The world has shifted, and with it, our expectations for what "celebration" looks like. For most, graduation is a milestone of pure joy, a time for caps, gowns, and the roar of the crowd at the University of Florida. But for many others, including those I’ve studied alongside in the Teach Well & Disabilities in Society program, the roar of that crowd is a source of intense anxiety. The sprawling campus becomes a labyrinth of barriers. The excitement of the stage is eclipsed by the logistical nightmare of "how do I get there?"
Today is the day—I am officially graduating from the University of Florida. It is a moment of immense pride, but as someone deeply embedded in the world of disability advocacy, I couldn't just walk across that stage and ignore the friction that exists for so many of our peers. Universal Design in action means looking at a problem and realizing that if you fix it for the most vulnerable, you actually make it better for everyone.
That is why I built the Graduation Weekend Access Guide. I didn’t just want to be a student of disability studies; I wanted to provide a solution.
The Graduation Paradox: Celebration vs. Sensory Overload
Why is it that our most significant milestones are often the most inaccessible? Commencement is a sensory-rich environment, which is a polite way of saying it’s often a nightmare for people with sensory sensitivities, invisible disabilities, or mobility needs.
Imagine a student who has worked four years for this moment but suffers from chronic fatigue or a sensory processing disorder. For them, the prospect of navigating three hours of heat, noise, and confusing parking isn't a celebration, it's a hurdle they might not be able to clear. Institutions often pat themselves on the back for having a few ADA-compliant ramps, but true accessibility goes far beyond a piece of concrete.
The question is, how can we transform an overwhelming experience into an inclusive one? We do it by recognizing that information is the ultimate tool for empowerment. When you reduce the "unknowns," you reduce the overwhelm.
The Curb Cut Effect: Why Designing for Access Benefits Everyone
In the world of advocacy, we talk a lot about the Curb Cut Effect. You know those slanted curbs at street corners? They were originally designed for people in wheelchairs. But who else uses them? Parents with strollers, travelers with rolling suitcases, and delivery drivers with heavy carts.
When we design for the "margins," the middle of the curve benefits too. This is the heart of Universal Design.
By building an app specifically focused on Graduation Weekend Access, I wasn’t just thinking about ADA requirements. I was thinking about the grandmother who can’t walk long distances in the Florida humidity. I was thinking about the neurodivergent graduate who needs to know the exact schedule to feel regulated. I was thinking about the family from out of town who has no idea where the accessible parking actually is.
When we implement Universal Design in action, we aren't just checking a box for compliance; we are building a bridge for the entire community.
Building the Solution: The Graduation Weekend Access Guide
I realized that the information people needed was scattered across a dozen different university web pages. It was buried in PDFs and fine-print emails. To solve this, I created a simple, one-stop mobile app: The UF Graduation 2026 Access Guide.
I wanted to move from being a student of theory to a creator of solutions. This app is designed to be a "digital curb cut." It includes:
- ADA Parking & Venue Access: Clear, easy-to-find locations for where to park and how to enter without encountering stairs or steep inclines.
- Ceremony Schedules & Locations: No more guessing which building you need to be in or what time the doors actually open.
- Entry & Seating Tips: Specific guidance on the best places to sit for those who might need a quick exit or a quieter area.
- Step-by-Step Guidance: A walkthrough of the day to reduce the cognitive load of navigating a massive event.
- Planning Tools: Features to help families coordinate their arrival and minimize time spent standing in long, exhausting lines.
This isn’t just about code; it’s about Accessibility as a human right. It’s about ensuring that the focus remains on the achievement, not the struggle to attend.
Challenging the Status Quo at the University of Florida
While I am incredibly proud to be a UF Grad, we have to be honest: large-scale institutions are often slow to move. They provide the minimum required by law, but the minimum isn’t enough for true inclusion.
Why should a family have to call three different offices just to find out if there will be live captioning? Why is the "accessibility map" always a separate, hard-to-read document?
We need to challenge our institutions to think bigger. We need to move toward a future where every university event is built with Universal Design at its core from day one. We shouldn't have to "request" access; access should be the default setting. By creating this app, I’m hoping to show that providing these tools isn’t a monumental task, it just requires the will to do it.
Universal Design is a Lifeline, Not a Luxury
For some, an app like this is a "nice-to-have" feature. For others, it is a lifeline.
Consider a graduate who lives with an invisible disability like POTS or Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. For them, knowing exactly where the closest elevator is or where they can sit in a climate-controlled area isn't a luxury, it’s the difference between attending their graduation and staying home.
When we ignore these needs, we are essentially telling a segment of our population that their presence is optional. We are telling them that the "standard" experience wasn't built for them. But when we apply Universal Design in action, we send the opposite message: We want you here. We planned for you. You belong.
How You Can Help Make Graduation More Inclusive
The work of Disability Advocacy & Empowerment doesn't end with one app or one graduation. It is an ongoing mission to disrupt the barriers that keep people apart.
If you are attending the University of Florida commencement this weekend, or if you know someone who is, please share this tool.
- Share the link: https://uf-graduation-2026-dr-fishon.netlify.app
- Talk about the "Curb Cut Effect": Explain to your friends and family why accessible seating and clear signage help everyone, not just those with visible disabilities.
- Advocate for more: If you see a barrier, say something. Institutions only change when they realize the current system is failing their community.
A Forward-Looking Vision for Inclusion
As I wrap up my time in the Teach Well & Disabilities in Society program this weekend, I am more committed than ever to this path. Graduation shouldn’t be a test of physical or mental endurance; it should be a moment of joy.
This app is just the beginning. Whether it’s through software, advocacy, or education, we must continue to push for a world where Universal Design is the standard, not the exception. Let’s make this UF Grad season the most inclusive one yet.
Let's ensure that when we say "Go Gators," we are speaking to all Gators, regardless of how they move through the world or process their environment. See you at the finish line!
