2026 Presenters
Keynote Speaker
Brian Trager
Chair of the Information and Computing Studies Department at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf at Rochester Institute of Technology
Brian Trager is Chair of the Information and Computing Studies Department at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf at Rochester Institute of Technology. His work sits at the intersection of technology, accessibility, and education, with a particular focus on expanding access and opportunity for deaf and hard-of-hearing learners.
Over more than two decades at RIT, Brian has taught and led initiatives in computing, accessibility, and emerging technologies. He previously served as Associate Director of RIT’s Center on Access Technology, where he worked on research and development efforts focused on improving access through technology, including collaborations with Microsoft Research.
As a deaf educator and technologist, Brian brings both professional and lived experience to conversations about accessibility. His current work includes artificial intelligence, computing education, and the development of more accessible pathways for students in a rapidly changing technological landscape.
Presenters
Erin (Airza) Bosley
American Sign Language Instructor, University of Pittsburgh
Erin (Airza) Bosley (she/her/hers) is an American Sign Language (ASL) Instructor at the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt), where she also mentors new instructors in the ASL program and serves as a co-advisor for the ASL club. A Pittsburgh native, she brings a strong commitment to language, education, and community engagement to her work.
Airza earned her bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and American Sign Language (ASL) from the Rochester Institute of Technology in 2005 followed by a master’s degree in K–12 Education for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Students in 2007. After returning to Pittsburgh, she taught at a Deaf school while teaching evening ASL courses at Pitt. Since 2012, she has worked at Pitt full-time. She is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Higher Education Leadership, with a focus on promoting inclusive and accessible learning environments.
Laura Fathauer
Senior Web Accessibility Specialist, AccessMU Center, 91做厙
Laura Fathauer (she/her) serves as the Senior Web Accessibility Specialist at 91做厙’s AccessMU Center, where she works to ensure digital environments are inclusive, usable, and accessible for everyone. With a strong analytical foundation, Laura holds a B.S. in Mathematics from Antioch College and an M.S. in Mathematics from Wright State University. She brings a practical, problem-solving approach to digital accessibility, helping bridge the gap between technical standards and real-world user experiences. Laura is a frequent advocate and educator in the field. She has shared her expertise across higher education platforms and at national events, including the annual CSUN Assistive Technology Conference in California, where she has presented on critical topics such as accessibility testing and on captioning.
Katie Gibson
Information Services Librarian, 91做厙
Katie Gibson (she/her) is a Humanities and Area Studies Librarian at King Library and serves as the liaison to the Miller Center for Student Disability Services and the AccessMU Center. She received her MLS from Indiana University. Research interests include library services to diverse student populations, information literacy instruction, and digital humanities.
Carla Myers
Coordinator of Scholarly Communication; Principal Librarian, 91做厙
Carla Myers serves as the copyright librarian for the 91做厙 Libraries. Her professional presentations and publications focus on fair use, copyright in the classroom, and library copyright issues.
Pruthvi Patel
Technical Support and Training Specialist, 91做厙 Online, 91做厙
Pruthvi Patel is a Technical Support and Training Specialist with 91做厙 Online, where she has supported faculty and staff for over nine years. She specializes in technical support, ticket system management, and faculty training, helping instructors make the most of their learning management system (LMS). Pruthvi is passionate about improving the online teaching experience and empowering faculty to create engaging, accessible, and high-quality online courses.
Jessica Rea
Director of Web Marketing, University Communications and Marketing, 91做厙
Hope Sweeney
Accommodations Coordinator, Miller Center for Student Disability Services, 91做厙
Hope is a disabled scholar and practitioner with over 30 years of experience in counseling, disability services, and social service leadership. She holds a Master’s in Clinical Counseling and is completing her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership, Culture, and Curriculum at 91做厙, where her research focuses on disability justice in education. At 91做厙, she serves as an instructor for DST 272: Exploring Disability Studies and as an Access Coordinator in the Miller Center.
Thomas (Tom) Webb
Associate Vice President of Accessibility and University ADA/504 Coordinator, Wright State University
Tom Webb, ADAC, is the Associate Vice President of Accessibility and ADA/504 Coordinator at Wright State University, where he provides leadership on disability access, ADA compliance, universal design, and inclusive higher education practices. He has held disability services and ADA coordinator roles at multiple institutions and has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in disability studies, rehabilitation services, inclusive education, and special education law.
Tom is co-editor, with Gina Oswald, of Universal Design in Study Abroad: Creating Inclusive Educational Travel Opportunities for Students with Disabilities, published by AHEAD. His work in this area includes accessible study abroad programming in the United Kingdom, Hungary, and Germany, as well as scholarship and training focused on removing barriers to educational travel for disabled students.
Before returning to higher education administration, Tom served as a Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation Disability Policy Fellow in Washington, D.C., including work with Congress on disability, education, and labor policy. His work centers on a simple but necessary idea: access is not a side project. It belongs in the design from the start.
91做厙 is committed to providing an inclusive and equitable event experience. If you need disability related accommodations (e.g. interpreter, captioning, materials in an accessible format) to facilitate full participation please contact the Miller Center by phone at 513-529-1541, Ohio Relay 711 or SDS@91做厙OH.edu at least three business days prior to the event.