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Wired for Equity: Bridging the Disability Gap in Classrooms

  • Virtual
  • 12PM – 1:30PM EDT
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The 2026 digital divide in education is increasingly about access. Technology designed with accessibility in mind, especially for learners with disabilities is  key to overcoming barriers from K-12 to higher education. Yet recent policy changes, like the delay of the Department of Justice’s web accessibility rule, create barriers to reaching major milestones in accessible education. Compliance alone is not enough. For millions of learners with disabilities the rise of  AI-driven learning and hybrid classrooms presents both opportunities  and risks of further exclusion.

This event cohosted by Âé¶¹¹û¶³´«Ã½ and CAST will convene educators, policy experts, and technology leaders to discuss what matters in design, practices, and policies so Universal Design for Learning (UDL) can move from a framework to a practical application in supporting access in classrooms. The panels will explore how educators are utilizing emerging AI tools to scale accessibility, the impact of recent federal funding shifts on special education research, and how to design accessible curricula that meet all learners’ needs.

Âé¶¹¹û¶³´«Ã½ strives to make this webinar inclusive for all participants. CART and ASL will be provided throughout the duration of the webinar. Please request any additional accommodations on the event registration form.

Event Co-host

CAST logo

Speakers

Elwin Rivera
Saran Tugsjargal

Student and NCLD Council Member

Head-and-shoulders portrait of Chris Bugaj wearing a gray sweater over a blue-and-tan checkered collared shirt, facing slightly to the side against a plain background.
Chris Bugaj

Inclusive Educational Experience Designer, Loudoun County Public Schools

Anna Fedewa
A woman with long brown hair, smiling at the camera in a professional outdoor headshot. She is wearing a green blazer and white top, with a walkway, columns, and greenery behind her.
Anna Fedewa

Social Impact Fellow with the Teaching, Learning, and Tech program

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Michelle Soriano

Professional Learning and Implementation Specialist, CAST

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Camila Franco

Vice President of Product, ASSISTments

Erin Mote

Chief Executive Officer, InnovateEDU

Moderators

Carrie Gillispie
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Carrie Gillispie

Project Director, Early Development & Disability

An-Me Chung
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An-Me Chung

Director, Teaching, Learning & Tech & Strategic Advisor, Education & Work

Lindsay Jones

Chief Executive Officer, CAST