The Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) Conference is an annual gathering of people seeking information, strategies, and solutions to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities who can benefit from assistive technology (AT). Alongside more than 3,500 educators, AT providers, researchers, vendors, and advocates, several members of the NCADEMI team gathered in Orlando (and virtually) for four days of conversations, collaboration, and shared problem-solving. As you read on, you’ll find many of the key insights, tools, and resources we shared with participants throughout the conference.
The ATIA Conference is an important space for elevating the role of accessible digital educational materials and instruction. The NCADEMI team was there to emphasize that even when AT is thoughtfully selected and implemented, access breaks down when digital materials are not accessible. In those instances, AT can’t do its job, and students go without access to learning opportunities.
We kicked off ATIA 2026 with a full day pre-conference workshop, Digital Doesn’t Equal Accessible: Moving from Misconception to Meaningful Access. Participants explored the legal foundations that guarantee students with disabilities the right to accessible educational materials and were introduced to our Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title II Roadmap. They gained practical strategies for creating and evaluating accessible digital materials and edtech, applied tools for strengthening digital accessibility capacity in their own agencies, and developed action plans for engaging colleagues and school leaders in continuous improvement. What stood out to us was the openness in the room as participants shared real barriers in their systems and collaboratively problem-solved.
In our first breakout session, From Gaps to Gains: Access to Digital Materials for All Students, we focused on system-level change and how state and district teams can use NCADEMI’s self-assessment tool by rating their own agency on Critical Component DM5.1: “Professional development includes digital accessibility.” On a continuum of four implementation stages, most participants rated their agency as “emerging,” meaning that planning and coordination are underway. We encouraged participants to take the next step by enrolling in NCADEMI’s virtual Professional Learning Group of state and district teams implementing our Quality Indicators.
Our session Accessibility in Action: Practices that Empower AT made the connection between digital accessibility and AT tangible. A demonstration of the barriers presented by inaccessible PDFs clearly illustrated why AT only works when materials are designed and created accessibly. We shared five accessibility practices (see the slide deck) and highlighted NCADEMI’s Accessibility Basics as a starting point, as well as our brand new Learning Modules to deepen the learning.
ATIA is also about learning with and from partners. In a panel moderated by ATIA Federal Policy Advisor Laura Kaloi, we joined colleagues from Georgia and Nebraska to discuss the importance of sustainable AT funding for schools. We also partnered with the Rhonda Weiss Center for Accessible IDEA Data and the Alabama AT Act Program for a session on why digital accessibility can’t be optional when AT is part of the solution. These collaborations remind us that no one advances this work alone.
The best part of ATIA 2026? The people! The sessions were energizing but the conversations in between were just as meaningful. Whether connecting with colleagues in the hallway, exchanging ideas in the exhibit hall, or catching up with long-time partners, ATIA 2026 reinforced the power of relationships in moving digital accessibility forward. Shared urgency, shared challenges, and shared commitment go a long way.
We’re grateful for the opportunity to learn alongside the ATIA community and to continue building momentum together. We’re already looking ahead to ATIA 2027 and the relationships and ideas that will continue to grow from this work.
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