Schedule

Check-in, check your coat, receive your badge and swag bag with the official Shift pamphlet, stickers, and other exciting goodies!

Breakfast will include an assortment of freshly baked pastries and sliced fresh fruit platters.

What happens when we treat disability not as a problem to solve, but as a creative catalyst in design, media, and architecture? This panel brings together Sara Hendren, Andrew Leland, and Paul DeFazio to explore how access, aesthetics, and authorship intersect. From storytelling to speculative design, they’ll discuss how disabled perspectives challenge conventional design narratives and open new possibilities within creative practice. Together, they’ll ask: How can we view access as an ongoing dialogue between competing ideas? How can we rethink “normal” practice in the realms of design and media? And what do disabled perspectives bring to these questions?

More details coming soon!

For lunch, a classic sandwich buffet will be provided, featuring turkey and provolone, ham and Swiss, and heirloom tomatoes with fresh mozzarella on assorted breads. The meal will be accompanied by house-made potato chips, mixed green salad with red wine vinaigrette, pickles, and an assortment of cookies. Additionally, a water station will be available to keep guests hydrated. Dessert will consist of gluten-free brownies.

While or after enjoying your meal, come and approach student presenters in the atrium space who have done incredible projects in the space of disability and design. Engage in insightful conversations and discover innovative ideas that push the boundaries of inclusive design!

Our Conference team has also organized a collection of 3D-printed accessibility gadgets designed to break barriers and enhance everyday experiences. This interactive exhibition showcases creative, user-centered solutions that reimagine accessibility through design and technology.

In this interactive workshop, we’ll explore the importance of accessibility in digital design, focusing on creating interfaces for older adults and vision-impaired users. After a brief introduction to digital accessibility and screenreaders, participants will engage in hands-on activities that foster empathy by experiencing digital interfaces from the perspective of users with vision impairments. This workshop is ideal for students, professionals, and anyone interested in user experience, inclusive design, gerontology, or accessibility.

In this workshop, we will confront the stigma surrounding invisible disabilities head-on, with a focus on mental health. Through creative drawing exercises, participants will explore and engage with the lived experiences of those affected by mental health challenges, fostering deeper empathy and understanding. The workshop will culminate in collaborative brainstorming sessions, where participants will generate practical ideas and design strategies for a community that is often overlooked.

Hear from passionate student speakers and groups sharing their work in disability and design through lightning presentations. Plus, learn from Diversability, a student-led club dedicated to uplifting and supporting disabled and neurodivergent students at Northeastern. Gain new perspectives, engage in meaningful discussions, and connect with a community advocating for accessibility and inclusion.

Fatimah will provide an overview of The Kelsey, our mission, programs and accomplishments and my role as a disabled leader in this housing movement.

Receive expert feedback on your portfolio from seasoned designers at Fidelity and professors from the College of Arts, Media, and Design. Whether you're fine-tuning your work or preparing for job opportunities, this session will help you refine your presentation and make a lasting impact.

Need a fresh, high-quality headshot? Stop by the second floor of ISEC, where the Scout Media team will be stationed to capture polished photos for LinkedIn, portfolios, and more!