Updated resources for planning accessible events available online

UMaine Alert

Posted: April 19, 2024 - 1:32 PM

At approximately 9:24 a.m. on Friday, April 19, a University of Maine graduate student was struck by a university vehicle on Long Road at the University of Maine campus in Orono. The student reports that they are at a local hospital with minor injuries.

Emergency services, including the Orono Fire Department, University Volunteer Ambulance Corps, University of Maine Police Department, Orono Police Department and Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene.

The university vehicle involved in the incident was a Chevrolet Express van. It was being operated by a university employee.

Counseling services and support are available for students, faculty or staff who may have been affected. The Counseling Center can be reached at 207-581-1392 and the Dean of Students Office can be reached at 207-581-1406.

The scene has been cleared and Long Road is now accessible. An investigation is being conducted by the University of Maine Police Department with assistance from the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Unit. Any witnesses to the incident are encouraged to contact Lt. Noel Santiago at noel.santiago@maine.edu.

December 17, 2020 Outreach, Student Life

“Planning Accessible Meetings and Conferences: A Suggested Checklist and Guide” is a free resource developed by the University of Maine Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies in partnership with Speaking Up for Us, a Maine organization run by and for adults who live with developmental disabilities. The checklist is designed to help people, groups or organizations plan a meeting or conference that is inclusive and welcoming by providing practical suggestions that promote meaningful participation for everyone.

Originally published in 2014, the checklist was updated in November 2020 to include information on the following topics:

Online meetings and conferences
Conflicting accommodations
Cultural competence
Plain language
Service animals, emotional support animals and the ADA
Exceptions to person-first language
Ethical photography and vulnerable populations
LGBTQ inclusion
Gender identity and personal pronouns

The updated checklist also includes a new resource section, an expanded glossary and a fresh design. It is a fully accessible PDF that can be printed or completed as an electronic document using free Adobe Acrobat Reader DC software.

The checklist is available online.