Conferences

Banner image for the 2026 Annual Disability Statistics Conference. The design features the event title in bold blue text on a textured white background. Below, four panelists sit at a conference table speaking on stage, lit by purple lighting. On the right side, abstract circular graphics with blue lines and green and gray shapes add a modern visual element.

 

Where disability data drives change.

The Annual Disability Statistics Conference (ADSC) brings together policymakers, researchers, and advocates to explore the latest disability data and its role in shaping better outcomes for people and communities. Hosted by the Center for Research on Disability (CRD) at the University of New Hampshire, this annual event marks the release of the Annual Disability Statistics Collection—a comprehensive set of data tools and analyses that track trends, highlight disparities, and inform data-driven decision-making nationwide.

What to expect

Each year, the Annual Disability Statistics Conference transforms data into insight. Attendees gain access to trusted research, expert analysis, and interactive demonstrations that make complex information clear and actionable.

This year’s highlights include:

  • The 2026 Annual Disability Statistics Collection — a trusted, expertly compiled resource that captures key trends across different sources. At the heart of our collection is the Compendium—a one-of-a-kind resource that turns complex data into clear insight, helping drive data-informed policy and practice.
  • New data tools — including Build Your Own Statistics, a user-friendly tool that lets you create custom tables using state and county-level data.
  • Collaborative research — featuring ongoing work with the American Foundation for the Blind, examining the experiences of older adults with vision loss and the factors shaping their living environments.
  • First-person perspectives — hearing directly from data users and people with lived experience with disability on the real-world stories behind the data.

Registration

Registration for the 2026 Annual Disability Statistics Conference is free and open to the public.

Date: March 18, 2026
Location (Hybrid Event): Holiday Inn Washington Capitol, 550 C St SW, Washington, DC 20024, and online via Zoom
Host: Center for Research on Disability, University of New Hampshire

Register Now

Agenda

  • 10:30 am
    Registration (in-person participants)
  • 11:00 am
    Welcome and Introduction
    Megan Henly, University of New Hampshire
  • 11:10 am
    Session 1: Annual Disability Statistics Collection
    Presentations:
    • Annual Report on People with Disabilities — Andrew Houtenville (University of New Hampshire)
    • Disability Statistics Compendium — Nate Thomas (University of New Hampshire)
    • Statistics on Blind and Low Vision Older Adults — Arielle Silverman and Sarahelizabeth Baguhn (American Foundation for the Blind)
    • Infographics and Build Your Own Tables — Stacia Kingsbury (University of New Hampshire)
    • Questions and Answers
  • 12:15 pm
    Break
  • 12:30 pm
    Lunch Hour and Keynote Fireside Chat
    • Andrew Houtenville (University of New Hampshire)
      with Michael Gamel-McCormick, Senior Domestic Policy Advisor, Senator Shaheen (NH)
    • Questions and Answers
  • 1:40 pm
    Session 2: Applications of Disability Employment Statistics
    Presentations
    • Vocational Rehabilitation Participation and Employment Outcomes Among Autistic Young Adults — Marisa Shenk (Mathematica Policy Research)
    • Employment Statistics for the Blind and Low Vision Population — Arielle Silverman (American Foundation for the Blind)
    • How the Elimination of Subminimum Wage Influences Disability Employment Trends — Xueting Sun (University of New Hampshire)
    • Questions and Answers
  • 2:50 pm
    Break
  • 3:00 pm
    Session 3: Rural Policy and the Importance of Quality Disability Statistics
    Presentations
    • Rural Health Policy and Funding — Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD)
    • Rural Disability Measurement and Trends — Lillie Grieman (Rural RTC, University of Montana)
    • From Noisy Data to Reliable County Disability Estimates — Yonatan Ben-Shalom (Mathematica Policy Research)
    • Questions and Answers
  • 4:15 pm
    Closing Comments and Adjourn
    Andrew Houtenville, University of New Hampshire
Photo collage from the Annual Disability Statistics Conference showing attendees seated in a hotel conference room watching a presentation projected on large screens at the front. Inset on the left, a person speaks into a microphone during a discussion. The design includes torn paper textures and circular graphic elements overlaying the images.