The African American Conference on Disabilities (AACD), co-founded by Renaldo Fowler and David Carey, is the only comprehensive conference that addresses disability rights issues at the intersection of race and disability.
The African American Conference on Disabilities (AACD), co-founded by Renaldo Fowler and David Carey, is the only comprehensive conference that addresses disability rights issues at the intersection of race and disability.
Thank you for supporting The Virtual Summer African American Conference on Disabilities – July 14, 2026
Disability Rights Arizona (DRAZ) and their partners were proud to host the 2026 Summer Virtual African American Conference on Disabilities (AACD). It is the premiere comprehensive disability conference in the United States that addresses the intersection between race and disabilities. Since launching our virtual format in 2021, we have welcomed attendees from across Arizona, nearly every U.S. state, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Canada, Africa, and Europe—each joining to learn, engage, and ask important questions on a wide range of disability issues. The 2026 Virtual Summer conference was funded solely through private funding.
Support the 2027 Conference
The 2027 conference will be funded solely through private funding. If you would like to be part of the 2027 conference, email Jessie Barbosa jbarbosa@disabilityrightsaz.org or donate on our Donate page.
About the Conference
The African American Conference on Disabilities (AACD), co-founded by Renaldo Fowler and David Carey, is the only comprehensive conference that addresses disability rights issues at the intersection of race and disability. The conference examines avenues for self-advocacy to ensure access to necessary services and enforcement of civil rights in the African American and disability communities.
The AACD is designed to provide education and knowledge to be proactive, not reactive and for the African American community to obtain information so it will empower them and the community on how to better serve the community and themselves. Additionally, it is a platform for policymakers and providers to come and hear directly from the African American community.
The conference continues to feature outstanding content delivered by leading disability experts, lawyers, advocates, academics, and others from across the country. One of the highlights of this conference is the sharing of lived experiences and how disability and race intersect in all areas of our lives. In the past several years, over 20,000 attendees have come from across Arizona, almost every U.S. state, U.S. Virgin Islands, Canada, Africa, and Europe to learn and ask questions on a wide range of disability issues.
Thank you to our partners for their continued support: University of Arizona Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities, Arizona Statewide Independent Living Council (AZSILC), Ability360, United Healthcare Community Plan, Arizona Clean Election Commission, City of Phoenix Equal Opportunity Department and Encircle Families.
Thank you to our previous sponsors
- UnitedHealthcare Community Plan
- Arizona Complete Health
- Banner University Family Care
- Arizona Center for African American Resources
- Sickle Cell Foundation of Arizona
- Division of Developmental Disabilities, Department of Economic Security
- Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities, University of Arizona
- Institute for Human Development, Northern Arizona University
- Arizona Developmental Disabilities Planning Council
- Humana Healthy Horizons
- TD SYNNEX
- Arizona Rehabilitation Services Administration
- Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith and Family
- Foundation for Senior Living (FSL)
- Arizona Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
- Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind
- Encircle Families formerly Raising Special Kids
- Hospice of the Valley
- Salt River Project
- Mark’s The Spot Salon
- The Arc of Arizona
- All Voting is Local – Arizona
- Phoenix Professional Practice Associates, Buffy T. Wooten, Ph.D.
- DiverseAbility Incorporated
- Maricopa County Elections
- Equal Opportunity Department, City of Phoenix
- Arizona Statewide Independent Living Council
- Mayo Clinic Health Equity Partnership of Arizona
- Superstition Springs Lexus
- Arizona Bar Foundation
- Everlasting Community Services
- New Disabled South
- Black Disability Institute
- Southwest Human Development-Easterseals
- Ability360
- Arizona Disability Advocacy Coalition
- SARRC Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center
- Mercy Care
- Barrow Neurological Institute
- Arizona Mentor
- Arizona Commission of African American Affairs
- Citizens Clean Elections Commission
- Phoenix Children’s Hospital
- Arion Care
- Beacon Group
- Adelante Healthcare
- Pfizer
- Semperfi Heating Cooling and Plumbing
- College of Health Solutions ASU
- Disability Rights Arizona
Messages from Our Supporters
Ability360 – Gold Supporter
City of Phoenix Equal Opportunity Department – Silver Supporter
Arizona Clean Election Commission – Silver Supporter
United Healthcare Community Plan – Silver Supporter (visual ad)
The virtual 2026 videos and slides are available below:
Session 1: The African American Conference on Disabilities: Building a Stronger Community in an Ever-Changing Landscape
Session 2: Trauma Informed Care in Crisis Responses: What You Need to Know