Beyond Checklists: Learning to Think Accessibly in Everyday Practice

Creating accessible materials and inclusive environments can feel overwhelming when you’re just entering the health professions. But accessibility isn’t just about regulations or checklists—it’s a way of thinking that helps you communicate clearly, support diverse patients, and practice with empathy. 

This presentation focuses on understanding what accessibility means across clinical, educational, and everyday settings. Instead of memorizing rules, we’ll explore how to think through access needs, recognize barriers early, and adapt with curiosity and humility. 

When accessibility becomes part of how you approach your work, your practice becomes smarter, more equitable, and more human‑centered. These are skills that will strengthen every interaction you have as a future health professional. 

This session will be facilitated by Heather Moore, MA, Associate Director, Educational Support and Disability Services, and Isabell C. May, PhD, Associate Professor, School of Graduate Studies & Director, UMB Writing Center.  

If you require accommodation for this event, please contact Isabell C. May, PhD, at imay@umaryland.edu or 410-706-4450 with your request, so that we can assist you further.  Please submit your requests at least seven (7) business days prior to the event, to give us ample time to review your accommodation requests, and we will make a good-faith effort to provide those accommodations. 

Photo by Yomex Owo on Unsplash