Finding Space

About Finding Space

A podcast where UC Berkeley students, educators, and staff from the disability community tell their stories and call the campus community in on acts of advocacy and disability justice. Share your feedback: findingspace@berkeley.edu

Publisher

UC Berkeley Research, Teaching, and Learning (RTL)

Category

education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

24 Feb 2025

Latest episode

28 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

12 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   28 Sept 2026

   11: Beyond the Frame: Disability, Storytelling, and Accessible Filmmaking

   Beyond the Frame (https://dac.berkeley.edu/events/beyond-frame-film-event) is an accessible film event that brings together disability perspectives and films that amplify disability stories. Held on October 29, 2025, at Banatao Auditorium, the event showcased six powerful short films: Signs and Gestures (https://efi.ed.ac.uk/signs-and-gestures/),, Before the Tunnel, I Loved to See You, How Do You See Me?, Breaking Normal, and After Heather. Designed to foster community and spark meaningful dialogue, the event concluded with a panel discussion featuring faculty and disability advocates. In this episode of Finding Space, you’ll hear about key themes that emerged from the discussion, including the power of storytelling to amplify disability experiences, the complexities of creative expression, and accessible filmmaking practices such as open captions and audio description. One film highlighted in the episode is Signs and Gestures (https://efi.ed.ac.uk/signs-and-gestures/), directed by Itandehui Jansen. The film tells the story of Clara, a florist who relies on smell, touch, and sound, and Simon, an art student. The two meet for a date without initially realizing that each has a sensory disability, creating an unexpected communication barrier. Notably, Signs and Gestures was intentionally planned and produced with audio description integrated from the start rather than added afterward. The result is a 12-minute immersive experience that offers a powerful example of what proactive accessibility can look like in filmmaking and how accessibility can be considered as part of the creative process from the beginning. A special thank you to our Beyond the Frame panelists Lisa Wymore (https://belonging.berkeley.edu/lisa-wymore), Rachel Collins (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-collins-a7a441267/), Melissa Male (https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissamale510/) and Noah Jaffe (https://www.teamusa.com/profiles/noah-jaffe) for sharing their perspectives and helping continue this important conversation. We would also like to give a shout out to the Beyond the Frame (https://dac.berkeley.edu/events/beyond-frame-film-event) Team. The team comprises Steve Johnston from Disability Access and Compliance (https://dac.berkeley.edu/), Tara Mason from the Center for Teaching and Learning (https://teaching.berkeley.edu/), and Ann Wai Yee Kwong and Rachel Marks from the Disability Cultural Community Center (https://dsp.berkeley.edu/support-services/welcome-disability-cultural-community-dcc-center). Review transcripts on our show webpage (https://rtl.berkeley.edu/finding-space-podcast). Share your feedback with us at findingspace@berkeley.edu (https://open.spotify.com/episode/findingspace@berkeley.edu). Finding Space is brought to you by Research, Teaching, and Learning Commons (RTL) (https://rtl.berkeley.edu/home) in UC Berkeley's Division of Undergraduate Education.

2. 

   25 Aug 2026

   10: It’s Never Too Late: Recovery, Belonging, and Finding Space at Berkeley

   Recovery is rarely a straight path, and belonging can make all the difference. In this episode of Finding Space: Where Students with Disabilities Thrive, Iz Engel, a former UC Berkeley student and current staff member, shares their journey through recovery, identity, and healing. Together, we explore the role of the Collegiate Recovery Program (https://csi.berkeley.edu/collegiate-recovery-program/), the importance of meeting students where they are, and how higher education can foster environments where students feel seen, supported, and empowered. This conversation is a reminder that change is always possible, and that it's never too late. Review transcripts on our show webpage (https://rtl.berkeley.edu/finding-space-podcast). Share your feedback with us at findingspace@berkeley.edu (https://open.spotify.com/episode/findingspace@berkeley.edu). Finding Space is brought to you by Research Teaching, and Learning Commons (RTL) (https://rtl.berkeley.edu/home) in UC Berkeley's Division of Undergraduate Education.

3. 

