Universal Design Summit 8

Emerging Advancements, Trends, and Technologies

November 18 – 20, 2026 • Saint Louis, MO and online

Call for Speakers

Since our founding, Starkloff Disability Institute has been a leading expert in Universal Design.

Our Universal Design Summit (UDS), first held in 2002, is North America’s premier conference on Universal Design (UD). The Summit brings together architects, engineers, builders, developers, interior designers, disability advocates, and interested community members from across the world. Presenters showcase universally designed facilities and products and share design strategies and innovations to push the field of Universal Design forward.

Starkloff Disability Institute is excited to announce Universal Design Summit 8 (UDS8) is happening November 18 – 20, 2026, at Saint Louis University (SLU) in Saint Louis, Missouri, and online.

Our 2026 theme is “Emerging Advancements, Trends, and Technologies in Universal Design.”​​​

We invite presenters from a wide range of professions and fields to share insights on what is new, evolving, or gaining momentum in Universal Design. Presentations may explore emerging research, innovative projects, policy developments, best practices, or lessons learned from real-world implementation.

A note on the theme: The word “Technologies” expands the breadth of topics possible at UDS8 (as opposed to narrowing the focus to tech-related content). We welcome a variety of submissions from different fields and encourage speakers to bring diverse points of view and interpretations of the theme.  

You are invited to submit a presentation proposal for Starkloff Disability Institute’s Universal Design Summit 8.

The deadline for submissions is Monday, April 20, 2026. Selected presenters will be notified by Friday, May 22, 2026.

Presentation Basics

We want to provide a diverse range of topics for our participants and welcome proposals from all sectors and industries.

All sessions are 60 minutes in length. Programming submissions will be considered for two formats:

  • Keynote Sessions: Three (3) live, 1-hour sessions will be selected to present at SLU during the Universal Design Summit. These sessions will also be recorded and offered as Virtual Sessions.
  • Breakout Sessions: Eighteen (18) 1-hour breakout sessions will be selected and held at SLU, featuring panels, workshops, and hands-on experiential learning.

Presenters will receive a complementary ticket to the Summit, with additional financial compensation available for keynote speakers.

Before you submit a proposal, please review the Evaluation Process, Submission Requirements, Presentation Expectations, and Speaker Expenses (access those details by expanding the tabs below).

Completed proposals will be reviewed by Starkloff Disability Institute as well as members of the Universal Design Summit Advisory Committee.

Evaluations are based on:

  • Overall quality.
  • Relevance to universal design and Summit theme.
  • Well-defined topic and focus.
  • Practical application of the material.
  • Speaker qualifications and/or lived experience.

To be considered for Universal Design Summit 8 programming:

  • Your presentation must be educational in nature. Sales presentations will not be accepted.
  • Your material should be original; otherwise, cite the source(s).
  • For multiple speakers, each speaker must agree to this submission.
  • Complete all required form fields. Incomplete proposals will not be considered.

If your proposal is selected for UDS8, you will receive notification by Friday, May 22, 2026.

Due to coordination with audio-visual services and American Sign Language interpreters, and to allow time for accessibility checks of materials, presentations and speaking parts will need to be submitted to Starkloff Disability Institute by Monday, October 26, 2026.

All selected speakers and presenters will receive training in advance of this deadline to assist in the creation of inclusive and UD-friendly graphics, slides, and handouts.

All selected presenters will receive complementary tickets to Universal Design Summit 8, an invitation to Summit welcome reception, and a pre-conference virtual training on disability allyship and inclusion best practices valued at $2,500.

Keynote speakers will receive additional compensation for their presentations as well as assistance with travel and hotel stay.

Universal Design Summit 8

Presentation Proposal Submission Form

Please complete the following form in its entirety, with all relevant details included. Incomplete submissions will not be considered.

After submission, a copy of your responses will be sent via email to the address provided on the form.

Note: If you require assistance completing this form, please contact Rachel Goldmeier at rgoldmeier@starkloff.org.