The UAB School of Nursing, in partnership with the School of Health Professions, the Office of Access & Engagement, Disability Support Services, and the Center for Teaching and Learning, is pleased to host Access by Design: Removing Barriers for Students with Disabilities.
The virtual presentation will feature Emily Tarconish, Ph.D., Teaching Assistant Professor in the College of Education at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and will be moderated by Jennifer Christy, Ph.D., Interim Associate Dean for Academic and Faculty Affairs in the UAB School of Health Professions.
Students with disabilities represent one of the fastest-growing populations in postsecondary education, yet they continue to experience unequal academic outcomes compared to their peers without disabilities. A major barrier identified by these students is the lack of instructor awareness regarding their needs, along with limited use of accessible and inclusive teaching practices.
Dr. Tarconish will explore key theoretical frameworks related to disability and accessibility and introduce practical, inclusive teaching strategies designed to promote access and engagement for all learners. By examining how these approaches reduce common barriers, this presentation demonstrates how intentional course design can better support students with disabilities and promote more equitable learning environments.
The virtual presentation is designed for faculty, instructors, and staff and will be held on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. Registration is required to attend. To request accessibility accommodations, please email
The Office of Access & Engagement at the University of Alabama at Birmingham announced that 35 faculty and staff members have successfully completed the Blazer Blueprint Learning Plan, a professional development module that is a part of the Community Education programming.
The Blazer Blueprint is a series of learning modules that offer faculty and staff practical tools to succeed in academic and professional settings. The learning modules are led by Ivory Sirmans, Community Education Director, and include Civility at UAB, Creating Collaborative Environments, Effective Communication and Respect, and Bystander Intervention.
Through the learning plan, faculty and staff participants have the opportunity to define their professional identity, strengthen communication and collaboration skills, and build their professional toolbox.
“The Blazer Blueprint takes UAB’s shared values and turns them into practical and applicable tools to empower faculty and staff to build professional confidence,” said Ivory Sirmans. “The completion of the learning plan by these individuals represents their commitment to continuous growth and development to help build a stronger UAB community.”
Available dates and module registration are accessible to faculty and staff through Campus LMS.
Congratulations to the faculty and staff who have completed the Blazer Blueprint Learning Plan:
- Alexandra Stephens
- Allison Estep
- Amanda Gray
- Amanda Sherman
- Ana Rodriguez Good
- Andrea Bowens
- Anne Graham
- April Madison
- Ashley McGuire
- Bria Kathryn Morgan
- Charlene Paige
- Christina Isom
- Christopher Jones
- Davelyn Daniels-Carter
- Dhanashree Rane
- Emma Leffingwell
- Ericka Lessears
- Erik Dohm
- Holly Holliday-Jones
- Jasmine P. Jean
- Justin Daigneault
- Kevin Speed
- Kevin Storr
- Krystle Glasgow
- Leah Carpenter
- Liliana Navarete
- Matthew Bittle
- Paulette Patterson Dilworth
- Rosie Turner
- Samantha Giordano-Mooga
- Savannah Grace Jones
- Sharron Brownlee
- Shaylyn Sanders
- Stephanie Rudolph
- Vicki Porter
Six scholars were recognized as the winners of the 2026 Community Engaged Scholarship Showcase, hosted on April 8 in partnership with the UAB Office of Access & Engagement, the Office of the Provost, Center for Teaching & Learning, Center for the Study of Community Health, the Service Learning & Undergraduate Research, and Blazer Pulse.
The Community Engaged Scholarship Showcase was themed Scholarship with a Purpose and celebrated collaboration, research, and community impact. The showcase featured faculty and staff’s community-engaged scholarship that has addressed real-world challenges, expanded access and opportunity, and contributed to a better quality of life in Birmingham and beyond.
This event highlighted UAB’s commitment to advancing its public mission through meaningful partnerships that improve lives and strengthen communities.
Congratulations to the oral and poster presenters for their excellence in community-engaged scholarship:
Oral Presentation Winners
- Ronit Elk, Ph.D., Professor
Gerontology, Heersink School of Medicine
African American Communities Speak: A Training Program for Clinicians in Providing Respectful, Culturally Concordant Care to Older African American Patients, Developed in Full Partnership with an African American Community
- Joy Ledvina, Director of HEALTHe Study
Gerontology, Heersink School of Medicine
The Evolving Role of Community Research Assistants in Community Health Research: A Citizen Science Perspective
- Crystal Stephens, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Pulmonary, Allergy & Critical Care, Heersink School of Medicine
Addressing Youth Tobacco Use in Alabama: Evaluating School-Based Prevention and Youth Perceptions of E-Cigarettes
Poster Presentation Winners
- Peter Jones, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Political Science and Public Administration, College of Arts and Sciences
Partnering for Policy Insight: Measuring the Impacts of Fines and Fees in Criminal Justice System
- Tina Kempin Reuter, Ph.D., Professor, Director of Institute for Human Rights
Political Science and Public Administration, College of Arts and Sciences
Strengthening Justice from Policy to Practice to People: A Human Rights-Based, Community-Engaged Model to Advance Health Equity
- Rachel Wells, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Nursing Acute, Chronic & Continuing Care, School of Nursing
Partnership, Purpose, and Pain in Heart Failure (HF): The Co-Designed ADAPT HF Optimization Pilot
Ten faculty members at the University of Alabama at Birmingham have been awarded sponsorship to attend the NCFDD Faculty Success Program. The sponsorship is offered by the Office of Access & Engagement, in collaboration with each faculty member’s school or college.
The Faculty Success Program is an intensive 10-week program designed to equip tenure-track and tenured faculty with proven strategies to enhance their research and writing productivity while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Participants will gain the tools and community needed to boost productivity, support personal growth, and elevate work-life integration to a new level.
The NCFDD is a nationally recognized community, comprised of over 450 colleges and universities. UAB is an institutional member of NCFDD and is committed to supporting faculty by providing access to tools and resources for professional success. New faculty, postdocs, and graduate students can activate their free membership by visiting the NCFDD website. Returning faculty are encouraged to log in to view the available resources.
The Faculty Success Program will take place from May 18 to July 26, 20206.
Congratulations to the faculty receiving sponsorship:
Maury Young Bruhn, Assistant Professor
World Languages and Literature, College of Arts and Sciences
Po-Hsu Chen, Associate Professor
Restorative Services, School of Dentistry
Gu Fang, Assistant Professor
Endodontics, School of Dentistry
Andrea Bowens, Associate Professor
Physical Therapy, School of Health Professions
Skanksha Singh, Assistant Professor
Health Informatics, School of Health Professions
Sarah dos Anjos, Assistant Professor
Occupational Therapy, School of Health Professions
Robby Van Sciver, Assistant Professor
CDIB, Heersink School of Medicine
Christina Bankston, Assistant Professor
Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, Heersink School of Medicine
Jennifer Werthman, Assistant Professor
Family, Community & Health Systems, School of Nursing
Anne Brisendine, Assistant Professor
Health Policy and Organization, School of Public Health
Learn more about NCFDD and the Faculty Success Program.