   23 Mar 2026

   9: Small Fixes, Big Impact. A Smarter Way to Meet Title II

   In this episode of Finding Space, we’re reminded that meeting the updated ADA Title II digital accessibility requirements is not something instructors have to do alone. Maggie Sokolik (https://writing.berkeley.edu/people/maggie-sokolik), Director of College Writing Programs, shares a practical, collaborative approach: offer a hands-on workshop for your entire department, start small, and build accessible habits together. You’ll hear what “remediation” really means (in plain language), how tools like Ally in bCourses can support your work, and a powerful tip to reduce overwhelm: close old courses and project sites if students still have access—or make them accessible. Small steps. Shared effort. Real access for students. Resources: Accessibility in Teaching & Learning Resource Hub (https://rtl.berkeley.edu/resources/accessibility-teaching-learning) Ally (Accessibility Checker in bCourses) (https://rtl.berkeley.edu/services-programs/ally-bcourses) Ally Course Accessibility Report in bCourses (tutorial video) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-CTPSELsmQ) SensusAccess (https://rtl.berkeley.edu/services-programs/sensusaccess/getting-started-sensusaccess) (primarily alt media conversions) Digital Accessibility Program (https://dap.berkeley.edu/home) (DAP) Digital Accessibility of Library Collections (https://www.lib.berkeley.edu/help/digital-accessibility) Workshops (https://rtl.berkeley.edu/events-workshops), Consultations (https://rtl.berkeley.edu/get-help), Finding Space podcast (https://rtl.berkeley.edu/finding-space-podcast) Centering Disability in Teaching (https://teaching.berkeley.edu/teaching-strategies/advancing-equity-and-inclusion/centering-disability-teaching) Accessible PDF Files (https://berkeley.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8666d79aff7b30c0caab55c9f&id=cfa613dad7&e=13cc1daca8) (including STEM documents, LaTex, & handwritten notes) Accessible Documents (Microsoft Word & Google Docs) (https://rtl.berkeley.edu/accessible-documents-microsoft-word-google-docs) Accessible Slides (Microsoft PowerPoint & Google Slides) (https://rtl.berkeley.edu/accessible-slides-microsoft-powerpoint-google-slides) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) (https://www.w3.org/WAI/standards-guidelines/wcag/) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 (https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG21/) Review transcripts on our show webpage (https://rtl.berkeley.edu/finding-space-podcast). Share your feedback with us at findingspace@berkeley.edu (https://open.spotify.com/episode/findingspace@berkeley.edu). Finding Space is brought to you by Research Teaching, and Learning (RTL) (https://rtl.berkeley.edu/home) in UC Berkeley's Division of Undergraduate Education.

4. 

   24 Feb 2026

   8: ADA Title II Update - Top 5 Things Instructors Can Do Now to Meet the New Requirements

