16: Inclusivity, Identity-First Lensing, Education Accessibility

Liz Spingola is a distinguished data scientist with a robust background in neurodiversity, digital accessibility, and inclusive education, currently working at IBM. Liz emphasizes the importance of instructor awareness and training around neurodiversity, the recognition of disability through an identity-first lens, the need for community feedback to create an inclusive environment, and the legal requirements for digital accessibility. Join Arash Zaghi, Lexi Hain, and Liz Spingola as they delve deeper into these insights on the next episode of the Square Pegs Podcast. 

Square Pegs is a series of intimate conversations about navigating life and learning within the neurodiverse community, hosted by Dr. Arash Zaghi, Professor at the University of Connecticut School of Engineering. In each episode, we talk to neurodiverse students and experts in the field of neurodiversity.

Send feedback about Square Pegs to ⁠⁠[e-mail]⁠⁠⁠ or find us at squarepegspodcast.com. 

01:27 Liz Spingola's Expertise in Data Analytics and Accessibility

08:16 Obstacles and expenses in obtaining student accommodations

09:16 Prioritizing Digital Accessibility for Inclusive Education

19:13 The Dichotomy of Reading and Spelling

28:36 The Impact of Personal Interests in Education

36:49 Challenging Traditional Notions: Disabilities and Society

43:44 Embracing Disability as Empowering Identity

50:06 The Value of Neurodiversity

01:01:59 Inclusive Design for All Abilities

01:19:23 The Impact of Outdated Teaching Methods