The Access for all Webinar Series (Scaled Webinars) for UDL are designed to allow for the opportunity to give a more in-depth perspective about a given topic within the UDL Project.
Important Note: All Webinars will be recorded and sent for post-production captioning. Auto captioning will be available for the duration of the webinars, and all finalized recordings will be housed within the UDL at SUNY website.
You may view any of the past UDL Webinar recordings.
Engaging Comprehensive Colleges and Universities in Accessibility Work: Insights from the SUNY Accessibility Advocates and Allies Fellows
September 9th, 2026 from 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Jessica Sniatecki - SUNY Brockport, Carrie Rood - SUNY Cortland
This webinar highlights faculty-led projects developed through the SUNY Accessibility Allies and Advocates (AAA) Fellowship initiative at four-year comprehensive campuses. Faculty from SUNY Brockport and SUNY Cortland will share how they designed and implemented campus-based efforts to build faculty knowledge and skills in digital accessibility and Universal Design for Learning (UDL). The discussion will focus on professional development initiatives developed by two AAA fellows: one centered on establishing campus-wide training with an incentivized program for increasing course accessibility and the other included developing a Community of Practice within a Center for Teaching and Learning to support Title II compliance and beyond. The webinar will outline practical strategies that attendees can adapt to enhance engagement in accessibility work at their own institutions.
Engaging Community Colleges in Accessibility Work: Insights from the SUNY Accessibility Advocates and Allies Fellows
September 14th from 12:00pm - 1:00PM
Nicole Tschampel - SUNY Westchester Community College (WCC), Casey Ryan - Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC)
This webinar highlights faculty-led projects developed through the SUNY Accessibility Allies and Advocates (AAA) Fellowship initiative at community college campuses. Faculty from Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC) and SUNY Westchester Community College (WCC) will share how they designed and implemented campus-based efforts to advance digital accessibility and support institutional readiness for Title II compliance. The discussion will focus on professional development and engagement initiatives developed by AAA fellows, including the creation of a digital learning course to build faculty and staff knowledge of accessibility, the establishment of campus accessibility groups to foster cross-functional collaboration, and the development of partnerships with distance learning offices and Centers for Teaching and Learning to strengthen accessibility efforts across campus. The webinar will outline practical strategies that attendees can adapt to enhance engagement in accessibility work at their own institutions.
Dr. Jessica L. Sniatecki (she/her) is the Assistant Dean for the College of Education and Health at SUNY Brockport and teaches courses in the Addictions and Behavioral Health program. She has a PhD in Counselor Education from the University at Buffalo and has held national certification as a Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) since 2004. Her research focuses primarily on the college experience of students with disabilities and faculty knowledge and attitudes related to students with disabilities. Jess has published articles and delivered numerous workshops and presentations on topics related to disability experience, ableism, accessibility, and universal design. She is a founding member of SUNY Brockport’s Committee on Accessibility and has also served on the Student Accessibility Services (SAS) Advisory Board and the SUNY Empowering Students with Disabilities Task Force. Her contributions have been formally recognized with the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2017 and the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Faculty Service in 2024.
Dr. Carrie E. Rood is an educator and advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, with a focus on Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and disability inclusion in higher education. Currently an Associate Professor and Coordinator of the Cortland Urban Recruitment of Educators (C.U.R.E.) scholarship and program at SUNY Cortland, Dr. Rood is committed to developing inclusive pedagogical practices that engage diverse learners and foster equity in the classroom. She integrates UDL principles and guidelines into her teaching by offering flexible course formats, diverse modes of representation, and varied opportunities for student expression, ensuring that all students have access to meaningful learning experiences. As the Coordinator of the Cortland Urban Recruitment of Educators (C.U.R.E.), she supports pre-service teachers of color as they navigate higher education and prepare for careers in teaching.
Dr. Rood’s research interests lie at the intersection of disability, race, and other marginalized identities, with a focus on removing barriers to access in both teacher education and higher education. Using a Disability Studies in Education (DSE) lens, she examines how systemic challenges impact students with disabilities and students from historically underrepresented backgrounds, particularly in teacher preparation.
In addition to her teaching and research, Dr. Rood has been actively involved in a variety of initiatives aimed at improving inclusivity and accessibility on campus. Her leadership extends to her work on several key committees, including the Faculty Committee on Inclusive Practices, the President’s Committee on Inclusive Excellence, and the Disability Resources Committee. Through these roles, Dr. Rood has collaborated with faculty, staff, and administrators to identify and address barriers to inclusion for marginalized students, including those with disabilities and students of color. This has included facilitating numerous professional development initiatives aimed at increasing accessibility and fostering inclusive teaching practices across campus.
Nicole Tschampel is an Associate Professor of Photography and Digital Filmmaking at SUNY Westchester Community College. She holds the Joseph and Sophia Abeles Endowed Chair in Art & Art History, and is one of four faculty directors of the SUNY WCC Center for Teaching and Learning. Her primary research areas are holistic student supports, trauma infused pedagogy and inclusive design. She was awarded a SUNY Chancellor Award for Teaching in 2019 and a SUNY WCC Foundation Faculty Excellence in Service Award in 2021. She is the founder and host of the Our Turn To Learn podcast that raises awareness of high impact practices at SUNY WCC.
Casey L. Ryan is an Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, NY. Casey has been at HVCC for fifteen years and serves as an Academic Senator, co-chair of the Educational Policies and Standards committee, and a member of the Academic Review Board. Casey was selected to be a faculty mentor for Brightspace to work with colleagues on developing and updating their courses within Brightspace. Casey's criminological research focuses on technology and deviance and pedagogical research focuses on accessibility in online learning.
Casey has completed the Deque University accessibility training and the SUNY Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Intermediate course, as well as the SUNY Online Empowering Every Voice webinar series. The Empowering Every Voice webinar series focused on inclusive course design for LGBTQ+ students, adult learners, veteran students, first-generation students, and justice-involved students. Casey has a particular interest in designing criminal justice courses to include the knowledge of justice-involved students, using Open Educational Resources to ensure all experiences of the criminal justice system are represented in coursework.
Casey presented at the SUNY Open Educational Resources (OER) Summit in October 2024 on inclusiveness in criminal justice courses, the SUNY Online Open Education Week in March 2024 on student engagement and OER, and the Hudson Valley Community College Faculty Workshop Day in March 2024 on empowering student autonomy in learning. Casey's presentations focused on using OER to affirm the UDL principles of representation and engagement for students while encouraging autonomy in learning.