   In this episode, we focus on what the updated Title II of the ADA means for higher education—and, more importantly, how faculty can get started without feeling overwhelmed. We’re joined by Anne Marie Richard (https://rtl.berkeley.edu/about-us/rtl-leadership), Assistant Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education and Chief Academic Technology Officer, for a grounded and practical conversation about the federal updates to Title II that go into effect in April 2026. Together, we walk through five concrete actions instructors can take now to begin aligning their courses with the new requirements—while honoring the real constraints, pressures, and care faculty and staff are already carrying. This conversation centers access and inclusion not as extra work, but as work deeply connected to our shared values and commitments. This episode reminds us: you’re not expected to do this alone. We highlight resources available to support instructors and share how to connect with our team for consultations and next steps. In this episode, we explore: What’s changing under the updated Title II requirements Five actionable ways faculty can begin now Why accessibility work is values-aligned, not just compliance-driven How institutions can support instructors through this transition Resources: Accessibility in Teaching & Learning Resource Hub (https://rtl.berkeley.edu/resources/accessibility-teaching-learning) Ally (Accessibility Checker in bCourses) (https://rtl.berkeley.edu/services-programs/ally-bcourses) Ally Course Accessibility Report in bCourses (tutorial video) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-CTPSELsmQ) SensusAccess (https://rtl.berkeley.edu/services-programs/sensusaccess/getting-started-sensusaccess) (primarily alt media conversions) Digital Accessibility Program (https://dap.berkeley.edu/home) (DAP) Digital Accessibility of Library Collections (https://www.lib.berkeley.edu/help/digital-accessibility) Workshops (https://rtl.berkeley.edu/events-workshops), Consultations (https://rtl.berkeley.edu/get-help), Finding Space podcast (https://rtl.berkeley.edu/finding-space-podcast) Centering Disability in Teaching (https://teaching.berkeley.edu/teaching-strategies/advancing-equity-and-inclusion/centering-disability-teaching) Accessible PDF Files (https://berkeley.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8666d79aff7b30c0caab55c9f&id=cfa613dad7&e=13cc1daca8) (including STEM documents, LaTex, & handwritten notes) Accessible Documents (Microsoft Word & Google Docs) (https://rtl.berkeley.edu/accessible-documents-microsoft-word-google-docs) Accessible Slides (Microsoft PowerPoint & Google Slides) (https://rtl.berkeley.edu/accessible-slides-microsoft-powerpoint-google-slides) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) (https://www.w3.org/WAI/standards-guidelines/wcag/) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 (https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG21/) Review transcripts on our show webpage (https://rtl.berkeley.edu/finding-space-podcast). Share your feedback with us at findingspace@berkeley.edu (https://open.spotify.com/episode/findingspace@berkeley.edu). Finding Space is brought to you by Research Teaching, & Learning (RTL) (https://rtl.berkeley.edu/home) in UC Berkeley's Division of Undergraduate Education.

5. 

   26 Jan 2026

   7: Pedagogy of the Pause — with Emily Nusbaum

   In this episode, core Disability Studies instructor Emily Nusbaum shares how she builds collective access into her courses—from day one. Instead of treating accommodations as individual, private transactions, Emily invites her students to co-design access practices together: shared note-taking, flexible ways to participate, an open Zoom room, and an access statement that frames support as everyone’s responsibility. Through stories from her classroom—students using wheelchairs and service animals, a learner attending from a grandparent’s apartment while caregiving, and a student who says they finally felt cared for—Emily shows how small shifts can transform the culture of a course. We talk about why slowing down isn’t a weakness, how “participation points” can reinforce ableism, and why accessibility is fundamentally relational, not just procedural. This episode offers concrete, realistic starting points for instructors who want to move beyond compliance toward a culture of collective access and disability justice in their teaching. In this episode, we explore: What collective access means in a university classroom Practices that help students feel genuinely “cared for” Rethinking participation, engagement, and assessment Using shared note-taking, open Zoom rooms, and access statements Why accessibility is a relational practice, not just a checklist Resources: Sample access statement (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1e0bi0Ra1WaS0SkhXT_-QdZaAYvs1ZSyx0VpFm8Fd2yI/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.8g7v99k245cg) from Emily’s syllabus Review transcripts on our show webpage (https://rtl.berkeley.edu/finding-space-podcast). Share your feedback with us at findingspace@berkeley.edu (https://open.spotify.com/episode/findingspace@berkeley.edu). Finding Space is brought to you by Research Teaching, and Learning (RTL) (https://rtl.berkeley.edu/home) in UC Berkeley's Division of Undergraduate Education.

6. 

   28 Oct 2025

   6: Roll Model — with UC Berkeley alum Ryan Manriquez

   UC Berkeley Alum Ryan Manriquez discusses how a graduate housing emergency evacuation failure sparks system-wide changes, focusing on individualized planning and the importance of disability representation; this is an interview.

7. 

   1 Oct 2025

   5. Lead Culture from Where You Are: Cultivating Collective Care

   Chancellor Rich Lyons, Carmen Varela, and Marisella Rodriguez examine the intersection of leadership, collective care, and disability justice, emphasizing that culture is shaped by daily decisions and human connection in this interview.

8. 

   30 Sept 2025

   Lead Culture from Where You Are: Cultivating Collective Care

   UC Berkeley Chancellor Rich Lyons, Carmen Varela, and Maricela Rodriguez examine the intersection of leadership, collective care, and disability justice, emphasizing the impact of daily decisions on shaping culture in this interview.

