Networking, Meetings, and Social Events

AHEAD works hard to provide multiple opportunities throughout the Conference for attendees to gather, meet, and build their professional, as well as personal, networks. These optional gatherings are intended to help AHEAD members connect about issues important to them and create ties that last beyond the conference.

Tuesday Evening

Welcome Reception

Location: Convention Center, Lower Lobby

The Welcome Reception will kick off the main Conference on Tuesday evening. We hope you’ll arrive in Oregon in time to join us. Mingle with your colleagues for some wonderful food and beverages, entertainment, and a nice opportunity to connect or reconnect!


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Wednesday Morning

First-Time Attendees Breakfast, 7:15-8:45 am

Location: Exhibit Hall B

If this is your first AHEAD Conference, please join us for a morning opportunity to meet fellow new attendees in a relaxed atmosphere. A self-serve buffet with foods meeting a variety of dietary needs will be offered. 

Wednesday Lunchtime, 12:45 - 1:45 pm

Lunch & Learn Exhibitor Presentations

Join AHEAD’s sponsor/exhibitors for an in-depth look at some of their popular products for higher education. As disability service profession¬als, we know how often products and services offered by external sourc¬es can answer some of our most challenging questions. Bring your cash-and-carry lunch and your questions and keep learning during lunch! 

Setting Students Up for Success With Glean’s UDL Approach To Note Taking

David Nancekievill, Senior Product Manager, Glean
Sam Robins, Senior Customer Success Manager, Glean

Location: B113 

Join us for a demo of Glean, the note taking accommodation trusted by over 700 higher education institutions to provide compliant, effective, and reliable support at scale. Its UDL approach removes the need for peer note takers, increases student independence, and eases the role of support professionals.

Person Centered Access with the Deaf & Hard of Hearing

Paul Tracy, CEO, Partners Interpreting
T.J. DiGrazia, Director of Captioning, Partners Interpreting
Karina Mitchell, Community and Public Relations Coordinator, Partners Interpreting

Location: B116

In this interactive discussion, learn the why, what, and how of effective communication with the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing. Learn about best practices and how to make informed decisions to create an inclusive and equitable experience for students and staff.

Knowledge and Practice Community (KPC) Meetings

Knowledge and Practice Communities (KPCs) bring together AHEAD members who share a common interest in a specific subject area. They support AHEAD by connecting members, sharing information, and developing resources. 

  • LGBTQ+ KPC Meeting -  Location: C121/122 
  • Community Colleges KPC Meeting -  Location: B118-119 
  • Research KPC Meeting - Location: B114 
  • ADHD KPC Meeting - Location:  B115 
  • Private Colleges KPC Meeting - Location:  B112

Informational Session

NCCSD Is for You! 

Emily Unholz-Bowden, University of Minnesota 
Roqayah Ajaj, University of Minnesota 
Richard Allegra, AHEAD 

Location: B110-111

The National Center for College Students with Disabilities (NCCSD), now housed at the University of Minnesota’s Institute on Community Integration, serves as a resource for transition-age youth and college students with disabilities. Attendees should bring their own lunches and join us to learn about NCCSD resources relevant to your work. These include research in progress, the NCCSD Clearinghouse, and an up-to-date edition of the CeDaR Database containing disability resources available at every college/university in the US which will soon include information about non-degree-granting institutions. We’ll also share about the DREAM group for students with disabilities. We’ll include time for questions and answers and getting to know one another!

Wednesday Evening

President’s Reception, 5:30-7 pm

Location: Exhibit Hall A

The President’s Reception will include a selection of hot and cold hors d’oeuvres, hosted soft drinks, a cash bar, and live entertainment, all held in conjunction with the opening of the Exhibit Hall. Come learn from in¬novative vendors and sponsors, and meet and greet old friends and new!

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Thursday Morning

Knowledge and Practice Communities’ Chairs Annual Meeting (invitation only), 8-9 am

Location: F150

Exhibit Hall/Poster Sessions/Continental Breakfast, 9-11am

Location: Exhibit Hall A

Thursday Lunchtime, 12:45 - 1:45 pm

Lunch & Learn Exhibitor Presentations

Join AHEAD’s sponsor/exhibitors for an in-depth look at some of their popular products for higher education. As disability service professionals, we know how often products and services offered by external sources can answer some of our most challenging questions. Bring your cash-and-carry lunch and your questions and keep learning during lunch! 

The University of Central Arkansas’ Approach to Accessible Assessments and an Engaging Learning Environment

Doris L. Pierce, B.A., M.S., Director for the Office of Accessibility Resources and Services (OARS), University of Central Arkansas
Ginger Dewey, Educational Development Manager, ReadSpeaker

Location: B113 

By utilizing ReadSpeaker, UCA has been able to provide its learners with an enhanced user experience, provide focus tools, and a way to have their assessments provided in an accessible environment. Hear from Doris Pierce on how and why UCA utilizes ReadSpeaker's certified LMS integration and Suite of Learning tools. 

