2026 Annual Conference on Independent Living
July 20-23, 2026
Grand Hyatt, Washington, DC
Presented by the National Council on Independent Living
Questions
- Scheduling and presenter accommodation questions: Angela Ellman at angela@ncil.org
- Document formatting and accessibility questions: Eleanor Canter at eleanor@ncil.org
- Audience engagement and accessibility questions: Mary-Kate Wells at mary-kate@ncil.org
- Registration questions: Jenny Sichel at jenny@ncil.org
Presenter Orientation
NCIL will host a presenter orientation session webinar prior to the conference. It will cover frequently asked questions and include an opportunity for questions and answers.
Presentation Template
NCIL has developed a slideshow template in Microsoft Word. Using this template will allow us to provide your presentation in alternate formats and in languages other than English quickly and easily. This new design will display in exactly the same way as a PowerPoint when converted to PDF.
Presenters must use NCIL’s accessible template if they choose to display slides during their presentation. Contact eleanor@ncil.org with any questions.
Registration
- Presenters and facilitators are not exempt from registration fees. Presenters must register and pay for all days they plan to attend.
- NCIL will offer a 5% discount to up to three presenters per accepted workshop (use code PRESENTER2026).
- Presenters who attend only their session and no other events do not need to pay but should register using the code PRESENTERNAME to receive a name tag.
Daily registration will be available onsite.
Workshop Sessions
Workshop sessions run for one hour and fifteen minutes. All sessions will be interpreted and captioned. If your presentation will take longer, you must apply for a series of workshops.
Sessions will be held live at the Grand Hyatt Washington. NCIL’s audio / visual team will handle all of the technical and access needs so that you can focus on your presentation.
Slides / HanDout Requirements
Presenters MUST use the accessible slides template provided by NCIL if they choose to use a slideshow during their presentation.
If you intend to provide physical handouts, those documents MUST be emailed to angela@ncil.org by JUNE 1, 2026. Documents provided to NCIL by JUNE 1 will be processed and posted to the NCIL website in accessible electronic format.
Documents that are not provided to NCIL by JUNE 1 may NOT be distributed to attendees in print format (including slideshows).
Slideshow content MUST be read aloud during onsite presentation. This requirement is crucial for presenters who choose show their content by visual means only.
Your materials will be shared with sign language interpreters and CART writers to familiarize them with the materials and terminology. Include a list of terminology to improve accessibility of your presentation.
Read the Audience Engagement and Access Guide below for further information.
Deadlines
This Call for Proposals is the only request that will be issued for speakers, group facilitators, or poster presentations for the 2026 Conference. The proposal submission deadline is 5:00 p.m. Eastern on March 7, 2026.
NCIL’s Annual Conference Subcommittee carefully reviews each proposal and selects those that are relevant to this year’s Conference theme and are valuable to a cross-section of CIL, SILC, and IL Association staff, board members, consumers, and other IL advocates. The Conference Subcommittee will review all proposals received by the deadline. The decisions of the Subcommittee are final.
- Proposal organizers will be notified by March 25, 2026 whether they have been selected to present at the Conference.
- If you have been selected to present at the Conference, please do not make travel arrangements until your presentation day and time have been assigned.
Accommodations for Presenters
You can request attendee accommodations when you register for the conference. If you need accommodations to present your workshop, please notify Angela Ellman at angela@ncil.org no later than JUNE 1, 2026.
Audience Engagement and Access Guide
Facilitating an accessible workshop is more than just the material and formats. There are other strategies you can use to engage your whole audience. Here are just a few:
Note: This is not an exhaustive list on accessibility.
General Access
- Provide a brief visual description of yourself the first time you speak. Ask your audience to do the same.
- Speak clearly and at a normal rate of speaking. This allows ASL and CART transcribers time to translate what you are saying.
- If using an acronym, say the full acronym the first few times you use it.
- Use the microphone throughout your presentation.
Visuals
- Read the content of your slides or visuals out loud.
- Describe visual content out loud. If your presentation includes images, charts, or graphics, be sure to describe them clearly for everyone. You can say things like: “On the slide is a graphic representing…” or “The slide includes an image of…”
- Only include images that add value to your presentation or help explain your message.
- Add alt text to any images you use in your slides
- Include image descriptions in your speaker notes as a reminder to describe them during your talk.
Audience Engagement
- Always use the microphone. Identify a “mic runner” to bring the microphone to audience members.
- Ask the audience to wait for a microphone and to say their name before speaking.
- Repeat responses or questions from audience members.
- Offer several ways to respond to questions, including raising hands, calling out, standing, nodding; this will facilitate participation for those who may not be able to raise hands, speak, or stand.
- Following the response to an audience question, let the audience know the count or estimate, such as “about half responded yes” or “I see that six people are raising their hands or nodding their heads.”
Other helpful tips
- Plan for Accessibility. When preparing for your workshop, consider how you are going to engage the audience.
- Run of Show Document. Use a run-of-show document to outline the workshop. This is especially helpful if you have more than one speaker.
- Practice Timing. We highly encourage you to practice your workshop presentation a few times before the conference to ensure you have enough time.
- Plan for delays. There is always a chance of a delay (example: technology or access issue). It is helpful to think about this in your planning.
