Accessibility Conference builds traction in three-city debut

CHICAGO – The Abilities International Accessibility Conference will have its final stop of the year in Chicago June 11-12 and all signs point to the inaugural conference returning in multiple cities in 2027, says Katy Roberts.

About 220 complex rehab technology (CRT) professionals attended the Accessibility Conference in Los Angeles in January and about 250 attended in New York in April, says Roberts, managing director of Raccoon Media Group, which hosts the conference as part of the Abilities Expo.

“What has been great to see, coupled with the real breadth and depth of the conference, is the really hands-on aspect to it,” she said.

Organizers have locked in dates for the Abilities Expo in 2027 – Jan. 14-16 in Los Angeles, April 30-May 2 in New York, and June 11-13 in Chicago – and plans to once again host the Accessibility Conference alongside it.

Hands-on approach, real-world dimension drive engagement

Roberts said the conference’s emphasis on practical, interactive programming has been a key differentiator, particularly within the adaptive living track.

In Chicago, that track will include sessions on how service dogs can support adults and children with disabilities and how travel can expand their possibilities.

“The atmosphere in those rooms has been incredible to see,” she said. “It’s one of the things that makes our conference unique.”

The conference’s co-location with the Abilities Expo – which draws thousands of wheelchair users in each city – further enhances its hands-on nature, Roberts says.

“I would say all attendees took advantage of that,” she said. “In New York, for example, we had a closing keynote just after lunch and then they had until 5 p.m. that day to explore the Expo.”

Content partners signal ongoing support

Roberts says the Accessibility Conference has also secured commitments from many of its content partners to participate again in some capacity in 2027. Partners this year included NCART, RESNA, iNRRTS, the Clinician Task Force (CTF) and the University of Pittsburgh.

“Some can’t commit 100% in all three cities; some want to do something bigger in one location,” she said. “The conversations are ongoing. The positive thing is we have some commitments.”

For many of these organizations, the Accessibility Conference provides an opportunity to reach a broader audience, Roberts says.

“Their attitude is, ‘If we can reach more people to teach them better service and care, that’s going to help the whole industry,’” she said.

Tamara Kittelson, executive director of CTF, says the organization’s board will make the final decision about its participation in 2027.

“We’re hearing quite a bit of positivity around the conference,” she said. “People like having something geographically closer to them. And I think it was a nice mix of the clinician and commercial sides and getting everyone together.”

Organizers expand format, expand CEUs

There are still numerous details to iron out for 2027, including the Accessibility Conference’s length. This year’s conference ran two days and Roberts is considering whether it can be squeezed into one day or a day-and-a-half.

Organizers also plan to lean more on content partners like ISS to increase the amount of CEUs offered at the conference.

“We’re honest about how we have the infrastructure, we have the manpower and we have the investment potential to make it happen, but we need to draw on these experts to put on the content,” she said.

CRT professionals who would like to attend the Accessibility Conference in Chicago can register with the code ABILITIESVISITOR for a reduced registration fee of $319.

Photo courtesy of Raccoon Media / Abilities Expo.