Harvard Hosts 4th Annual Accessibility Summit Highlighting University-Wide Disability Inclusion
Harvard University Information Technology's Digital Accessibility Services (DAS) hosted the 4th annual University-wide Accessibility Summit on June 4, 2026, bringing together Harvard faculty and staff for a day of learning focused on disability inclusion. The event's recap was published by the Harvard Gazette on August 27, 2026.
Executive Vice President Meredith Weenick delivered opening remarks, emphasizing that accessibility allows more people to participate fully in university life. Maria Town, president and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), gave the keynote address, describing accessibility as a fundamental pillar of civil rights, economic participation, and human dignity, and stressing shared accountability over placing the burden on disabled individuals.
Members of Harvard's disabled employee community participated in a panel discussion about their experiences in classrooms and administrative roles across campus. Kyle Shachmut, Senior Director of Digital Accessibility Services, presented strategies for communicating the case for embedded digital accessibility.
Nine breakout sessions covered new tools, strategies, and best practices, hosted or co-hosted by experts from DAS, University Disability Resources (UDR), the Assistive Technology Center (ATC), the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and the Berkman Klein Center. Highlights included the introduction of Nextspace, a Berkman Klein solution for making virtual meetings more accessible to neurodiverse participants; approaches to testing digital accessibility on a budget; techniques for creating accessible math content; and an update on the use of AI in American Sign Language interpretation.
The summit complements year-round programming available to the Harvard community, including DAS training, consultation, and resources tied to Harvard's Digital Accessibility Policy, as well as University Disability Resources guidance on accommodations, accessible events, and physical access.