The Universal Design Workplace Challenge. A collaborative initiative from Starkloff Disability Institute and MO Better Foundation. With financial support from Regions Foundation. Office with flexible space that supports standing or sitting in either a wheelchair or desk chair.

Call for Workplace Challenges

Your Voice, Your Workplace, Your Solutions

Starkloff Disability Institute and MO Better Foundation are cohosting a competition to tackle real workplace barriers faced by people with disabilities: The Universal Design Workplace Challenge.

Professionals with disabilities submit their own workplace challenge—the barrier impacting them at work. If selected, we will connect the user (person facing the barrier) with a group of problem solvers to design a solution as a team. The project solutions will be judged by a panel of experts and the top 10 will be recognized at SDI’s Universal Design Summit 8 (2026).

User-Centered Projects

Today, we’re looking for individuals with disabilities who are willing to share a workplace challenge they’re experiencing—big or small—that they would like help solving.

  • You share your challenge.

Tell us what’s making your job harder or holding you back.

  • You stay at the center of the design team.

If your challenge is selected, you’ll be at the heart of the design process, working as a co-creator with a team of problem solvers that may include engineering students, assistive technology professionals, occupational therapists, and more. You’ll guide them to develop a solution that meets your needs and could assist others, too. Expected time commitment is 2 hours per month from November 2025 through March 2026.

  • Real outcomes.

Winning solutions will be presented at the Starkloff Disability Institute Universal Design Summit in Spring 2026 and showcased in the new Universal Design Showcase Workspace, opening in 2027.

Submit Your Challenge

If you’re ready to bring your workplace challenge to this competition, please complete the form below. Together, let’s create more inclusive workplaces!

Starkloff Disability Institute and MO Better Foundation are cohosting a competition to tackle real workplace barriers faced by people with disabilities. We’re looking for individuals with disabilities who are willing to share a workplace challenge they’re experiencing—big or small—that they would like help solving.

Share your workplace challenge

Please write a short paragraph describing your challenge. Tell us what’s making your job harder or limiting your success—whether it’s technology, physical space, communication, policies, or something else.
On a scale of 1-5, how much does this challenge affect your ability to succeed at work? (One is low impact, five is major impact.)
Where is the challenge happening?

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Accepted file types: jpg, png, Max. file size: 50 MB, Max. files: 4.

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