U.S. Access Board to Join National Council on Disability for Tribal and Rural Accessibility Town Hall in Arizona

PHOENIX, Ariz. - The U.S. Access Board will join the National Council on Disability (NCD) for a Tribal and Rural Accessibility Town Hall on November 9, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (MST), at Ability360 in Phoenix, Arizona. The event will bring together Tribal leaders, Tribal elders, people with disabilities, service providers, community organizations, and other stakeholders to discuss accessibility challenges, opportunities, and disability experiences in Tribal and rural communities. The town hall will also be available virtually, allowing participants from across the country to join the conversation.

The event will feature leadership from both federal agencies, including U.S. Access Board Executive Director Dr. Sachin Pavithran, Acting Chair Tina Guenette, and former Chair Elver Ariza-Silva. Together with NCD Council Members and leadership, the two agencies will engage directly with attendees to better understand accessibility priorities, emerging issues, and opportunities for partnership in Tribal and rural communities. Attendees will have an opportunity to provide public comments.

This town hall reflects a shared commitment by NCD and the Access Board to ensure that the experiences of Tribal Nations, rural communities, and people with disabilities inform federal policy, technical assistance, research, and future accessibility initiatives. As the two federal agencies dedicated to advancing accessibility for people with disabilities, NCD and the Access Board recognize the importance of hearing directly from those with lived experience and local expertise.

The conversation will focus on accessibility across community life, including access to public facilities, transportation, civic participation, healthcare, housing, cultural spaces, and community gathering places. Emphasis will be placed on the unique barriers and opportunities facing Tribal Nations and rural communities, where geographic distance, infrastructure limitations, and resource constraints can create additional accessibility challenges.

The Access Board has expanded its engagement with Tribal Nations and Tribal organizations through outreach, training, and technical assistance efforts focused on improving accessibility while respecting Tribal sovereignty and community priorities. In recent years, the Board has worked with Tribal leaders and the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) to support accessibility in ceremonial spaces, recognizing the importance of ensuring that Tribal elders and people with disabilities can fully participate in community and cultural life.

Ability360, one of the nation's leading centers for independent living and community-based disability services, provides an ideal setting for this discussion. Bringing the town hall to Phoenix offers an opportunity to engage directly with Tribal communities from across the Southwest while creating space for national participation through the event's virtual option.

Attendance is strongly encouraged for Tribal leaders, Tribal elders, people with disabilities, family members, caregivers, service providers, state and local officials, and all stakeholders interested in advancing accessibility in Tribal and rural communities. Participants are invited to share experiences, identify challenges, highlight successful practices, and help shape future federal accessibility efforts.

Event Details:
Tribal and Rural Accessibility Town Hall
Monday, November 9, 2026
Ability360, 5025 E. Washington St., Phoenix, AZ 85034
Registration and Networking: 8:30 - 9:00 a.m. (MST)
Town Hall: 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (MST)

Registration Information:
The meeting will take place at the Ability360 Conference Center in Phoenix, AZ. It will also be livestreamed via Zoom for Government and via NCD's YouTube channel for those not able to attend in person. Register to attend either in-person or via Zoom on the Eventbrite page.

Agenda:

• 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. - Networking and Sign-In
• 9:30 - 9:35 a.m. - NCD Welcome, Call to Order
• 9:35 - 9:40 a.m. - Tribal Land Acknowledgment
• 9:40 - 10:20 a.m. - Local/Tribal Welcome to NCD and Attendees, Posting of Colors
• 10:20 - 10:40 a.m. - NCD Opening remarks, Introduction of U.S. Access Board Chair and Executive Director
• 10:40 - 11:10 a.m. - Panel Discussion and Presentation on Incidents of Disabilities and Accessibility on Tribal Land
• 11:10 - 11:30 a.m. - Break
• 11:30 - 11:40 a.m. - Town Hall Introduction
• 11:40 a.m. - 12:40 p.m. - Town Hall (topics include housing, employment, education, independent living, healthcare, and transportation)
• 12:40 - 2:00 p.m. - Lunch Break
• 2:00 - 4:30 p.m. - Town Hall Continued
• 4:30 p.m. - Closing Remarks, NCD Meeting Adjournment

For updates regarding registration and event details, visit the websites of the National Council on Disability and the U.S. Access Board.

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