Innovation Track

The Innovation Track is a new feature of the 42nd Annual CSUN Assistive Technology Conference, created to spotlight emerging assistive technologies, accessible products, prototypes, and breakthrough ideas that have the potential to improve the lives of people with disabilities. This track provides an opportunity for innovators to share new concepts, demonstrate working solutions, and engage directly with the global assistive technology and accessibility community.

Whether you are a startup, established company, university research team, nonprofit organization, independent developer, or entrepreneur, the Innovation Track is designed to showcase technologies and ideas that are advancing accessibility through creativity, inclusive design, and innovation.

Submissions will be evaluated through a competitive peer-review process. Reviewers will consider the originality of the innovation, its accessibility and inclusive design, potential impact, technical merit, and relevance to the CSUN Assistive Technology Conference audience.

The Innovation Track Call for Submissions is now open. Visit the Innovation Track Call for Submissions page to review the submission requirements and submit your proposal.

Important Dates

  • Call for Innovation Track submissions opens on Thursday, August 13 and closes on Tuesday, September 22, 2026 at 3:00PM PT.
  • Notifications of acceptance will be sent no later than Friday, October 23, 2026.

Late submissions cannot be accepted.

What Can Be Submitted?

The Innovation Track welcomes submissions featuring new or emerging assistive technology solutions, including but not limited to:

  • Accessible hardware and devices
  • Software applications and platforms
  • Artificial intelligence (AI) solutions
  • Mobile technologies
  • Wearables
  • Robotics
  • Research prototypes
  • University-developed technologies
  • Commercial products
  • Open-source projects
  • Accessibility innovations across any disability area

Innovations may be in various stages of development, from working prototypes to recently launched products. The emphasis is on demonstrating innovation, accessibility, and meaningful impact.

What You'll Need to Submit

The online submission form will ask you to provide information about both your innovation and your planned presentation. Be prepared to provide:

  • Presenter and organization information
  • Innovation title
  • Innovation category and stage of development
  • A detailed innovation abstract
  • A brief public summary for the conference program
  • The problem or challenge your innovation addresses
  • A description of the innovation, including what makes it unique
  • Accessibility and inclusive design features
  • Your demonstration or presentation plan
  • Product availability or development status
  • Intellectual property status (optional)
  • Topic selections
  • Audience type
  • Optional supporting materials, such as brochures, white papers, images, evaluation reports, or links to demonstration videos

The information you provide will be used both for the peer-review process and, if accepted, to develop the conference program.

Presenters

Each submission can have a maximum of five presenters that mut be listed on the submission.

One of the presenters must be designated the Contact Presenter, who will receive all correspondence. Each accepted Innovation Track Submission will include a single 50% discount on Presenter Registration. The Contact Presenter will be the designated recipient of this discount.

Review Criteria

Innovation Track submissions will be reviewed using criteria that emphasize:

  • Innovation and originality
  • Accessibility and inclusive design
  • Potential impact for people with disabilities
  • Technical merit and feasibility
  • Quality of the proposed demonstration
  • Relevance to the CSUN Assistive Technology Conference audience

The strongest submissions clearly describe the problem being solved, explain how the innovation differs from existing approaches, demonstrate accessibility as a core design principle, and show how attendees will benefit from the presentation.

Presentation Expectations

If your submission is accepted, you will present your innovation during the 42nd Annual CSUN Assistive Technology Conference, held March 8–12, 2027, at the Anaheim Marriott in Anaheim, California. The conference brings together researchers, practitioners, developers, educators, disability advocates, exhibitors, and end users from around the world to explore the latest advances in assistive technology and accessibility.

Innovation Track presentations should focus on educating attendees through an engaging demonstration of the innovation rather than a sales presentation. Presenters are encouraged to provide live demonstrations, discuss lessons learned, and explain how their innovation addresses real-world accessibility challenges.

Innovation Challenge

Innovation Track participants are welcome to apply to additionally participate in the Innovation Challenge, where participants will pitch their ideas and concepts before a panel of industry leaders for consideration for the Founder's Award. The Founder's Award includes a $5,000 grant intended to support the continued development of the winning innovation. The Founder's Award recipient will be recognized during the Keynote Program. Applications for the Innovation Challenge will be made available to accepted Innovation Track submissions following the notices of acceptance.

Onsite Research and User Experience (UX)

Innovators may also request a space to conduct research, usability studies, accessibility testing, and other evaluation activities during Innovation Pavilion hours. Requests will be accepted following notice of acceptance.

Before You Begin

Before starting your submission, we recommend that you:

  • Prepare your innovation abstract and public summary.
  • Gather information about your innovation's accessibility features and development status.
  • Collect any optional supporting materials you wish to include with your submission.

Please review the entire submission form before beginning to ensure you have all of the required information available.

We look forward to learning about your innovative ideas and technologies and welcoming selected presenters to the inaugural Innovation Track at the 42nd Annual CSUN Assistive Technology Conference.

Submissions

Call for Innovation Track submissions opens on Thursday, August 13 and closes on Tuesday, September 22, 2026 at 3:00PM PT.

The Innovation Track Call for Submissions is now open. Visit the Innovation Track Call for Submissions page to review the submission requirements and submit your proposal.