9. 

   25 Aug 2025

   4: My Dream for Berkeley: Student Success Without Lowering Standards

   Professor Dan Garcia from UC Berkeley's EECS department discusses his vision for student success through equitable grading practices in this interview.

10. 

    9 May 2025

    3. The Power of Relationships with Undergraduate Student Marlenne Perez

    Marlenne Perez shares her experience navigating UC Berkeley as a first generation, low income, independent undergraduate student with a disability. She shares how relationships with mentors, professors and student support staff enabled her to stay at Berkeley when she thought she might drop out, and she offers advice for faculty who want to support students with disabilities but aren’t sure where to start. Review transcripts on our show webpage (https://rtl.berkeley.edu/finding-space-podcast). Share your feedback with us at findingspace@berkeley.edu (https://open.spotify.com/episode/findingspace@berkeley.edu). Finding Space is brought to you by Research Teaching, and Learning (RTL) (https://rtl.berkeley.edu/home) in UC Berkeley's Division of Undergraduate Education.

11. 

    27 Mar 2025

    2: Accommodations Can Transform Your Teaching - a Conversation with DSP Faculty Liaisons, Jonah Levy and Justin Davidson

    Faculty Liaisons to the Disabled Students' Program (DSP), Jonah Levy and Justin Davidson, talk with Marisella Rodriguez and Tara Mason from the Center for Teaching and Learning (https://teaching.berkeley.edu/), explaining how they support their faculty peers in the accommodations process and why they build bridges between their faculty colleagues and staff at DSP (https://dsp.berkeley.edu/home) and Disability Access & Compliance (DAC) (https://dac.berkeley.edu/home). They also share how accommodating students with disabilities has transformed their teaching for the better, and made their courses more satisfying to teach. Resources mentioned in this episode: Jonah and Justin’s instructor guide to DSP accommodations⁠ (https://teaching.berkeley.edu/teaching-guides-resources/instructor-guide-dsp-accommodations) (you’ll also find their contact info here) Demystifying Accommodations⁠ (https://kaltura.berkeley.edu/media/Demystifying+AccommodationsA+An+interview+with+DSP+Faculty+Liaisons%2C+Jonah+Levy+and+Justin+Davidson/1_486k2yyq/260774332), the hour-long video conversation from Fall 2023 we excerpted for this episode. Review transcripts on our show webpage (https://rtl.berkeley.edu/finding-space-podcast) (https://rtl.berkeley.edu/finding-space-podcast (https://rtl.berkeley.edu/finding-space-podcast)) Share your feedback with us at findingspace@berkeley.edu (https://open.spotify.com/episode/findingspace@berkeley.edu). Finding Space is brought to you by Research Teaching, and Learning (RTL) (https://rtl.berkeley.edu/home) in UC Berkeley's Division of Undergraduate Education.

12. 

    24 Feb 2025

    1: Inclusive Excellence and the UC Berkeley Disabled Students' Program with Carmen Varela

    In this premiere episode of Finding Space, we dive into what UC Berkeley Disabled Students' Program (DSP) (https://dsp.berkeley.edu/home) Executive Director, Carmen Varela wishes that every faculty member and support staff on campus knew about the DSP and the work they do. Marisella Rodriguez and Tara Mason from the Center for Teaching and Learning talk with Varela, and they share what motivates their decades of work on behalf of people with disabilities, what is at stake for students who need accommodations, and why DSP specialists are some of the most creative resources on campus. Review transcripts on show webpage: https://rtl.berkeley.edu/finding-space-podcast (https://rtl.berkeley.edu/finding-space-podcast) Share your feedback: findingspace@berkeley.edu (findingspace@berkeley.edu) Finding Space is brought to you by Research Teaching, and Learning (RTL) (https://rtl.berkeley.edu/home) in UC Berkeley's Division of Undergraduate Education.

Who has been a guest on Finding Space

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Ryan Manriquez
• Rich Lyons
• Carmen Varela
• Maricela Rodriguez
• Dan Garcia

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

5 ratings