Time & Location
Dec 02, 2026, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM PT
Ed Roberts Campus
3075 Adeline St
Berkeley, CA 94703
Returning for its second year, the Disability-Forward Housing Futures Summit, hosted by The Kelsey, will build on the momentum of last year’s convening. Designed as a single-room experience, the Summit will educate and build power through collective learning and collaboration. Rooted in the core tenets of disability-forward housing, the Summit will focus on affordable, accessible, and inclusive housing. The day is divided into a three-part journey:
- Ground: The day begins with a “grounding” to establish a shared foundation, looking clearly at the current state of housing for disabled people. For new attendees, this provides necessary context; for returning participants, it’s a check-in on how the work has evolved. By defining both the progress made and the barriers that remain, we set the stage for the sessions ahead.
- Deep Dive: Next, we move into the “how” of the work. We will explore real-world examples of disability-forward housing and the partnerships that make them possible. This section connects theory with lived experience to show how disability-forward housing works in practice. We will explore complex issues and strategies for navigating common roadblocks.
- Mobilize: The day will conclude by building power to support collective action for disability-forward housing. We transition from learning to doing, providing attendees with the advocacy tools and collaborative frameworks required to drive systemic change.
Agenda & Presenters Coming Soon: We are currently finalizing our 2026 agenda and curating a diverse lineup of presenters. Full session details and presenter announcements will be released in the coming months. We will be sharing Summit announcements in Field Notes, our monthly newsletter. If you would like to receive summit updates, click here to sign up for Field Notes.
Welcome Gathering & The Kelsey Civic Center Tours: Join us at The Kelsey Civic Center the afternoon of Tuesday, December 1st, for a welcome gathering and exclusive tour of the community. It’s the perfect opportunity to connect with summit attendees and see a disability-forward housing model firsthand before we dive into Wednesday’s sessions.
Tickets
We offer a sliding-scale ticket structure to ensure the Summit is both accessible and sustainable.
Scholarship opportunities are available (see details below in the FAQs section).
If you would like assistance with registration, please email Ari at ari@thekelsey.org.
Early-Bird Ticket
Early-Bird Pricing is available until 7/31/26. Enjoy 20% off all tiers (excluding the Access tier).
In-Person Ticket
In-Person Access Tier pricing is flexible. We ask that you choose a price between $25.00 and $100.00 for your in-person Access ticket. These are limited, highly discounted tickets intended for students, disabled community members, and other participants for whom cost is a barrier. Click here to purchase an Access ticket.
Virtual Ticket
Virtual Access Tier pricing is flexible. We ask that you choose a price between $5.00 and $25.00 for your virtual Access ticket. These are highly discounted tickets intended for students, disabled community members, and other participants for whom cost is a barrier. Click here to purchase an Access ticket.
Venue Details
We’re proud to host the Disability Forward Housing Futures Summit at the internationally renowned Ed Roberts Campus (ERC), a space dedicated to disability rights and universal access. Holding the Summit at ERC underscores our commitment to — and celebration of — disability culture, advocacy, design, and access.
The Ed Roberts Campus commemorates the life and work of Edward V. Roberts, an early leader in the independent living movement of persons with disabilities. Ed believed in the strength of collaborative efforts: He called it “working toward our preferred future.”
Learn more about Ed Roberts Campus in this brief video.
FAQs
Will the Summit be accessible?
For the in-person event, the venue will include wheelchair-accessible facilities and sensory-friendly options. To learn more about ERC’s accessibility features, click here. There will be American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation and CART (live captioning). There will be outdoor seating options for lunch and for breaks. Food will be clearly labeled with all ingredients, and we plan to provide vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options. We are also happy to accommodate additional dietary needs or allergies if requested. There are accessible bathrooms and gender neutral bathrooms on the same floor as the summit. Additionally, we ask that all in-person attendees refrain from wearing scented products to the summit.
The disability community is an incredibly diverse community, made up of people who have a diverse variety of access needs. In order to protect immunocompromised and chronically ill community members, we strongly encourage in-person attendees to wear a mask during the event if able. We will also have COVID/Flu tests and masks available at the venue. If you are sick on the day of the event, we ask that you please reach out to Ari at ari@thekelsey.org, and we can support you to join via Zoom if you would like.
For the virtual event, there will also be American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation and CART (live captioning).
For both the in-person and virtual events, if you have additional access needs beyond what has been mentioned above, please share them when you register, and we will do our best to accommodate them. You may also reach out directly to Ari at ari@thekelsey.org with any questions or concerns about event accessibility.
Are scholarships available?
Yes! Scholarships are available for those who cannot afford the cost of a ticket and/or the cost of travel. Please note that there are limited in-person and travel scholarships available. If you are interested in learning more about scholarship opportunities, click here.
Are there hotel blocks or recommendations?
We are arranging a courtesy hotel block and will email all attendees once details are confirmed. Check back soon for additional lodging recommendations.
What are the transportation options?
BART: Ed Roberts Campus is located above the Ashby BART Station. Ashby Station is served by the Red Line (Richmond/Millbrae) and the Orange Line (Richmond/Berryessa). An elevator and underground walkway connect the BART concourse directly to the building’s lobby.
Bus: AC Transit line 7, and the Transbay F bus stop directly outside the campus. AC Transit lines 12, 18, 27, and 800 all stop one to two blocks away from the Campus.
Ride-Share, Paratransit & Parking: Passenger drop-offs are located in front of the building on Adeline Street. For parking, there is limited neighborhood street parking (please read all parking signs), and paid parking at the adjacent Ashby BART Station.
What is The Kelsey?
The Kelsey is a national nonprofit that advances disability-forward housing solutions that open doors to homes and opportunities for everyone. Co-led by people with and without disabilities, we both co-develop affordable, accessible, inclusive housing and lead advocacy and field-building efforts to create market conditions so inclusive housing becomes the norm. In addition to our own housing communities, we support projects, advocates, and public agencies to advance disability-forward housing solutions through technical assistance, open-source resources, and advocacy.
Event Sponsors
