Champions of Accessibility
The Champions of Accessibility honors special contributions to VCU's pursuits to provide equal access for all. The awards are presented at the annual TAI Fall Conference and recognize outstanding and innovative projects, initiatives and/or individual efforts that enhance accessibility, independence, and inclusion for people with disabilities and chronic conditions. These champions are individuals, departments, groups, or websites committed to a mission of advocating for accessibility in their community. The recipients show passion and drive for promoting access and are making a large impact on the VCU community.
2020/21 Recipients
2020 and 2021 brought unprecedented challanges to the work we do across higher education. The pandemic had a profound impact on accessibility and inclusion for all members of our society. During these trying times, true champions arose whose dedication, energy, efforts, expertise, and long hours made it possible for our campus to continue its mission of providing a high quality adn accessible educaitonal experience for all students. In response, we felt it ws important to acknowledge the efforts of some of those champions whose work made a profound and incalculable impact.
Crystal C. Coombes
Sarah Lineberry
Jane Emerson
Allison Jones
Meera Mehtaji
C. Daniel Foster
Kathy Oliveri
University Student Health Services
The Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence
Residential Life and Housing - Isolation & Quarentine Team
2019 Recipients
Casey Gagliardi
Undergraduate Student
Lynne Fetter
Graduate Student
Margaret Kelland
Departmental Partner
Rams in Recovery
Outstanding Program or Organization
Bethany (bee) Coston
Faculty - Excellence in Access, Course Content, and Instruction
Stephanie Lau
Faculty - Research
Kevin Wade
Faculty - Student Support
Jennifer Elswick
Digital Access - Individual/Small Group
Tristana Trani
Digital Access - Social Media
Office of Alumni Relations
Digital Access - Most Accessible (Large Website)
Web Standards & Guidelines
Digital Access - Most Accessible (Small Website)
Department of History
Digital Access - Most Improved (Large Website)
University Controller's Office
Digital Access - Most Improved (Small Website)
2018 Recipients
Majesta-Dore' Legnini
Undergraduate Student
Gabrielle Laureles Oblena
Graduate Student
VCU School of Social Work
Departmental Partner
ACE-IT in College
Outstanding Program or Organization
Joshua Langberg, College of Humanities and Sciences
Faculty - Support Program
Elizabeth Getzel, Center on Transition Innovations
Faculty - Research
Isabelle Richman, School of World Studies
Faculty - Student Support
Department of Biology
Digital Access - Website (Large Unit)
Department of Physics
Digital Access - Website (Medium Unit)
Technology Services
Digital Access - Website (Small Unit)