College of Law to Host Symposium on Americans with Disabilities Act, Universal Design
The College of Law will host “The Americans with Disabilities Act and Universal Design: Global Legacy and Potential in Higher Ed” on Friday, April 10, in Dineen Hall from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
. Event details and poster exhibition proposal instructions (deadline: March 1) are .
About the Symposium
The symposium examines how the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)’s foundational principles have transcended U.S. borders to influence international disability rights frameworks, accessibility standards and inclusive design practices across diverse cultural and legal landscapes.
Disability rights activist , who holds a degree from Georgetown University, be the keynote speaker and will discuss her experiences with accommodation and accessibility while pursuing her degree.
Panel Topics
Panel 1: Practical and Conceptual Tensions in Accessibility and Accommodation
The panel examines whether universal design truly advances equity or risks masking persistent inequalities. Panelists will navigate the intersection of disability rights, academic freedom and pedagogical innovation, asking whether current frameworks adequately serve students with disabilities or perpetuate exclusion.
Panel 2: Higher Ed Accessibility, Artificial Intelligence and Accommodation in Comparative Focus
The panel takes a global comparative approach to how different legal frameworks, economic contexts and technological infrastructures shape accessibility. The panelists will explore whether the shift from the ADA’s civil rights paradigm to the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (CRPD) human rights framework has transformed access to higher education worldwide.
Panel 3: Implementation and Institutional Buy-In: Futures and Transformative Potential
This panel confronts the gap between aspirational commitments to accessibility and the lived realities of disabled students, faculty and staff. The panelists will examine why universities struggle to implement universal design principles and what transformative change requires.
Poster Exhibition
The symposium includes a poster exhibition. The proposal deadline is March 1, and specifications are available on the .
“This is an opportunity for faculty, staff and students across campus and the world to discuss, analyze, compare and share strategies relating to accessibility and universal design across diverse learning environments,” says Cora True-Frost, G’01, L’01, professor of law, Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor of Teaching Excellence and symposium organizer. “A central goal is engaging university communities globally about both the promise and challenges of opening higher education more proactively to people with disabilities.”
The symposium is sponsored by the Burton Blatt Institute, Center for Disability Resources, Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence, D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF), Disability Law and Policy Program, Impunity Watch News, Journal of Global Rights and Organizations, Journal of International Law and Commerce and the Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Program.
