Breaking Barriers: Making Our Conference Accessible to All

As we gear up for the NASPA 2025 Annual Conference in New Orleans, the Accessibility Team is excited to bring accessibility to the forefront of our efforts. This year’s theme, Nurturing Leadership and Cultivating Harmony, emphasizes our shared commitment to accessibility and inclusion across higher education. Our dedicated team has been focused on exploring how we can help each other break barriers in higher education. 

Breaking Barriers By Nurturing Leadership 

Breaking barriers is a dynamic phrase and popular jargon that is often used in our field when discussing marginalized groups who stand on the outer circle of the crowd. We must push through obstacles to be successful in student affairs. Everyone should play their part in helping advance justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in higher education. Hupel (2024) contributed to the conversation by studying how to overcome barriers for student veterans, a commonly overlooked student population, who attended small, faith-based institutions of higher education in the South. Boenitz (2024, p.6) proclaims, “the inclusion of globalization within higher education is not only a tool for higher education leaders and professionals to use to enhance their service, practice, and research but is a vital skill that must be utilized to navigate our ever-changing globally informed educational landscape.” In celebration of the annual conference’s theme, here at NASPA, we are committed to nurturing leadership and cultivating harmony within our community. 

Cultivating Harmony Through Accessibility and Inclusion

Let’s be clear, there is never going to be a time when humans will not have accessibility needs. Understanding and fighting for inclusivity are daily and lifelong personal journeys, especially for student affairs professionals. NASPA’s guiding principles involve believing that equity, inclusion, and social justice require continual pursuits. With everyone’s help in educating themselves, we can envision and prepare an inclusive, welcoming, accessible conference experience — free from feelings of marginalization, discrimination or harassment. Whether you contribute to the field like Hupel (2024) by investigating veterans’ barriers, or Boenitz (2024) by stressing the importance of inclusivity in globalization of higher education, you can do your part by learning about key accessibility features NASPA offers.

How You Can Help By Enhancing Belonging Among Fellow Attendees

Here are some simple steps you can use to create belonging in the conference convention center, host hotels, and other NASPA sponsored spaces throughout NASPA 2025 to continue our efforts of building a safe and welcoming community in student affairs:

Familiarize Yourself with Accessibility Resources 

Review NASPA’s accessibility offerings and make use of the accommodations available to you and your peers. 

Use Respectful Language

Be mindful of using person-first language (e.g., "person with a disability") and avoid assumptions about anyone’s needs.

Be Proactive in Asking

Consent is key. If you’re unsure how to support another attendee, simply ask if and how you can assist.

Provide Feedback

Our team values constructive feedback to improve accessibility features. Help NASPA continue breaking barriers by letting a staff member or volunteer know how we can create a more inclusive experience. Your input will help us create a more inclusive experience for everyone.

By making these small contributions, we work together to foster an environment where everyone is respected, supported, and empowered.