APA News & Updates June 2026 | Issue 55 |
- A Note from Your 2026 APA President
- 2027 National Conference Keynote Speaker
- APAC Updates
- 2026 Jim Boyce Memorial Scholarship Recipients
- APA Chapter Updates
- APA Advances New Visual Access Standards into the 2027 International Building Code
- "Showing That Removal of Architectural Barriers Is Not Readily Achievable Doesn’t End the Analysis," by William Goren
- APA Committee Spotlight
- APA Member News
- Upcoming APA Events
And More!
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A Note from Your 2026 APA President This year’s theme, “Stronger Together,” while not original, does express effectively the new and stronger dynamics of the APA. As we continue to expand, it is important to realize that over 50% READ MORE>> |
2027 APA National Conference: Meet Our Keynote We are thrilled to announce that philanthropist and "Ultra-Accessible™" pioneer Gordon Hartman will be the keynote speaker for the 2027 APA National Conference in San Antonio, Texas, January 20 - 22. Gordon Hartman is a San Antonio-based philanthropist, former homebuilder, and the visionary founder of Morgan’s Wonderland, the world’s first Ultra-Accessible™, fully inclusive theme park.He now serves as Founder and Board Chair of Morgan’s, the nonprofit behind a growing portfolio of ventures that redefine accessibility and inclusion. Through his leadership, Gordon has inspired a global movement to create spaces where people of all abilities can thrive together. |
Conference attendees will have the opportunity to register for an optional field trip to Morgan’s Wonderland to explore the design and engineering behind the theme park. Registration will open in November. Bookmark APAaccess.org/APA-National-Conference and check back often for details as they are added. Angela Shapiro & Gene Boecker 2026 APA Education & Events Committee Co-Chairs |
Partner with us in San Antonio! We are currently seeking exhibitors and sponsors who are dedicated to advancing the field of accessibility. Email EducationDirector@APAaccess.org for more information. |
APAC Updates Congratulations to our newest APAC-BEs! APAC is proud to announce that Emmanuel Andrade and Eric Melendez have officially earned the APAC-BE certification. |
Registration is open for the APAC-BE exam at the 2026 ADA Symposium! Get certified in the built environment through the ONLY national certification. SAVE $25 when you take the paper-and-pencil exam at the 2026 ADA Symposium in Phoenix. Deadline to apply is Friday, July 7, 2026. To register and learn more about the APAC program, visit APACExam.org |
Announcing the 2026 Jim Boyce Memorial Scholarship Recipients |
by Meghan Simecek, 2026 APA Jim Boyce Memorial Scholarship Chair The Jim Boyce Memorial Scholarship Committee is pleased to announce this year’s recipients. We are thrilled to have received over 150 applications and are proud to present scholarships to two deserving students. Connor Trang is an interior design student who plans to focus his career on universal and inclusive design that is reflective of his lived experience. Mya DeAngelis is a construction management student who envisions a future where the built environment is designed to be functional and welcoming for everyone. We appreciate the continuing commitment of APA members in providing generous support for the next generation of accessibility professionals. |
Mya DeAngelis "Receiving the Jim Boyce memorial scholarship affirms my commitment to planning, designing, and building spaces that go beyond ADA requirements. I'm now able to devote more time and energy to my education and for that I'm incredibly grateful. I look forward to continuing my studies and contributing to a more accessible world.” |
Connor Trang “Receiving the Jim Boyce Memorial Scholarship from the Accessibility Professionals Association is incredibly meaningful to me as a student focused on accessibility, inclusive design, and improving how people experience the built environment. More than financial support, this scholarship represents a shared commitment to creating spaces that are thoughtful, equitable, and welcoming to all. I am honored to continue pursuing work that advances accessibility while carrying forward the values this scholarship represents.” |
APA Rocky Mountain Chapter Update by Angela Shapiro, 2026 APA Rocky Mountain Chapter President In RMC news, our recent member meeting on May 15th sparked some great discussion with attendees sharing unique features encountered on projects like gaming rooms, outdoor sports activities (bocce, cornhole, volleyball, etc.), climbing walls, plunge pools, and more. This meeting showed the value of learning from one another’s experiences. READ MORE>> |
APA Texas Chapter Update by Corey Credeur, 2026 APA Texas Chapter President Hi Texas Members! I hope you are enjoying the start to summer! We have several virtual events happening over the next several months, so mark them on your calendar and sign up when the registration opens for each one. We would love to see you there! READ MORE>> |
APA Advances New Visual Access Standards into the 2027 International Building Code by Gene Boecker, APA Past President Recently, the International Code Council (ICC) completed its 3-year code change cycle, and APA was a part of that effort. We successfully offered a modification to a proposal to add peepholes in the entry doors of hotels, motels, apartments, dormitories and similar transient and non-transient dwelling and sleeping units. READ MORE>> |
Committee Spotlight: Communications & Membership The Communications & Membership Committee works to enhance APA's visibility and grow our professional network. By driving our communications and promoting the organization to the industry, the committee ensures our mission stays front and center. They also focus on fostering member engagement through targeted outreach and retention strategies to keep our community strong and connected. Ready to get involved? Email CommunicationsDirector@APAaccess.org. |
