About this episode

The episode discusses the importance of digital accessibility in K–12 schools and practical steps for implementation.

In this episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, Andrew welcomes Cynthia Curry, Project Director, and Jena Fahlbush, Technical Assistance Specialist, from the National Center on Accessible Digital Educational Materials & Instruction, known as NCADEMI. Together, they unpack what digital accessibility means for K–12 schools and why this work is about much more than compliance. The conversation explores accessibility as a civil right, the relationship between ADA Title II and IDEA, and the importance of designing digital materials, websites, communications, and instructional resources to be accessible from the beginning rather than retrofitted later. Cynthia and Jena also explain the role of WCAG 2.1 Level AA, the POUR framework, and the practical first steps educators and school leaders can take to build accessibility into everyday practice. Listeners will hear examples that connect directly to school life, from websites and learning management systems to classroom documents, PDFs, social media posts, lunch menus, and instructional materials. The episode also highlights how accessibility benefits students, families, staff, and community members while helping schools create more…

People in this episode

Host: Andrew Easton

Guests: Cynthia Curry, Jena Fahlbush

Topics covered

• digital accessibility
• K-12 education
• inclusive education
• civil rights
• educational resources
• compliance
• WCAG guidelines

Keywords

• accessibility
• K-12 schools
• digital materials
• inclusive systems
• educational compliance
• WCAG 2.1
• POUR framework

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: National Center on Accessible Digital Educational Materials & Instruction, NCADEMI, WCAG, ADA, IDEA

Places: Nebraska

More episodes of The Good Life EDU Podcast

• E-Rate at a Crossroads: Keith Krueger on What’s at Stake for America’s Schools · July 15, 2026 · 24 min
• The UDL Shift with Katie Novak: Designing Learning in the Age of AI · June 19, 2026 · 43 min

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