S05., Ep 6: Beyond the Visible: Accessibility, Inclusion, and Academic Stress

In this insightful episode, Kelli, Bryan and Luis talk with Elizabeth Hitches, an educator and researcher passionate about building truly inclusive learning environments. Elizabeth shares her own accessibility journey, from realizing how often access is overlooked in education to intentionally designing learning experiences that make every student feel valued and considered. Together, they unpack the importance of addressing both apparent and non-apparent disabilities, exploring how proactive, Universal Design for Learning (UDL)-informed choices, like recording lectures or adding captions, reduce barriers and benefit all learners. Elizabeth also shares her research on academic stress, highlighting how accessibility and co-designing with students can reduce stressors before they arise. This conversation invites educators to rethink accessibility not as an add-on, but as a foundation for equitable, human-centered teaching. TranscriptResources:Recent conference presentation Google scholar