Accessible U: Cultivate Inclusion Site Launch

Today is the soft launch of the University's new go-to digital accessibility resource, now called Accessible U: Cultivate Inclusion.

Several years ago a team of folks from across the U, led by Ann Fandrey (CLA) and Sara Schoen (OIT) put together the original Accessible U site. It has been a go-to resource for the University and a model for several other Big 10 accessibility sites/efforts ever since.

The U's Office of Information Technology has taken over responsibility for the site, and the updated site relaunched with new architecture, a new look and feel, and updated content. Significantly, the site maintains its core premise and approach: That digital accessibility is everyone's everyday work and that we can all take small steps to make big change.

On July 23, from 9:00–12:00, the Libraries, OIT, and the Disability Resource Center are hosting a formal kick-off event called Cultivate Inclusion. The event will formally launch the site and celebrate what it stands for with 15-20 minute talks on a variety of access-related topics.

Please take a minute to check out the site, and, if you have feedback, please send your comments to it-comm@umn.edu (note: this will open a ticket in TDX).

Thanks to all the people who contributed or reviewed content: Alex Anderson, Elizabeth Lijewski, Emma Larson, Leah Villa, Russell Kos, Khaled Musa, Kathy Jensen, Kristina Cibuzar, Susan Tade.

Special thanks to Christina Goodland who re-architected the site and managed the refresh project.

Thank you for continuing to support digital inclusion and belonging in your work and your units—and across the broad University community.