Building Capacity for Universal Design Beyond the School of Social Work.
We are proud to announce that the poster titled "Building Capacity for Universal Design at the School of Social Work" was presented at the Leaders in Education: Academy of Presidential Scholars (LEAPs) Third Annual Symposium. Designed by Christopher Fogarty, a graduating MSW Student, this poster showcased research conducted by Christopher Fogarty, MSW Student; Dawn Shafer, PhD; Gail Betz, MSLIS; Samantha Fuld, DSW, MSW; Alexis Guethler, PhD; and Julia Scott, MSW, through their work with the Accessibility Advisory Group. The poster was presented on April 2, 2025, at an event titled "Navigating Your Professional Path: Scholarship Development Strategies for Tenure and Promotion in Professional and Graduate Education.” This event spotlighted educational scholarship at UMB and aimed to develop the next generation of educational scholars.
The poster highlighted our pathway to assessing the needs of social work faculty, staff, and students, showcasing our frameworks for creating accessible learning, training, and working environments. It emphasized the importance of universal design principles in fostering inclusivity and supporting diverse ways of engaging within the School of Social Work.
This impactful presentation generated interest from other departments at UMB, who were keen to adapt our framework to their fields. Congratulations to the team for their contribution to the symposium and their ongoing efforts to advance accessibility and inclusivity in social work education and practice.