Welcome to 2026 – Happy New Year!
This year, Teach Access proudly celebrates 10 years of impact and innovation! We’re thrilled to mark this milestone and can’t wait to share exciting programs, initiatives, and opportunities to help make this year unforgettable. We kicked off the year at CES in January, where our Executive Director, Kate Sonka, presented on both the Accessibility Stage and the Main Stage, spotlighting the power of cross-sector collaboration to advance accessibility. Looking ahead, Kate will be heading to Vienna, Austria, in February for the Zero Project Conference as we continue expanding Teach Access Europe and other global initiatives. We’re especially excited to welcome the next cohort of learners to our February Student Academy.
Student Academy
Our Student Academy offers a jam-packed agenda of interactive sessions. It’s completely virtual, free, and open to learners of all backgrounds. Register today!
Celebrating a Decade of Impact: A Virtual Event with Lex Gillette
In April 2016, leaders from industry, academia, and the nonprofit sector came together to launch Teach Access. Ten years later, we invite you to celebrate a decade of impact with us, featuring Lex Gillette, the most decorated totally blind long jumper in U.S. Paralympic history, an acclaimed public speaker, and an author.
Ten years later, we invite you to celebrate a decade of impact with us, featuring Lex Gillette, the most decorated totally blind long jumper in U.S. Paralympic history, an acclaimed public speaker, an author, and Teach Access board member.
Lex will share a powerful journey that weaves together the transformative force of accessibility, the resilience forged in his Paralympic triumphs, and the wisdom from his professional path. Together, he invites others to celebrate not just tools of access, but the profound potential unlocked when vision, perseverance, and opportunity rise as one.
This inspiring conversation is open to everyone. While attendance is free, donations are encouraged to support our mission as we continue to raise $1.5 million for the next 1.5 million students.
Date: Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Time: 2:00-3:00pm ET / 11:00am to 12:00pm PT
Location: Zoom (advanced registration required)
Communication Access Real-Time captioning (CART) & American Sign Language (ASL) will be provided. For assistance with registration, email Teach Access at [email protected].
Teach Access Europe
The Teach Access Europe Community, Strategy & Sustainability; Teaching, Learning & Workforce; and Accreditation, Policy & Research working groups have officially begun meeting, marking an important step forward in advancing Teach Access’s mission. Together, these groups are developing strategies for long-term sustainability and visibility, evaluating and strengthening accessibility in curricula, co-creating materials through university–industry partnerships, aligning education with workforce needs, and building pathways from learning to employment.
Want to learn more about Teach Access Europe? Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Instagram and stay up to date or email [email protected]
Welcome Lexie!
Teach Access welcomes Alex (Lexie) Guo, our newest intern. Lexie is a third-year student at Michigan State University, dual-majoring in Humanities Pre-Law and Experience Architecture, with minors in Business and Leadership in Integrated Learning. As a Teach Access Intern, she focuses on digital accessibility, disability justice, and inclusive UX design, with particular attention to how design decisions intersect with law, public policy, and DEI frameworks. Alex also serves as an Outreach Assistant for the Gender and Sexuality Campus Center and holds multiple student leadership roles dedicated to equity and accessibility across campus. As an openly trans Asian woman and LGBTQ+ researcher, she has delivered guest lectures and research talks on queer belonging, accessibility, and inclusive design in higher education.
Catch up with Kate
Our Executive Director, Kate Sonka, will be at the upcoming events:
February 18-20, Zero Project Conference, Vienna, Austria
March 9-13, CSUN ATC Anaheim, CA
Give a Gift Today!
We’re officially in our 10th year! As our $1.5 million for the next 1.5 million students campaign continues, additional funding will help us build momentum for the year ahead. We’re deeply grateful to everyone who has supported our work along the way, as your generosity has made our growth possible. Thank you for being part of this journey.