APA Member News Congratulations to APA member Nanette Odell, founder and CEO of Life Quest Training & Consulting, LLC. Life Quest recently received the 2026 Accessibility in Aviation Champion Award! Presented by the City of Phoenix Aviation Department (Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport) to honor partners advancing accessibility, this award recognizes Life Quest’s outstanding work in identifying accessibility barriers and gathering compliance data. Congratulations to APA member Morgan Tweed, who was recently appointed by the governor's office to the Washington State Building Code Council. Have member news to share? If you or another APA member you know has recently changed roles, earned a new credential, won an industry award, or celebrated a major career milestone, we want to celebrate! Please fill out this form, and you might see your news in our next newsletter! |
Upcoming APA events Don't miss out on future APA events! Be sure to bookmark the APA calendar for all upcoming dates and details. APA Northeast Chapter Interest Group Meeting: Open-Ended Round Table on Northeast Regional Codes Date: Monday, June 15, 2026 Location: Zoom Free event for APA members; registration required. APA Texas Chapter Member Meeting: Business Basics Series Date: Monday, June 22, 2026 Location: Zoom Discussion on best practices for TDLR administrative paperwork and file management. Free event for APA Texas Chapter members; registration required. Texas Accessibility Academy Presenter: Marsha Godeaux, Jamie Hill, and Jonathan Sparks Hosted by APA Texas Chapter Dates: Tuesday & Thursday, June 23 & 25, 2026 Location: Zoom Registration open to all; APA members and Texas Chapter members receive discounts. Find out more and register here. APA Texas Chapter Webinar Date: Thursday, August 27, 2026 Location: Zoom More information and registration details coming soon. |
Thanks so much to Barbara Padilla and David Ercolano for hosting last month's APAC-BE exam info session! We're truly grateful for their knowledge, time, and energy. Visit APACexam.org to learn more about the fall APAC Academy and upcoming info sessions. |
Get Your Group Membership Discount! Does your business have five or more APA members? Request a group membership and receive a $20 per member discount on annual dues. If you don't have five members yet, convince a colleague to join! |
Welcome our new members! Click on the member's name to view their profile in our Member Directory. Not all members have public profiles. |
APA chapters All members can join a "Home Chapter" at no extra cost. For more information or to designate your Home Chapter, please email MembershipDirector@APAaccess.org. |
2026 APA Board of Directors Members may see Board minutes in the Member Hub. |
Are you in need of an accessibility specialist? Looking for a specialist to help with planning your building designs or making inspections? If so, we have the expertise you need right on our website! Check our Hire a Professional page and search our complete directory by expertise, name, or location. |
We need you! APA is seeking professionals who are interested in promoting accessibility nationwide. We would love to have you join one of the APA committees. For more information, contact MembershipDirector@APAaccess.org. |
2026 Chapter/Committee/APAC leaders Minutes from past committee meetings are available to APA members in their Member Hub. |
Advertise with APA! If you or a company you know of would benefit from reaching other accessibility professionals, consider advertising on our website or in our newsletter. Contact APA for details. |
Call for job openings! Let APA work for you! Find qualified applicants by posting your job to our Jobs Board. |
Do you have ADA, FHA, TAS, or other technical questions? It's easy to get answers via the APA members-only Forums found in your Member Hub. |
Explore new career opportunities!Don't forget to check the members-only job board in your Member Hub regularly. |
Learn more about Accessibility Professionals Association - APA |
Continuing Education: APA is a registered provider with the American Institute of Architects (AIA/CES Provider #G583), the APA Certification Program (APAC Approved Provider #101), the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR Provider #0007855 / License #PVD312), and the International Code Council (ICC Preferred Provider #1321), and it offers pre-verified credits for the ADA Coordinator Certification (ADACC). Numerous organizations, including the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, accept APA training for CE requirements; attendees are responsible for confirming course requirements for their licenses and certifications. |
The APA Newsletter is provided to share general accessibility information and other resources that may be of interest to our members and constituents. While the APA Newsletter is published by the Accessibility Professionals Association, it is not intended to draw legal conclusions, nor does it substitute for the advice of an attorney. The APA Newsletter does not speak for and does not represent the U.S. Department of Justice's interpretation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations (TDLR) interpretation of the 2012 Texas Accessibility Standards (TAS). Additionally, we provide space for advertisers, but we do not claim any knowledge of or approval of advertisers' products or services. If you have any articles for our next newsletter, please submit your articles to CommunicationsDirector@APAaccess.org. |
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