The Virgin Islands University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities is inviting the community to a free, live virtual training designed to make social media more inclusive.
Scheduled for April 14, from 4 – 5 p.m. via Zoom, the session titled “Creating Accessible Social Media” will be presented by CAST, Inc., a national leader in inclusive learning design.
This initiative reflects VIUCEDD’s core mission, which, as part of the University of the Virgin Islands, is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for individuals with disabilities and providing them with the tools necessary for independence, productivity, and full inclusion into community life.
The organization is part of a national network of 68 UCEDDs and has been serving the territory since its establishment in 1994, focusing on interdisciplinary training, community service, and information dissemination to support individuals with disabilities and their families.
This training comes at a crucial time when digital spaces are central to communication, yet many online posts remain inaccessible to people with visual, auditory, or cognitive disabilities. The one-hour session will teach practical skills such as using clear fonts and colors, ensuring that content on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn is perceivable and operable for everyone, including those using assistive technologies like screen readers.
Khalifa Thomas, the assistant director for Research, Community Engagement, and Grant Writing at VIUCEDD, emphasizes the practical impact of the training. “When community members learn to make their online content accessible, they are directly removing barriers that prevent people with disabilities from fully participating in civic and social life. This session empowers everyone, from small business owners to educators, with simple tools needed to ensure their message reaches every single person in our community,” said Thomas.
Interested participants can register for this workshop by following this link. For more information about this opportunity, email viucedd@uvi.edu.
“Accessibility shouldn’t be an afterthought. It is a fundamental part of how we build a stronger, more connected community. Our goal is to move beyond awareness and into action, giving people the skills they need to make inclusion a daily reality,” Thomas said.
