Hidden ADA Risks Across Campus – December 3, 2026

Thursday, December 3, 2026 11:00 am – 12:30 pm ET Compliance Beyond the Basics ADA risks often emerge not from obvious failures, but from everyday campus decisions made without accessibility in mind. Accessibility risks can arise anywhere on campus not just in situations handled by disability services. From academic programs and campus events to dining, transportation, technology, athletics, and emergency planning, everyday decisions can unintentionally create barriers, expose institutions to ADA compliance risks, and leave students, employees, and visitors without equal access. When accessibility knowledge varies across departments, even well-intentioned decisions can lead to inconsistent practices, missed obligations and costly last-minute fixes. The challenge is recognizing where the ADA applies before a barrier becomes a complaint or a compliance problem. Join us on December 3, 2026 to examine often-overlooked accessibility risks across campus in a "Top 25 Mistakes format". Explore common trouble spots, including field trips, orientation, graduation, dining, parking, career fairs, and emergency communications, and learn how to identify potential barriers; recognize when accessibility needs to be part of the conversation; and incorporate access into everyday planning and decision-making. The goal isn’t to make every campus professional an ADA expert. It’s to equip them to spot potential risks earlier, know when to seek guidance, and take practical steps toward a more accessible campus before problems arise. Topics Covered Gain tools and strategies to help you: Recognize hidden ADA risks earlier by identifying when routine campus decisions involving programs, services, events, facilities, technology, or activities may create accessibility concerns. Reduce uncertainty and frustration in campus professionals by building their confidence that they are not overlooking an obligation, making an inconsistent decision, or discovering an accessibility problem only after someone encounters a barrier. Build accessibility into planning from the beginning rather than waiting until an individual encounters a barrier or requests an accommodation. Ask better questions before making decisions about participation, access, safety, logistics, or program requirements that may affect individuals with disabilities. Strengthen collaboration across campus by recognizing when disability services, ADA coordinators, facilities, IT, academic affairs, student affairs, human resources, or other partners should be involved. Review existing policies and practices through an accessibility lens to identify gaps, inconsistent approaches, and procedures that may unintentionally create barriers. Create a campus culture of shared responsibility for accessibility by helping departments understand that ADA compliance and access are institutional responsibilities, not solely the responsibility of the disability or accessibility office. Presenter Leigh Davis Fickling is the Deputy Director of the Title IX and Clery Compliance and an Accommodations Consultant at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Click here for full bio.