Remember a few months ago when Daniela from Acquia (formerly Monsido) sent that dramatic email to the entire University about renewing our license? Well, plot twist: we're not renewing. We're leaving Monsido for greener pastures.
After four years with a product that had four different owners (Monsido, Optimere, Civic Plus, and now Acquia), limited customization options, no meaningful grouping capabilities for large organizations like ours, and essentially no product development beyond year one, we've decided enough is enough.
We're transitioning to a new product called Silktide starting the week of August 26, 2025. Silktide might sound familiar if you've been using accessibility extensions in Chrome to find and fix errors or scan websites, and we're happy to say that their software offers the customizations and organizational features we've been asking for, plus they very graciously matched our current Monsido pricing with a substantial discount.
Week of August 26:
September 2025:
More details coming in September once we've actually gotten into the new system.
Bryan
P.S. No one from Silktide has emailed the entire University yet, so we're already ahead of the game.
P.P.S.
Anyone want a table style? How about some new blocks to play with? Stay tuned we've got a few fun things to add to your site coming this week.
If you absolutely must save something from Monsido, do it before August 26. But honestly, Silktide's reporting will pick up right where it left off, so don't stress about it.
The USM Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation is pleased to announce a call for applications for the Boosting Course Accessibility mini-grant program. This initiative will support 12 USM faculty members in engaging in digital accessibility-related course redesign to better meet the accessibility needs of all students. Each selected faculty member will receive a $1,500 stipend and participate in a collaborative professional development program designed and co-taught by our nonprofit partner, Teach Access.
Program Overview
Faculty grantees will engage in a hybrid program running from October 1 through November 21, 2025. The program includes:
Program Goals
This program aims to:
Eligibility
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
NOTE: All institutional and faculty grants awarded to UMBC must be routed to the Office of Sponsored Programs prior to submission. Contact your unit's business manager or proposal development staff to discuss your application. CAHSS faculty can request assistance from CARAT (Creative Achievement and Research Administration Team).
Grant Award
Each selected participant will receive a $1,500 stipend. Breakfast, lunch, and parking will be provided at the in-person event.
Application Instructions
Applications will be submitted using this submission form by Friday, September 12. The form requires the following information:
Selection Criteria
Grantees will be selected based on:
Timeline
In 2019-20, approximately 21 percent of undergraduate students and 11 percent of post baccalaureate students reported having a disability (National Center for Education Statistics, Fast Facts, 2023). Disability Awareness Month offers an opportunity to increase awareness about the variety of disabilities students may experience and help break down misconceptions.
Inclusive Experiences for All
Disability awareness includes addressing physical environments and improving accessibility in buildings, classrooms, and public spaces to ensure all individuals can navigate and participate fully. This might involve installing ramps, widening doorways, adding signage, or improving lighting. The Office of Accessibility & Disability raises awareness about the lived experiences of people with disabilities and highlights services for faculty, staff, and students at UMBC.
Instructors play an important role in recognizing the diverse needs of students with disabilities while striving to promote equity and access for all. This includes creating inclusive learning experiences for students with disabilities and might involve providing assistive technologies, flexible teaching methods, or individualized support plans.
Creating more accessible courses also requires consideration of diverse learning styles and approaches that result in engaging learning for all students. Strategies grounded in Universal Design for Learning principles can leverage technology in ways that help all students succeed. Key practices that support accessible course design include the following.
Universal Design for Learning
One of the most impactful ways instructors can support students is by using Universal Design for Learning (UDL) guidelines, a framework that aims to provide multiple means of engagement, representation, and expression for learners. UDL benefits all students, not just those with disabilities, because it offers flexible ways learners can access content and demonstrate knowledge.
UDL is a key practice that supports accessible course design. Instructors can get started in any of the following ways:
QM’s Accessibility and Usability Resource Site
Anthology Ally for Remediation, Alt Text
Attending disability awareness workshops or collaborating with the Office of Student Disability Services (SDS) can provide instructors with the tools to accommodate the needs of students with disabilities in the classroom.
Save the dates!
Join Instructional Technology for upcoming digital accessibility events:
References
(Image designed by vectorjuice on Freepik)