Inside AHG 2025: Innovation, Energy & Accessibility Leadership in Action

By Shareef J. Phillips, Digital Communications Manager, Benetech


Based on insights from Charles LaPierre, Principal, Accessibility & Content Quality Architect at Benetech

The 2025 Accessing Higher Ground (AHG) Conference was nothing short of electric. From the opening session to the closing hallway conversations, this year’s event brought together accessibility leaders, technologists, educators, and advocates who were eager to learn, collaborate, and push the boundaries of what’s possible in accessible education.

As Charles LaPierre put it, “the vibe was electric—everyone was excited to learn and reconnect.” The only downside? Too many great sessions happening at once.

Reconnecting With a Thriving Community

Throughout the week, Charles connected with partners and industry leaders across accessibility and publishing, including McGraw Hill, Macmillan Learning, Pearson, and GCA vendor Apex—whose booth proudly featured the GCA Vendor Logo. Longtime colleagues also reunited, bringing humor and warmth to the experience.

Evenings extended the sense of community, from enjoying an authentic Colorado bison pastrami sandwich to grabbing burritos at a local favorite, “Illegal Pete’s.”

A Keynote That Set the Tone

The conference opened with an inspiring keynote by Mia Ives-Rublee, Senior Director at the Disability Justice Initiative. As the founder of the Women’s March Disability Caucus, Ives-Rublee emphasized the importance of disability inclusion in cultural and political movements. Her remarks grounded AHG in themes of justice, progress, and collective action.

Benetech on Stage: Two Sessions, Big Impact

Benetech delivered two standout sessions that sparked rich conversation and immediate follow-up from institutions nationwide.

1. Title II Readiness in Action: Key Findings and Insights from Accessibility Pilot Program

Presented by Charles LaPierre (Benetech), Darrin Evans (Wake Technical Community College), and Phillip Turner (Haywood Community College)

This session focused on insights from Benetech’s Accessibility Pilot Program and how institutions can begin preparing for Title II digital accessibility requirements. The room was engaged, full of thoughtful questions, and visibly energized by discussions around accessible content workflows and institutional readiness.

Interest grew even more when Bookshare+ was mentioned—hands went up across the room. Bookshare Project Manager Nicholas Bowen, who attended the session, joined the discussion to answer detailed questions about AI-powered accessible reading options. His input highlighted how urgently institutions are seeking scalable accessibility solutions.

2. From Lecture to Learning: How AI Brings Instant Accessibility to the Classroom

Presented by Nicholas Bowen (Benetech)

Nicholas led attendees through Benetech’s newest innovations in AI-driven accessibility. The session demonstrated how instructional content can be instantly transformed into accessible formats, sparking excitement among educators and technologists eager to modernize classroom accessibility. With 15–20 attendees fully engaged, the session reinforced Benetech’s leadership in next-generation accessible technology.

Together, these sessions generated strong interest from institutions across the country. A number of universities, community colleges, and accessibility-focused organizations requested additional information, follow-up conversations, or opportunities to explore participation in the Bookshare+ pilot. Several even requested Letters of Intent—highlighting the growing demand for scalable, AI-powered accessibility solutions in higher education.

Conference Highlights

AHG 2025 offered a robust lineup of sessions that showcased innovation across the accessibility landscape.

Accessible Math Tools — Darrin Evans (Wake Tech)

An updated Accessible Math Guide demonstrated new tools and AI features for creating equitable access to math content. Attendees also discussed MathCat’s integration into NVDA and JAWS.

Smart Exceptions & ADA Title II Compliance — Glenda Sims (Deque)

Glenda’s clarity and energy transformed complex regulations into digestible, actionable guidance. She walked through scenarios on what qualifies as an ADA Title II exception and how institutions can prepare for April 2026 compliance deadlines.

AI-Assisted Video Accessibility — Cindy Camp & Kyle Sisk (DCMP)

DCMP unveiled a powerful tool enabling users—including those who are blind or deaf—to create captions, audio descriptions, and ASL overlays. Its customization and AI capabilities stood out as a major step forward.

ParaCharts & Inclusive Data Visualization — Doug Schepers (Fizz Studio)

Doug demonstrated live AI-generated chart descriptions, low-vision modes, sonification, and braille output. His shout-out to Benetech’s Sparkly Braille module highlighted longstanding innovations from the Diagram Center community.

Legal Landscape Update — Ken Nakata (Converge Accessibility)

A comprehensive overview of legal updates across ADA, Section 504, and state-level digital accessibility laws provided attendees with the clarity needed to navigate the evolving regulatory environment.

Looking Ahead

AHG continues to be one of the most important gatherings for shaping the future of accessible education. The 2025 conference reaffirmed that accessibility innovation is accelerating—and that collaboration across institutions, technologists, and advocates is essential.

Benetech is proud to be part of this movement and excited for what lies ahead in 2026 and beyond.

Ready to Strengthen Your Institution’s Accessibility Strategy?

Benetech provides accessible learning tools, AI-powered solutions, and expert guidance for Title II and WCAG 2.1 compliance.

Explore our solutions at Benetech.org 


Learn more about Bookshare+ and join our accessibility pilots!

Together, we can shape a more inclusive and accessible future for every learner.