The SAS COMET Team is a group of highly-trained graduate student workers who strive for the highest standards of equitable access to assistive technology and digital accessibility for students with accommodations. The team is led by Jordan Colbert, the Associate Director for Assistive Technology at SAS
Assistive Technology Assistants
Assistive Technology Assistants (ATA) are graduate and professional students responsible for the implementation and training of new educational technologies for students with disabilities. The ATAs are knowledgeable about tools such as voice control/typing, notetaking, presentation technology, and organizational tools. Training sessions for assistive technologies are conducted daily for students with accommodation requirements, and much of the work the STARS Team does strives to maximize accessibility for every student’s technology needs.
Abdul Rashid Sualisu
Abdul Rashid is a current master’s student in Environmental Management at the School of Environment, specializing in Climate Change Science and Solutions and Environmental Policy Analysis. Abdul Rashid holds an undergraduate degree in Integrated Development Studies, with a major in Environment and Resource Studies, from the University for Development Studies in Ghana. Before coming to Yale, Abdul Rashid worked as a Mobile Registration Workstation Operator with the Ghana National Identification Authority and as an Assistant Environmental Health Analyst for five years in the local government service in Ghana. Abdul Rashid has a passion for creating just and equitable environments for all. He is committed to bringing this passion and dedication to the SWAT team to create a thriving environment for all students.
Alfredo Cordero Espejel
Alfredo is a graduate student at Yale Divinity School, pursuing a Master’s in Religion and the Arts. With a background in film production and direction, theatre, and education, he brings a multidisciplinary approach to problem solving and ideation. He joined the GATA team in the spring of 2025, and aims to contribute creative and efficient solutions that support both the SAS and the broader Yale community.
Alternate Format Assistants
The Alternate Format Assistants (AFA) are responsible for the conversion of educational materials into specified electronic formats. They work to make sure any physical materials (handouts, textbooks, etc.) are available in accessible electronic formats. This includes obtaining electronic textbooks, separating them into chapters, and making sure they are able to be used in text-to-speech programs. Additionally, AFAs are also well-versed with various alternative format material conversions, such as BRF and Word doc, along with assistive technology applications that promote accessibility and literacy-related skill-building.
Bernard Birikorang
Bernard is pursuing a joint Master of Public Policy (MPP) and a Master of Environmental Management (MEM) candidate at Yale. He supports accessibility by helping convert educational materials into formats that can be used with assistive technologies, ensuring that students have equitable access to course content. He is committed to promoting inclusive learning environments and using technology to expand access to education and information.
Felix Aboagye
Felix is currently pursuing a Master of Architecture degree at the Yale School of Architecture, where his design approach is driven by a passion for sustainability, inclusivity, and interdisciplinary collaboration. As the recipient of both the Francis Kere Scholarship and Dean Scholarship, he is dedicated to creating spaces that balance functionality with social and environmental responsibility, benefiting people from diverse backgrounds.
Abhishek Dudeja
Abhishek is an MBA Candidate at Yale, with a background in software engineering and product management. Over the years, he has worked on developing user interfaces and experiences for enterprise software, focusing on personalization, engagement, and accessibility. He is a strong advocate of technology for social good, and aims to leverage innovative tools and products to make Student Accessibility Services resourceful and valuable to the Yale community.
Communication Access Assistants
Communication Access Assistants (CAA) are graduate and professional students that work with communication technologies such as captioned media and remote Communication Access Real-time Translation (CART). In collaboration with Yale’s ITS department, CAAs provide microphone and captioning support for classroom accommodations related to sensory disabilities. CAAs also coordinate services for students utilizing in-person or remote American Sign Language interpreters and provide back-end support with videos located in Canvas courses.
Eric Pitts
Eric joined the GSWAT team in the summer of 2023. Eric received his undergraduate degrees in Biology, Environmental Science, and Geology from Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois, and graduate degrees in Agronomy and Agricultural & Biological Engineering from the University of Florida. Eric’s background is in Software as a Service (SaaS) and technology as a tool in sustainable and alternative agricultural systems. Before this, Eric held a research position with the USDA and the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), exploring greenhouse gas emissions in the cattle and dairy industries and food insecurity and production in the developing world. At Yale, Eric is a graduate student studying ecotheology at the Yale Divinity School and the Yale School of the Environment.
Graduate Assistive Technology Management Assistants
Sergio Lopez Palacio
Sergio López is a MA in Religion student at Yale Divinity School, concentrating in Ethics. As a longtime educator and DEI leader, his professional commitment to building inclusive communities is also informed by his own journey with neurodiversity. He is passionate about his work at SAS, where he leverages both his personal insights and technical skills to help create a more equitable and empathetic learning environment for every student
Isaiah Sattlefield
Isaiah Sattlefield is a MEM Candidate at the Yale School of the Environment. Isaiah received his Bachelors of Science in Environmental Restoration Science and Water Science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2023. He has professional environmental and educational experience with USEPA, USACE, and the US Department of State centering climate adaptation/mitigation, environmental educatation, and global environmental policy