In collaboration with:
The University of Puerto Rico (UPR) has the honor of extending a cordial invitation to participate in the Second Congress on Digital Accessibility in Universities. This event is of fundamental importance, as it aims to explore the transformative power of technology in promoting inclusive and accessible higher education for all.
Digital accessibility is established as an essential pillar to ensure that students with disabilities can equitably access higher education and fully participate in university life. This conference, scheduled for Thursday, April 10, 2025, features distinguished participation from nationally and internationally renowned experts who will discuss key topics related to digital accessibility, assistive technology, artificial intelligence, and universal design.
The conference will be held in person at the University of Puerto Rico at Carolina Hotel School for a select audience, but will be simultaneously broadcast via Microsoft Live Events, providing the opportunity for the wider university community to enjoy and benefit from it. This unique opportunity represents an unparalleled opportunity to delve into the vital field of digital accessibility and contribute to the advancement of inclusion in higher education.
| Date: | Thursday, April 10, 2025. |
| Place: | Escuela Hotelera (3rd Floor, Library). University of Puerto Rico, Carolina. |
| Modality: | In person and online. Transmitted by the MS Teams platform. |
| Time: | 8:00 am – 4:30 pm. |
Itinerary:
8:00 am – 9:00 am.
Registration of participants and snack
9:00 am – 9:30 am.
Welcome, protocol greetings and Introduction to the Congress
9:30 am – 10:30 am.
Session 1: Digital Accessibility Audits: How to Evaluate and Improve Digital Content.
Speakers:
Ing. Jonathan Chacón Barbero,
Senior Accessible Software Engineer
Cabifyf
10:00 am – 11:15 am.
Session 2: Artificial intelligence: increasing accessibility in online courses with mathematical content.
Speaker:
Dr. Prof. Julio Ruíz,
Unidad de Educación en Línea (UEL)
Dr. Dra. Yahaira Torres,
Director,
Unidad de Educación en Línea (UEL)
11:15 am – 12:00 am.
Section 3: Creating accessible modules in Science Courses.
Speaker:
Ariana Rodríguez.
Doctoral student in the area of Sciences.
UPR Recinto de Río Piedras
Lizbeth Alvarado.
Doctoral student in the area of Sciences.
UPR Recinto de Río Piedras
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm.
Lunch (free time).
1:00 pm – 1:15 pm.
Session 4: Introduction to the Internet Society Puerto Rico Chapter.
Speaker:
Norberto Cruz Córdova, MBA,
President of the Internet Society Puerto Rico
1:15 pm – 2:00 pm.
Session 5: Smart university campuses.
Speaker:
Ing. Jonathan Chacón Barbero,
Senior Accessible Software Engineer @ Cabifyf,
Sevilla, España.
Dr. José M. Álvarez,
Professor – Faculty of Education,
UPR Recinto de Río Piedras.
2:00 pm – 2:45 pm.
Digital libraries: a world of information accessible to all.
Speaker:
Se anunciará pronto,
2:45 pm – 3:00 pm.
Coffee break and Networking.
3:00 pm – 4:30 pm.
Dialogue: Conclusions and Final Reflections.
Speaker:
Task for assistants.
4:30 pm.
Closure
Resource profiles:
Prof. José M. Álvarez
Professor Álvarez, better known as Manolo, is a firm believer in social inclusion, which is why he has dedicated a large part of his life to promoting equal access to technology for all. He is recognized locally and internationally as a technological innovator, developer of accessible apps, software, and video games; he is a podcaster, researcher, mentor, lecturer, and currently a professor at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, providing courses in assistive technology and special education. He has also offered assistive technology courses as a visiting professor at the graduate level at the University of Massachusetts (UMass), as well as workshops at universities in Panama, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Spain. He is an international consultant in accessibility, universal design, and accessible web programming.
President of the Manolo.Net Foundation. This foundation promotes programming and app development skills, as well as website development, for special education students in inclusive environments (link to Fundacion Manolo.Net). Professor Álvarez has been and is recognized as a tireless leader in the field of technology thanks to all his innovative projects, as well as for his excellence in service.
Dra. Yahaira Torres Rivera
She holds a PhD in Education with a specialization in Curriculum and Teaching and a minor in Learning Technologies from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus. She also holds a Master's degree in Digital Graphic Design and a Bachelor's degree in Office Systems. She also holds several professional certifications in Distance Learning Teaching, Neuroeducation, and Coaching, among others.
She has worked at the University of Puerto Rico for over 18 years, holding various positions, including Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Assistant Dean of Distance Education, Academic Coordinator of Distance Education, and professor of courses in Educational Technology, Graphic Design, and Instructional Design, among others. She has also conducted several research projects and published several articles in peer-reviewed journals and books related to distance education. She currently serves as Assistant Professor and Director of the Online Education Unit at the Río Piedras Campus. She also offers conferences and workshops both locally and internationally.
Jonathan Chacón Barbero
International Guest
A developer and researcher in accessibility, usability, and new technologies, he champions the concepts of universal design and accessibility as quality criteria in software and hardware.
He defends the idea of accessible design from the ground up, avoiding patches, and upholds the idea of technology as the only path to achieving a truly inclusive society for all, since we all have abilities and disabilities. He disseminates and shares the idea of responsible technology by and for people. He has worked as a consultant, developer, and technology researcher on projects related to biometrics, computer vision, and intelligent user interfaces, always following the philosophy of design for all.
Currently he is Senior Accessibility Software Engineer at Cabify, redesigning and developing services and interfaces to make them inclusive and accessible to everyone.
He has published several applications on the AppStore under his label Tyflos Accessible Software and articles on accessibility, usability and technology on their website Programar a ciegas (Blind programming) as well as a contributor to research articles and books, and a designer and developer for educational and inclusive projects.