Global Accessibility Awareness Week at UL 2025
Monday, 12 May
Accessibility and Ally Training - 11am to 1pm
This session will focus on practical and effective strategies for enhancing the accessibility of digital content. Participants will gain insights into 'quick wins' that will enable them to communicate more effectively by creating inclusive content across various UL platforms, including BrightSpace (inbuilt and Ally) and Microsoft 365, specifically in applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. The session will cover essential accessibility principles related to the creation of documents, tables, images, and audio materials.
Moreover, the format will encourage audience participation and include hands-on exercises, allowing participants to practice and apply the knowledge acquired during the session. It will include accessibility on social media platforms within the context of higher education and brief demonstrations of commonly used assistive technologies, illustrating how these tools interact with both accessible and inaccessible digital content.
For more information please email
Tuesday 13 May
Meet the Irish Guide Dogs 12.30pm to 2pm
Irish Guide Dogs Limerick Branch visit UL. Come and meet the volunteers and amazing ambassador dogs from the Limerick Branch of The Irish Guide Dogs in the main market square.
Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind is Ireland鈥檚 national charity dedicated to enabling people who are vision impaired and families of children with autism to achieve improved mobility and independence.
For over 40 years the charity have worked with a community of Breeders, Puppy Raisers, Home Socialisers, Temporary Boarders, Trainers, Staff, Volunteers and supporters to change as many lives as possible.
Accessibility in the Glucksman 黑料社 tour 1pm to 1.45pm
Come along to a tour of the library building with Tracy (Disability Support Officer) and Ailish (Librarian, Student Engagement & Success).
The tour (45 mins) will highlight the library's many inclusive features. Join us to learn how the library is breaking barriers and ensuring that every user can explore, learn, and thrive in a welcoming environment.
We will meet inside the library gates at 1 pm and there's no need to sign up, just come along.
Wednesday 14 May
The Importance of Web Accessibility for the Blind and Visually Impaired- 10.30 am to 11.30 am
This session by William Nolan from UL's Educational Assistive Technology Centre (EATC) and June Shannon, from the UL Web Team will show how accessible web content is essential for blind and visually impaired users.
William will show how inaccessible webpages create a barrier to accessing information while June Shannon will show how to fix many common mistakes when creating web pages.
Dine in the Dark 1pm to 2pm
Have you ever wondered what it's like to experience a meal without relying on your sight? Join us for an unforgettable experience at our Dine in the Dark event. Don't miss this chance to deepen your understanding of accessibility issues and make a positive impact. Together, let's create a more accessible world for all. Staff and student participants welcome. Free 2-course meal provided. Location: Drumroe Village.
This event is now full but you can join the waiting list and if a space becomes available the organisers will contact you.
Thursday, 15 May
Universal Design (UD) in Three - 10.30am - 11.30am
Universal Design (UD) in Three is an opportunity to share your UD practice with colleagues in a three-minute presentation. Yes, just three minutes. We hope to showcase as many presentations as possible during this 60-minute session. You can choose to present live (either face-to-face or online) or you to pre-record your presentation in advance.
The suggested format for your presentation follows three questions :
1. What was your challenge?
2. What Universal Design change did you make?
3. What was the result?
If you are interested in participating please or if you would simply like to join us on the day
Neurodiversity and Universal Design for Learning : A friendship worth fostering - 12 pm to 1 pm
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework used to design learning that is accessible to the greatest number of students with less need for individual accommodations, while neurodiversity describes the variation that naturally exists in human cognition.
In this presentation, educator and independent faculty developer focusing on neurodiversity, disability studies, and inclusive instructional design will share a tour through the histories of both the neurodiversity and UDL concepts. Then, she will clarify the areas of overlap between Neurodiversity theory and UDL, and where these two frameworks may disagree or diverge. She will then discuss ways in which neurodiversity theory and activism may help to inform and shape the implementation of the UDL to support neurodivergent students, with a specific focus on how communication differences can be respected and honoured using UDL.
For more information please contact
Please (Zoom)
Friday 16 May
Inclusion at UL - Student Panel 12pm to 1pm
Join us for a where students will discuss their experiences of accessibility and inclusion in UL. This is an opportunity for colleagues to reflect on how UL (individuals or whole schools/faculties/units) can ensure a student experience that is inclusive and accessible to ALL students. This event will be chaired by Dervla Ryan, Student Life Diversity and Inclusion Officer.
Any queries can be directed by email to Tracy McAvinue or Suzanne Stone