The Most Impactful Disability Rights Conferences of 2025
Conferences dedicated to disability rights provide a welcoming space to connect, share insights, and push for meaningful change.
As disability advocacy continues to gain momentum, 2025 is shaping up to be an important year for discussions on accessibility, policy reform, and inclusion. Conferences dedicated to disability rights provide a welcoming space for activists, legal experts, and community leaders to connect, share insights, and push for meaningful change. Whether you're focused on ADA compliance, inclusive technology, or grassroots organizing, the year’s most influential gatherings will offer opportunities to learn, collaborate, and take action.
Accessibility Advocacy Is Now More Important Than Ever
Recent policy shifts under the new Trump administration have raised concerns about accessibility rights for people with mobility disabilities, particularly under the guidance of Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Changes in federal priorities could weaken protections that ensure access to public spaces, businesses, and essential services. Here’s what’s at stake:
Rollbacks on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA)
In January 2025, President Trump issued executive orders rescinding previous directives that promoted DEIA initiatives within federal agencies and contractors. These actions have been criticized for potentially creating new barriers to opportunity and undoing progress on accessibility efforts. According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Trump's executive orders to roll back DEIA efforts weaken protections for people with mobility disabilities by discouraging businesses and public institutions from prioritizing accessibility initiatives. Overturning protective policies may remove safeguards that helped ensure equitable accommodations, slowing progress on ADA compliance efforts and making it harder for people with disabilities to access stores, restaurants, hotels, and other public spaces.
Project 2025 and Its Impact on Public Accommodations
Developed by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank based in Washington, Project 2025 outlines proposals that could adversely affect disability rights. Recommendations include restructuring Medicaid in ways that could lead to substantial funding cuts, imposing work requirements and time limits for Medicaid recipients, and limiting home- and community-based services that many people rely on for independent living. The initiative also aims to remove certain nondiscrimination policies, weakening protections for people with disabilities and potentially emboldening businesses to push back against ADA compliance measures, which will inevitably increase barriers to public accommodations.
Return to In-Person Work Mandate Threatens Remote Accessibility Options
The administration's directive for federal employees to return to in-person work has raised concerns about broader accessibility trends. While this policy primarily affects federal workplaces, it could set a precedent for private employers to scale back remote work options. Many people with mobility disabilities rely on remote work as a reasonable accommodation, and a shift away from flexible options could reduce employment opportunities and limit participation in the workforce. Advocates emphasize the importance of ensuring that any return-to-office policies continue to uphold the rights of employees with disabilities, ensuring they have equal access to employment opportunities.
Potential Changes to Special Education and Public Access
The administration's plans to scale back the federal government’s role in education, including discussions about abolishing the Department of Education, could affect the enforcement of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), leading to reduced oversight and support for students with disabilities. Reductions in federal funding and changes in enforcement could mean fewer resources for accessible transportation, adaptive technology, and building modifications. Additionally, if accessibility oversight diminishes, public institutions like libraries, museums, and community centers could become less accommodating, resulting in challenges for people with mobility impairments in accessing necessary accommodations and services.
The Top Five Disability Rights Conferences of 2025
With all the upcoming policy changes in motion, disability rights conferences provide much more than opportunities for education—they’re also powerful calls to action. These events will provide you with the knowledge, connections, and strategies necessary to counteract federal shifts and advocate for a more inclusive future.
National Disability Rights Annual Virtual Conference
Each year, the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) brings together many disability rights agencies’ staff, board members, mental health advisors, advocates, attorneys, and federal partners for a dynamic event focused on training, collaboration, and networking, with a touch of fun. #NDRN2025 will offer a wealth of sessions and opportunities to enhance your skills, strengthen your commitment to disability equality, and connect you with experts from across the nation.
Date & Location: June 2–5, 2025, Virtual
Disability:IN Global Conference
Disability:IN is a nonprofit that works with businesses to create more inclusive environments for employees with disabilities. Recognized as the global corporate disability inclusion event of the year, Disability:IN’s 2025 conference will feature a comprehensive agenda and numerous presenting partners. It is always a meaningful gathering for those working to advance inclusion within the business sector.
Date & Location: July 14–17, 2025, Orlando, FL and Virtual
DRNC Annual Disability Advocacy Conference
Disability Rights North Carolina (DRNC) will host a one-day conference centered around the theme "Everyone at the Table" to emphasize the importance of full inclusion and dignity for people with disabilities. This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the Protection and Advocacy (P&A) network, which advocates for disability rights and access. The conference will feature discussions, breakout sessions, and community-building opportunities, bringing together advocates, allies, and leaders to reflect on progress and empower continued efforts toward securing rights and opportunities for people with disabilities.
Date & Location: May 14, 2025, Raleigh, NC
Touro Law Center Disability Rights Conference
The Law Center at Touro College is known for its commitment to providing accessible legal education with an emphasis on public service and social justice. Its annual conference gathers experts from across the globe to evaluate the current state of disability rights and inclusion, explore new programs and approaches, and develop strategies for advancing disability rights. Speakers include researchers, lawyers, advocates, community leaders, employers, service providers, and educators, with many sharing their experiences as people with disabilities.
Date & Location: March 6–7, 2025, Central Islip, NY and Virtual
Global Disability Summit
The International Disability Alliance (IDA), along with the governments of Germany and Jordan, will host the third Global Disability Summit (GDS) this year. The GDS offers an opportunity for governments, businesses, philanthropists, and others to take meaningful action on disability inclusion by submitting commitments that address barriers and promote inclusive policies. Selected impactful commitments will be highlighted during the summit.
Date & Location: April 2–3, 2025, Berlin, Germany
The Power of Participation
Disability rights conferences give you a chance to do more than just stay informed. By attending, you can network with powerful influences, learn from experts, share your ideas, and help shape the future of disability rights. In 2025, the stakes are higher than ever, but collective action like that which often follows conferences can:
Counteract policy rollbacks by strategizing responses to new legislative challenges.
Connect like-minded advocates to build stronger coalitions.
Circulate success stories to replicate effective advocacy efforts in local communities.
Influence public policy by directly engaging with policymakers and legal experts.
These conferences also address challenges related to ADA compliance, accessibility, and litigation, making them particularly important for people navigating issues such as wheelchair accessibility, lower back pain, and accommodations for mobility devices.
As policy changes threaten hard-won progress, these conferences serve as rallying points for advocacy and action. Through learning and engaging with the broader movement, you can make a tangible impact in the fight for disability rights. Now more than ever, it is time to step up, speak out, and ensure that accessibility and inclusion remain at the forefront of public policy and societal change.
What’s the most impactful disability rights conference you’ve attended? Let us know in the comments below.