Student Disability Commission

Universal Design in Higher Education

Image description: Light blue background with waves. Navy text in top left corner reads “Universal Design in Higher Education with Dr. Sheryl Burghstahler, Dr. Joanne Woiak and Dr. Heather Evans on creating an inclusive campus. Thursday, May 13th 6-7pm PDT.” Small light blue square logo in bottom left corner that reads “DisDiv”, with a circular purple SDC logo in bottom right corner. On right side, big black and white picture of Dr. Sheryl Burghstahler (white woman with curly hair wearing a striped polo shirt) with pink, green, and purple threads embroidered around the picture in rays going outward.

Interested in learning how to make education more accessible? Come join us for an hour-long event led by Dr. Sheryl Burgstahler, the director of DO-IT at UW, who will be providing a brief overview about Universal Design. Universal Design aims to create classroom environments that are accessible and inclusive for all students, without the need for disability-specific accommodations. Additionally two UW disability studies professors, Dr. Joanne Woiak and Dr. Heather Evans, will be joining this event to discuss the importance of ensuring accessibility in UW classrooms.

Event Recording

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Toby Gallant at asuw.sdc.intern7@gmail.com.

Panelist information

Dr. Sheryl Burgstahler

Closeup photo of a person with curly medium blonde hair, smiling, wearing a large necklace and pink sweater.
Image description: closeup photo of a person with curly medium blonde hair, smiling, wearing a large necklace and pink sweater.

Dr. Sheryl Burgstahler founded and continues to direct the Accessible Technology Services at the University of Washington, Seattle. The Accessible Technology Services is composed of two centers: DO-IT Center (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology) and the ATC (Access Technology Center). Both of these centers promote the success of students with disabilities in postsecondary programs and careers through the use of technology. Dr. Burgsthaler is an Affiliate Professor in the College of Education at UW. Her teaching and research focus on the successful transition of students with disabilities to college and careers and on the application of universal design to instruction, student services, technology, and physical spaces.

Dr. Heather Evans

erson with short dark hair smiling, holding an orange umbrella
Image description: Person with short dark hair smiling, holding an orange umbrella

Dr. Heather Evans is an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Disability Studies Program, the Department of Sociology, and the Law, Societies, and Justice Department at the University of Washington, Seattle. Her current work examines “invisible disability”, focusing on disclosure and identity management among people with physical, mental, and sensory differences that are not readily apparent. She is committed to community based research and does consulting work for local organizations, primarily focusing on disparities within the criminal justice system. Broadly, she is interested in processes of social marginalization and identifying ways to expand access to opportunity structures through institutional change.

Dr. Joanne Woiak

Close up photo of a person with medium-length curly brown/grey hair smiling with glasses
Image description: Close up photo of a person with medium-length curly brown/grey hair smiling with glasses

Dr. Joanne Woiak is an Assistant Teaching Professor for the Disability Studies Program at the University of Washington, Seattle. Her research encompasses the social justice implications of knowledge about genetics, reproduction, and health in the modern era. She focuses on disability in American and British history and culture, including the history of sterilization and constructions of mental disability in Washington, the rhetorical uses of “eugenics” in public discourses, reading science fiction through the lens of disability studies, and disability pedagogy. She is an elected member of the Board of Directors of the Society for Disability Studies, and a member of the Disability History Association.