UCOD Meeting Notes (May 12, 2026)

UCLA Committee on Disability / UCOD Meeting Notes (May 12, 2026)

UCOD Meeting Notes (May 12, 2026)

UCOD Meeting
May 12, 2026 / 2PM / Zoom

Attendees

Voting Members:
Yasamin Bolourian, Fang-I Chu, Cate Gvon, Travis Lee, Carolanne Link (Proxy for Caitlin Solone), Sanaz Nabati, Quinn O’Connor, Grace Overman, Sylvia Page, Aryan Pandey, Harold Pimentel, Emilia Podesta, Sal Santa Ana, Alexa Vaughn

Absent:
Christine Craib, Michael Garafola, Nicholas Shinghal

Guests:
Monic Clare, Fatima Gonzalez, Vice Provost Ralina L. Joseph, Brandie Kirkpatrick, Yonit Kovnator Ariella Morrison, Spencer Scruggs, K. Supriya, Brooke Wilkinson

Agenda

1. Intros and Announcements (TL, 7 mins)

2. Welcome Dr. Ralina L. Joseph, Vice Provost of Inclusive Excellence (15 mins)

a. UCOD has broad reach across many departments and campus groups including students, staff, and faculty. How do you think your department could use UCOD to better serve the disabled Bruin community?

i. Brandie’s role as Office of Inclusive Excellence representative on UCOD has been essential.

ii. Office of Inclusive Excellence has a close relationship with the Civil Rights Office. Planning collaborations around training.

iii. Office of Inclusive Excellence has a new staff person joining.

b. One of UCOD’s primary goals is to foster a sense of community and belonging for UCLA’s disabled community (e.g. through Disability Pride Week programming). Can we look forward to the Office of Inclusive Excellence’s support and partnership in this goal?

i. Office of Inclusive Excellence is able to promote and amplify programming but not able to support financially due to funding cuts.

c. What are some of the priorities related to disability and accessibility that you’ve observed in your role over the last year?

i. Senior leadership campus climate group has convened. Planning a campus climate study, hoping to focus on staff, faculty, and graduate students.

ii. Improving mentorship is a priority for the Office.

iii. Currently working on a proposal on fostering beloved communities. Includes curricular elements, student affairs, and research and public scholarship opportunities.

d. What is your involvement with the LA28 Paralympics?

i. Office of Inclusive Excellence is not involved.

e. Where does disability fit into your broader vision for inclusion at UCLA?

i. “The Office of Inclusive Excellence’s mission is to weave excellence into our culture and institutional fabric through intentional connections, respectful engagement, deep learning, and challenging yet constructive dialogue.” – OIE website

ii. Bruin Compass is a one stop shop for students to find resources at UCLA.

f. Other Office Updates

i. New Inclusive Excellence Advisors Group for staff

ii. Student internship program to be announced soon for summer and in fall.

g. What are your goals for training?

i. Focusing on providing training for topics outside of mandated trainings.

h. What is one thing you’ve learned about disabled student life at UCLA since arriving that you would want to improve upon?

i. Meeting with students about the Lily Shaw Disability Cultural Center. Students emphasized the need for designated physical space on campus.

i. What is UCOD’s reporting structure in relation to Office of Inclusive Excellence?

i. More clarity is needed. Travis will follow up with Vice Provost Joseph after the meeting.

j. Question about grant funding opportunities:

i. Currently no funding available for grants. OIE is hoping to help departments strategize how to use their respective funding.

ii. Suggestion for UCOD to solicit donor alumni on an individual level.

3. Voting and Confirmation for the 2026-28 Elected Positions (CL,10 mins)

a. Emilia Podesta for Undergraduate Student

b. Alexa Vaughn for Graduate Student

c. Harold Pimentel for Faculty

d. Sylvia Page for Staff

e. Travis Lee for Staff

f. Quinn O’Connor for Alumni

g. Fang-I Chu for General Rep

h. Yasamin Bolourian for General Rep

4. Adaptive Rec update

a. Wheelchair basketball continues on Tuesdays from 4pm-6pm in Pardee gym at the Wooden Center.

b. Carolanne is in touch with the staff person currently running adaptive rec while Michael is out.

c. Suggestion that UCOD help sustain support for adaptive rec events by promoting and participating in wheelchair basketball.

5. Heart of Invictus Screening (FC, 5 mins)

a. May 12, 2026 04:30 PM

b. Fang-I circulated the Zoom link.

6. Thank You to Graduating Students (7 mins)

a. Move to next meeting agenda.

7. Digital Accessibility Update (TL, 10 mins)

a. ADA Title II update deadline was originally April 24, 2026, postponed to April 26, 2027.

b. Section 504 update deadline was originally May 11, 2026, postponed to May 10, 2028.

c. UC IT Accessibility Policy (ITAP) has been active since March 2026. This policy is still in effect.

d. Important to center disabled people in this work and strategically prioritize content.

8. Departmental Updates and Open Floor (10 mins)

a. CAE partnering with DSU on Disabled Student Graduation: June 7th 11am, Alumni Center. RSVP is still open. CAE offers graduation cords for those who are graduating representing the colors of the disability pride flag. CAE recently refreshed their website. If you notice any error pages, please let Spencer know.

i. Question about whether the Canvas breach impacted CAE? CAE worked with instructors on exams but otherwise did not impact the department specifically.

b. Emilia is starting to plan for Disability Pride Week. Contact her if you’re interested in helping with planning.

c. A student in Disability Studies and Architecture is asking for feedback from disabled community members on making the Fowler Museum more accessible: Care in Place at Fowler Student Experience Survey.

Action Items

Carolanne will send information about leadership positions to the listserv.
Travis will follow up with Vice Provost Joseph about the reporting structure of UCOD.