Come See How We Can Symplify Your Day!

Alicia Freeland, Lead Client Manager, Symplicity
Paula Possenti-Perez, Director of the Office of Disability Services at Syracuse University

Location: B116

There has been a significant increase in the number of students with disabilities enrolling in higher education institutions with current research showing 1 in 5 students have a diagnosed disability. Are you buried under documentation, accommodations, and paperwork? Come and see how Symplicity Accommodate can help streamline and “symplify” your accommodation process.

Knowledge and Practice Community (KPC) Meetings

Knowledge and Practice Communities (KPCs) bring together AHEAD members who share a common interest in a specific subject area. They support AHEAD by connecting members, sharing information, and developing resources. 

  • Blind and Low Vision KPC Meeting -  Location: B110-111 
  • Deaf/HH KPC Meeting - Location: B118-119 
  • Veterans KPC Meeting - Location:  B114
  • Autism KPC Meeting - Location: B115
  • ADA KPC Meeting - Location:  B112

Other Meetings & Informational Sessions

AHEAD State Affiliates’ Leadership Lunch (invitation only)

Location: F150

AHEAD Author Book Signing

Location: Exhibit Hall

The authors of the following AHEAD Publications will be present to sign their books. Books will be available for purchase. 

  • Laws, Policies, and Processes: Tools for Postsecondary Student Accommodation Creating 
  • From Transactional to Transformational: Coaching in Disability Resources 
  • DISABLED Faculty and Staff: Intersecting Identities in Higher Education, Volume 2 

Building Inclusive and Healthy Communities: A Compendium of Resources from The National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability (NCHPAD) 

Location: C121/122

Inclusion in public health initiatives is a critical approach to addressing the health disparities that people with disabilities experience. In this presentation, we’ll introduce NCHPAD: a public health practice and resource center focusing on health promotion, wellness, and quality of life of people with disabilities. 

Thursday Evening

REDD KPC Reception, 5:30-7 pm

Location: Oregon Ball Room 204

The Racial and Ethnic Disability and Diversity Knowledge and Practice Community invites you to an evening of eating, socializing, and community building. All attendees interested in diversity, inclusion, and social justice are welcome to attend. 

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Friday Morning

Exhibit Hall/Poster Sessions/Beverage Break, 10:30 – 11:30 am 

Location: Exhibit Hall

Friday Lunchtime, 12:45 - 1:45 pm

Lunch & Learn Exhibitor Presentations

Join AHEAD’s sponsor/exhibitors for an in-depth look at some of their popular products for higher education. As disability service professionals, we know how often products and services offered by external sources can answer some of our most challenging questions. Bring your cash-and-carry lunch and your questions and keep learning during lunch! 

Accessibility for All: Reducing the Work of Providing Captions in the Classroom

Scott Ready, Verbit

Location: C121-122 

Verbit’s Scott Ready will lead a lunch-and-learn focused on making life easier when it comes to providing captioning for students. The session will discuss, among other things, ways to streamline caption workflows and student access that can help eliminate barriers that prohibit schools from providing inclusive experiences for all.

Incorporating AI Into Your Content Accessibility Process

Ian Smith, Director of Product Development, codemantra

Location: B110-111 

Higher education institutions are under increasing pressure to provide accessible documentation. However, this can be a challenge, especially for institutions with limited resources. AI helps institutions meet this challenge by identifying and remediating inaccessible content. AI also helps improve the text-to-speech performance and achieve ADA 508 remediation at scale.

Knowledge and Practice Community (KPC) Meetings

Knowledge and Practice Communities (KPCs) bring together AHEAD members who share a common interest in a specific subject area. They support AHEAD by connecting members, sharing information, and developing resources. 

  • Disability Identity Studies & Culture KPC Meeting - Location: B115 
  • Technology KPC Meeting - Location: B112 
  • Coaching KPC Meeting - Location: B118-119 
  • REDD KPC Meeting - Location: B116

Informational Session

Discussion about Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Emily Tarconish, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 

Location: B113

Join this lunch discussion session about the strategies and interventions that can assist individuals with TBI, as well as how to implement them. Participants will be provided with specific tools that they can use to assist students with TBI at their institutions and have the opportunity to share with one another. 

Friday Evening

AHEAD Celebration Banquet

Location: Oregon Ball Room 201-204

AHEAD’s closing celebration is the perfect way to close the week with new and old friends, reflect on what you’ve learned, and just have fun! The final two awards of the week will be given, but there is no business meeting or other presentation this year. Live music will be provided, so come eat, dance, and socialize at this last hurrah of the week. Dress is casual or as fun as you’d like it to be. 

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