Industry Perspectives on Accessibility in Computer Science Education

As part of an NSF-funded project, Teach Access, Creighton University, Rochester Institute of Technology, and Western Washington University hosted this panel discussion featuring accessibility leaders from industry. Designed for computing educators, the conversation explores what students should understand about accessibility before entering the workforce. Panelists discuss common accessibility challenges, what separates good accessibility from poor accessibility, the role of AI, why people with disabilities should be involved throughout the design process, and practical advice for educators preparing the next generation of technology professionals. Whether you teach computer science, software engineering, UX, HCI, or related disciplines, this discussion offers practical insights into how accessibility is being implemented across industry and why it is becoming an essential professional skill. Panelists: -Kelsey Hall (ADP) -Fred Moltz (Verizon) -Nandita Gupta (Cisco) -Kurt Iobst (Salesforce) Moderator: -Kate Sonka (Teach Access) This panel was recorded as part of an NSF-funded project to support the integration of accessibility into undergraduate computing education. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Award No. 2439816, 2439817, 2439818 Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.