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2026 APA Conference "Growing Stronger Together" Sessions

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Keynote

Wednesday 12:15 PM - 1:15 PM

Accessible Means of Egress

Wednesday 1:25 PM - 3:25 PM

Speakers
  • Kimberly Paarlberg
Summary
This seminar explores the provisions for Accessible Means of Egress (AMOE)systems provisions in the International Building Code (IBC), explaining how these systems must comply with ICC A117.1 and the 2010 ADA Standards. Intermediate level

Lived Experience: Lessons from Above the Standard

Wednesday 3:40 PM - 5:10 PM

Speakers
  • Kori Allen
  • Karen Braitmayer
  • Joshua Klyber
  • Marsha Mazz
  • Sarah Presley
Summary
This panel discussion features accessibility experts who will share their lived experiences (including mobility, blindness, stature, and neurodivergency) to offer unique insights. The informal format aims to go beyond minimum standards by exploring the rationale and design provisions that truly improve accessibility. Intermediate level

Behind the Paperwork: Ownership Research and State Processes Demystified

Breakout 1 Thursday 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Speakers
  • Jonathan Sparks
  • Marsha Godeaux
Summary
This session takes a deep dive into the essential documentation and state procedures surrounding ownership verification and compliance within the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) process. We’ll walk through the acceptable documents that must accompany the Limited Liability Ownership (LLO) form, discuss how to address discrepancies between County Appraisal District records and client-provided information, and clarify what TDLR looks for when verifying a signor’s authority on the LLO form. Attendees will also learn the correct steps to follow in the Texas Architectural Barriers online System (TABS) when ownership changes occur, and understand the potential penalties that owners, Registered Accessibility Specialists (RAS), and designers may face if required documentation is incomplete or missing. By the end of this session, participants will have a practical roadmap for ensuring accuracy, compliance, and accountability in every stage of the ownership research and submittal process. Intermediate level

Accessibility and Historic Buildings: Conflicts and Opportunities

Breakout 1 Thursday 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Speakers
  • Gina Hilberry
Summary
Historic buildings present unique compliance and access challenges. Using case studies, we will look at creative solutions to the conflicting requirements that are common to this work. Intermediate level

2017 A117.1 Significant Changes

Breakout 2 Thursday 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM

Speakers
  • Kimberly Paarlberg
Summary
This course offers an overview of the major changes from the 2009 to the 2017 A117.1 Accessibility Standard. It identifies important revisions to the organization of the standard, including changes and new technical provisions for accessible elements, as well as the applicability of these requirements to design, plan review, and inspection. Intermediate level

Alterations: A Review of Requirements in the ADA Standards

Breakout 2 Thursday 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM

Speakers
  • Sarah Presley
Summary
Alterations: A Review of Requirements in the ADA Standards Speaker: Sarah Presley This presentation will outline the requirements in the 2010 Americans with Disabilities ACT (ADA) Standards for alterations to existing facilities. Introductory level

Starting Your Own Business: Best Practices and Lessons Learned

Breakout 3 Thursday 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM

Speakers
  • Kimberly Goss
  • Nanette Odell
  • James Terry
  • John Torkelson
  • Shannon Black
Summary
If you've just started or want to start your own business, you don't want to miss this panel discussion from entrepreneur experts. Come prepared to hear how they started, what they would have done differently, what they've learned, and best practices for getting started. Introductory level

Inspector Skills (Part 1)

Breakout 3 Thursday 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM

Speakers
  • Tim Ryan
Summary
This course addresses the soft skills essential for construction inspectors to excel in their mission to ensure safe, code-compliant buildings for the public. Introductory level

Tools of the Trade: Accessibility Review Platforms

Breakout 4 Thursday 3:40 PM - 5:40 PM

Speakers
  • Joshua Kuphal
  • Leah Schoelles
Summary
This presentation will familiarize attendees with the unique characteristics of BlueBeam Revu and its practical application in reviewing drawings as part of providing accessibility consulting services. The course will also explore the features of Autodesk Construction Cloud’s (ACC) software called Build and its potential for recording site observations and issuing field reports. Intermediate level Important Note: This course was previously offered as a webinar by APA. Depending on the rules of your licensing agency, credit may not be available for repeated courses.

Inspector Skills (Part 2)

Breakout 4 Thursday 3:40 PM - 5:40 PM

Speakers
  • Tim Ryan
Summary
This course addresses the soft skills essential for construction inspectors to excel in their mission to ensure safe, code-compliant buildings for the public. Introductory level

Tech Talk:Thorny Accessibility Issues: Apartment Projects

Friday 7:40 AM - 8:40 AM

Speakers
  • Jim Safranek
Summary
Tech Talk: Thorny Accessibility Issues: Apartment Projects Speaker: Jim Safranek, APA Tech Standards Committee The presentation will address a handful of highly challenging accessibility issues (with unique attributes) that accessibility consultants often encounter when reviewing privately funded apartment projects. Presentation attendees will be encouraged to engage on the various issues and participate in a discussion, sharing their related knowledge and experience, to provide a broader, richer perspective on the matter. Advanced level

Follow-Up Q&A Panel: TDLR Ownership Verification and Compliance

Breakout 5A 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Speakers
  • Marsha Godeaux
Summary
This will be a Q&A follow-up session designed to provide clear, authoritative answers to questions arising from Thursday's course, 'Behind the Paperwork: Ownership Research and State Processes Demystified.' To ensure the most productive use of time, questions will be gathered and vetted following Thursday's session. Intermediate level

The Accessible Accreditation Program: Critical Re-direction in Designer Education

Breakout 5B 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Speakers
  • Richard Sternadori
Summary
The Accessible Accreditation Program (AAP) is a long-overdue initiative proposing that architectural schools and their national accreditation agencies incorporate learning objectives based on the foundational principles of the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design, the International Code Council model codes, and the ICC/ANSI A117.1. The AAP aims to better educate future architects by ensuring educational outcomes emphasizing the core philosophies of accessible design, and that the national accreditation systems recognize the codes and the ADA regulations as essential texts. The participants learn and discuss the AAP Essential Strategies Tutorial, a study guide for academic curricula, accreditation protocols, and relevant examinations. Advanced level

Tech Talks: Texas Caucus 2026

Breakout 5A 10:05 AM - 11:05 AM

Speakers
  • Corey Credeur
Summary
Course participants will engage in a discussion session on topics that RASs frequently encounter. Intermediate level

When Firmness and Stability Count: Adopting a Field Test Method for 302

Breakout 6 Friday 11:15 AM - 12:45 PM

Speakers
  • Bill Botten
  • Jennifer Skulski
Summary
How do you really know if the surface material for an exterior accessible route, a pedestrian trail, shared use path, within a pedestrian access route, picnic area, or playground really is firm and stable as required by the accessibility standards? In this session, leading national experts on park and recreation access, Bill and Jennifer will present the RESNA proposed standard and field test protocol to measure the firmness and stability of ground surfaces. Intermediate level

Universal Design of Airports: Beyond the ADA

Breakout 6 Friday 11:15 AM - 12:45 PM

Speakers
  • Joshua Klyber
Summary
Airports are coming under additional scrutiny regarding inclusionary practices, and their design now requires them to go above and beyond ADA compliance. This presentation details many of the current universal design best practices in airport design using Portland, SeaTac, and others as examples. Addressing wayfinding, ticketing, lounges, sensory and multi-faith rooms, we will address critical elements to incorporate and pitfalls to avoid. Additionally, there will be a brief introduction to the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification (RHFAC) and how it is being applied at airports. Introductory level
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