation (Panel Discussion)
- Rosemary Flynn, C.A., Principal Librarian & Archivist, EERC, UND
- Rachel Hafner, Executive Director of Arc, Upper Valley
- Lex Huth, Inclusive Communications Specialist and Disabled Advocate
12:10-12:30 p.m. Break
Boxed lunch provided for those who RSVP-ed
12:30-2 p.m. Screening of "Navigating UND" and Panel Discussion
(please enjoy your lunch during this session)
- Dr. Sherry Fieber-Beyer, Associate Professor, Space Studies, UND
- Jessica D. Gilbert-Redman, MLIS, Online Resources & Service Librarian, SMHS, UND
- Dr. Wendelin Hume, Associate Professor, Criminal Justice, UND
- Crystal Lundmark, Student and GRA, UND
Tuesday, Oct. 15
All sessions are located in Memorial Union, 318 AB and are accessible via Zoom.
9-9:30 a.m. Pre-conference Social
Light refreshments will be provided prior to the start of the conference. You may also pick up your meal ticket at the registration table.
9:30-10:30 a.m. Keynote Address
Craig Leen, Former Director of OFCCP, current partner at K&L Gates
10:45 - 11:30 a.m. Accessibility for Employees: Workplace Disability Accommodations
Melissa Arnold, Senior HR Manager, Human Resources, UND
11:40 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Accessibility for Students: Accommodations in the Academic Environment
Dr. Sara Kaiser, Director, Student Disability Resources & Academic Support, UND
12:30-2 p.m. Lunch and Panel, Just Ask: Future of Accessibility
- Dr. Sara Kaiser, Director, Student Disability Resource & Academic Support, UND
- Mary Lou Mobley, Esq., National Disability Expert, Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education
- Chris Murphy, Information Specialist, Rocky Mountain ADA Center
- Maggie Sims, Project Manager, Rocky Mountain ADA Center
2-3 p.m. Empowering Accessibility: Navigating the Digital Landscape (Workshop)
- Renea Bjorg, Assistant Professor, Teaching & Leadership, UND
- Kristi Embry, Instructional Designer, TTaDA, UND
- Diane Lundeen, Academic Application Administrator/Learning Space Coordinator, TTaDA, UND
Disability Pride Flag
Disability Pride Flag
Designed by Ann Magill, the Disability Pride Flag is a charcoal grey flag with a diagonal band from the top left to bottom right corner, made up of five parallel stripes in muted colors of red, gold, pale grey, blue, and green. In her first iteration of the flag, bold-colored strips were zigzag "to represent how disabled people have to maneuver around all the barriers we face." However, when she learned that this design was causing symptoms for individuals with visually triggered disabilities, she collaborated with others to create the revised design using straight lines and muted colors. The order of the stripes was also changed to lessen the chance of a flicker effect and nausea effect when scrolling on a screen and to separate the red and green stripes for those with color blindness.
"Ever since I attended the local "celebration" of the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 2010, only to find disappointment that the celebration was confined to the basement and grounds of the regional Independent Living Center, instead of out in the public, I've wanted a Disability Pride Flag. After the massacre at the Tsukui Yamayuri En care home in Sagamihara, Japan, ...I was driven to design an actual flag, instead of just wishing we had one." - Ann Magill
CAWG Subgroups and Chairs
The Campus Accessibility Working Group (CAWG) is chaired by the Deputy ADA/Section 504 Coordinator and comprised of employees students working towards improving accessibility at UND.
- Chair, Beth Valentine
- Assistive Technology, Carl Hermanson
- Employee Education/Just Ask Planning Committee, Beth Valentine
- Physical Accessibility, Chris Wetch
- Software Accessibility and Procurement, Jessica Gilbert-Redman
- Universal Design in Learning, Diane Lundeen and Kristi Embry