The USC Digital Accessibility Network, spearheaded by the dedicated Digital Accessibility team, is a vibrant collective of experts and advocates committed to enhancing the digital experience for all members of the USC community, particularly those with disabilities.
Launched in spring 2024, the Network began with 25 members spanning various USC Colleges, Schools, divisions, departments, and services.
The USC Digital Accessibility Team’s Evolution
In 2020, as education rapidly transitioned online, USC faced significant challenges in digital accessibility. During this pivotal period, the USC Digital Accessibility team was formed with a single dedicated member. By the spring of 2023, the team had expanded with two additional members, whose contributions were instrumental in realizing the vision of the Digital Accessibility Network.
Who We Are and Our Aspirations
The Digital Accessibility Network comprises USC faculty and staff with deep expertise in their fields, accessibility, and best practices in Universal Design (UD) and Universal Design for Learning (UDL). This diverse membership provides a broad spectrum of valuable insights and perspectives on accessibility. Some members bring personal experience with disabilities, while others offer direct support to students and colleagues with disabilities.
Short-Term Achievements and Goals
The Network’s initial successes include:
- This article, which showcases progress and initiatives.
- The creation of a Digital Accessibility listserv to enhance communication within the USC community. To join, email DigitalAccessibility@sc.edu.
- The development of brief training videos aligned with the USC Digital Accessibility Toolbox.
Long-Term Vision
Looking ahead, the Network aims to:
- Launch a Digital Accessibility certificate of completion through the Center for Teaching Excellence.
- Establish an accessibility mentorship program to support USC faculty and staff in designing and developing accessible learning content.
- Expand the Digital Accessibility Network to include even more members.
Get Involved!
The Digital Accessibility Network invites you to become part of this dynamic and passionate group. Whether you’re interested in accessibility, UD/UDL, disability advocacy, or simply wish to increase your awareness, your unique perspective will help drive meaningful progress toward a more inclusive digital environment. Let’s make a significant impact together! Connect with the Digital Accessibility Network.
Digital Accessibility Network Members
Name |
Title |
USC Unit/Service |
USC College/Division |
| Ismahan Arslan-Ari | Associate Professor of COE; Director of SC-CATER | Leadership, Learning Design, and Inquiry; SC Center for Assistive Technology and Educational Research (SC-CATER) | College of Education (COE) |
| Sonia Badesha | Director of SDRC | Student Disability Resource Center (SDRC) | Division of Student Affairs |
| Ana Bichanich | Editorial, Design, & Production Director | USC Press | Office of the Provost |
| Monique Brown | Assistant Professor of ASPH | Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics | Arnold School of Public Health (ASPH) |
| Chris Brown | Sr. Instructional Technologist | eLearning Services | Division of Information Technology (DoIT) |
| Clarissa Clark | Director of Purchasing | USC Purchasing | |
| Clayton Copeland | Faculty; Director of LLEAD | School of Information Science; Laboratory for Leadership in Equity & Diversity (LLEAD) | College of Information & Communications (CIC) |
| Robert David Dawson | Clinical Associate Professor; Co-Director for SC-CATER | Neuropsychiatry & Behavioral Science; SC Center for Assistive Technology and Educational Research (SC-CATER) | School of Medicine (SOM) |
| Dre Drummond | Associate Director for Engagement | Office of the Dean | College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) |
| Karen Edwards | Associate Dean / Academic Programs and Student Affairs; Senior Instructor | Department of Retailing | College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management (HRSM) |
| Lydia Frass | Director of Assessment and Online Learning | Office of the Dean | College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) |
| Rob Grookett | Assistant Director of ODL | Office of Distributed Learning (ODL) | Office of the Provost |
| Laney Grubbs | Associate Director of Creative | Marketing & Communications | Darla Moore School of Business |
| Dow Hammond | Sr. Digital Accessibility Specialist | Digital Accessibility | Division of Information Technology (DoIT) |
| Aisha Haynes | Assistant Director of CTE | Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) | Office of the Provost |
| Kim Hodges | Director of Digital Accessibility | Digital Accessibility | Division of Information Technology (DoIT) |
| Rachel Hoke | Instructional Design Associate | Office of the Dean | College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) |
| Rachell Johnson | Program Manager of SCATP | SC Assistive Technology Program (SCATP) | School of Medicine (SOM) |
| Brooke Macdonald | Media Services Specialist | Media Services | Division of Information Technology (DoIT) |
| Vera Polyakova-Norwood | Director of Distributed Learning | Distributed Learning | College of Nursing |
| Mary Prouty | Digital Accessibility Developer | Digital Accessibility | Division of Information Technology (DoIT) |
| Susan Quinn | Assistant Director of eLearning Services | eLearning Services | Division of Information Technology (DoIT) |
| Katherine Ryker | Associate Professor; Co-Director of the Center for Science Education | School of the Earth, Ocean and Environment (SEOE) | College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) |
| Peter Schmolze | User Interface Developer | Digital Strategy | Division of Communications and Marketing |
| Janeen Sudiacal | Assistive Technology Coordinator | Student Disability Resource Center | Division of Student Affairs |
| Tammy Wallace | Program Coordinator II | SC Assistive Technology Program (SCATP) | School of Medicine – Columbia (SOMC) |