Schedule of Presentations for ISLAND 2026
*All times listed in Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT/UTC -4)
Monday, August 31, 2026
Day 1: Building The Architecture of Access
Moderator: Dr. Cary Supalo, Chair
5:45 p.m. Zoom Room Opens
6:00 p.m. — Opening Remarks
6:05 p.m. Supporting Nemeth Code Learning and Training During Today’s U.S. Braille Crisis
Presenters: Maylene Bird and Susan Osterhaus, TSBVI, TX, USA
6:35 p.m. Updates to the Nemeth Braille Code 2022, Examples, Review of Common Errors, and Resources to Share
Presenters: Maylene Bird and Susan Osterhaus, TSBVI, TX, USA
7:05 p.m. Introducing the Academy of Blind Scientists (10 min)
Presenters: Dr. Hoby Wedler1, Dr. Stefan Kilyanek2, Dr. Michele Mele3
1Wedland Group LLC, CA, USA
2University of Arkansas, AR, USA
3University of Sannio, Italy
7:15 p.m. Making Mathematics Accessible: An Intelligent Equation Format Conversion Tool for Blind and Visually Impaired STEM Learners
Presenters: Dr. Sariat Adelakun1, Abdul-azeez Balogun2, Semiu Lasisi1
1Federal College of Education Special Oyo, Nigeria
2Orange Innovation, USA
7:45 p.m. From LaTeX to Every Learner: Faculty-Created Accessible STEM Content
Presenter: Nicholas McNab, Harvard Assistive Technology Center, MA, USA
Tuesday, September 1, 2026
Day 2: A New Architecture of Perception
Moderator: Dr. Christin Monroe
5:45 p.m. Zoom Room Opens
6:00 p.m. — Opening Remarks
6:05 p.m. Engineering Your Own Path Forward: Innovating Tactile Access to STEM Content
Presenters: Jordana Qi and Dr. Kelly Kamish, Rochester Institute of Technology, NY, USA
6:35 p.m. Independent BLV Integration of Data Through MIDI Controlled Sonifications
Presenters: Ms. Kate Meredith1, Micah Lewis1, Nitya Sharma2
1GLAS Education, WI, USA
2Chapel Hill High School, NC, USA
7:05 p.m. Wolfram syndrome (10 min)
Presenter: Ellie White, Ellie White Foundation, CO, USA
7:15 p.m. Designing STEM learning products for students with visual impairment
Presenters: Raiza Kadheeja, Dr. Piyush Chanana, PVM Rao, National Center of Assistive Technology, IIT Delhi, India
7:45 p.m. Redesigning the Biomedical Instrumentation Lab: Applying Engineering Design to Reduce Physical and Instructional Barriers for Students with Disabilities
Presenter: Dr. Rebecca Reck, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA
Wednesday , September 2, 2026
Day 3: Expanding the Circle of STEM
Moderator: Dr. Peter Walters
5:45 p.m. Zoom Room Opens
6:00 p.m. — Opening Remarks
6:05 p.m. Centering Neurodivergent Student Voice in STEM: Professional Growth, Identity, and Access Through the AIE-STEMPLOS Program
Presenters: Dr. Christin Monroe1 and Rebecca Matte2
1University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA
2Landmark College, VT, USA
Student Panel: Lucy McNeil, Ari Weinshenker, Henry Mutschler, Sacha Lann
Landmark College, VT, USA
6:35 p.m. Understanding Neurodivergent Chemistry Majors’ Lecture Experiences Across the Curriculum: Insights for Supporting Learning
Presenters: Dr. Mark Bertolami, Marin McCullough, Dr. Molly Atkinson, University of North Texas, TX, USA
7:05 p.m. Accessibility Edit-a-Thons for STEM Instructors: A Miniature Case Study (10 min)
Presenters: Dr. Rebecca Reck and Rob Bennett, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA
7:15 p.m. Introducing the BASH: Blind Astronaut Analog at the SAM Habitat
Presenters: Dr. Sheri Wells-Jensen1 and Aisha Said2
1Bowling Green State University, OH, USA
2Universal Inclusion, OH, USA
7:45 p.m. Leveraging Historical Scientific Instruments for Enriched Access and Pedagogy
Presenters: Olivia Smithmier1and Jamar Zhou2
1GLAS Education, WI, USA
2University of Chicago / GLAS Education, IL, USA
8:30 p.m. Conference Concludes