Let’s Innovate,
Chicago!
Accessibility Ideathon
Saturday, April 5th, 2025 | Google Office (320 N. Morgan Street)
Join passionate tech enthusiasts, connect with top companies, and compete for awards in one exciting event. Registration closes on March 25th. This Hackathon is for individuals with and without diabilities to hack for accessibility.
High School Students and Schools:
University Students and Professionals:
This Year’s Theme
Not About Us
Without Us
Code Your Dreams and Deaf Kids Code have joined forces for this year’s hackathon. Teams will develop solutions that aim to drive accessibility in today’s world.
With efforts like these, we hope to bridge the severe economic and social gaps that exist among the deaf community through the promotion and cultivation of computing and technology skills.
In addition to university and professional tracks, a high school tracks will be available for students from Code Your Dreams and Deaf Kids Code.
ABOUT THIS EVENT
We’re a 1-day event where Chicago technologists come together to work on software and/or hardware concepts that make a difference for communities. We welcome technologists of all levels — whether you’re a student, an entry-level professional, or a CTO, we want to see you here! This year, we’re in-person at Google’s Chicago (West Loop) office on April 5th, 2025. Tickets include breakfast, lunch, networking opportunities with technology professionals and recruiters, and prize opportunities.
Available Tracks:
Get ready to showcase your skills and compete with the best in our exciting event! We are thrilled to announce that we will have three competition tracks:
Whether you're just starting out or you're a seasoned pro, there's a track for you to show off your talents and compete for great prizes. We can't wait to see what innovative and groundbreaking ideas you bring to the table! Join us and be a part of an incredible event that celebrates inclusion and the power of innovation.
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High school teams will consist of participants in Code Your Dreams and Deaf Kids Code academic year programming.
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The university track aims to offer an opportunity for students who are currently enrolled in various educational programs, such as colleges, universities, community colleges, bootcamps, and certification programs, including graduate programs.
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This track is open to professionals that work in any role or any industry. It’s important that we include people from diverse backgrounds such as business, product, technology, and research.
AN IN-PERSON EXPERIENCE YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS!
8:30AM: Breakfast, Networking and Keynote
Hear an inspiring keynote from leader, educator, and the first deaf Miss Austin, Rebecca Giuntoli. Network with fellow participants over a breakfast spread, and get ready for a day of innovation and excitement. Tables from sponsors and community partners will be available for you to learn more about the innovation ecosystem in Chicago.
10AM: Team Building and Hacking Begins
Mix and mingle with technologists of all levels. Find a team to start hacking with. You'll have the opportunity to work alongside other talented individuals, and together, you'll use your skills and creativity to build solutions that make the world a more accessible place. With expert mentors on hand to guide you, this is an opportunity you won't want to miss.
3PM: Presentations and Prizes
Get ready for an inspiring and exhilarating finale to our accessibility hackathon - the presentations and prizes portion of the event. The teams will showcase their cutting-edge solutions that aim to make the world a more accessible place, and our panel of judges will assess them based on various criteria. The top teams will be awarded exciting prizes and gain recognition for their contributions to accessibility.
Thank You To Our Sponsors!
Hear from our Keynote!
Pre-Hackathon Events
Join us for a series of online events designed to help you prepare for the upcoming ideathon on March 9th. Our goal is to equip participants with the tools and knowledge needed to innovate in the accessibility space. Through these events, you'll gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by people with disabilities, and learn about the latest trends, technologies, and solutions that are making a difference. We'll also provide guidance on how to approach the ideathon, including tips on brainstorming and prototyping your ideas. Whether you're a seasoned innovator or new to the field, these events will give you the confidence and skills to make a real impact in the world of accessibility.
In the meantime, watch recordings from last year’s event!
Prototyping with Balsamiq
March 21st at 5PM | Online
Learn how to utilize Balsamiq for prototyping your technology ideas! Attendees will receive a 90-day extended free trial.
March 29th at 6PM | Online
Learn about Brendan's work as a deaf inspirational speaker and leader in accessibility technology at Meta, and explore how we can drive innovation to empower individuals and create a more equitable playing field for all.
Leading Accessible Teams with Brenden Gilbert
Why Accessibility Isn’t Complete Without Considering Neurodiversity with Jen Goubeaud
March 30th at 2PM | Online
Many discussions about accessibility and accessible products leave out people who are neurodivergent. With upwards of 20% of the population being neurodivergent, it's important to bring these voices to the table to ensure that we are creating products that are usable for all people. This means considering attention span, focus, memory, processing speed, and other neurocognitive functions when designing and creating digital spaces and content.
Building Assistive Technology with Patrick Andrade
March 30th at 5PM | Online
Learn about Patrick's work at the Chicago Lighthouse, a world-renowned organization serving the blind, visually impaired, disabled and Veteran communities.
Meet our Judges from 2023
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Dr. Ryan M. Corey
RESEARCH SCIENTIST AT THE DISCOVERY PARTNERS INSTITUTE | ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING AT UIC
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Cattalyya Nuengsigkapian
SOFTWARE ENGINEER III AT GOOGLE AR (PERCEPTION) | MIT ALUM WITH HCI EXPERIENCE AT MIT CSAIL AND MIT MEDIA LAB
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Alex Perez-Garcia
MBA CONSULTANT AT AWS | PODCAST HOST AT BUSINESS BEYOND USUAL | APPLEBAUM IMPACT DESIGN FELLOW | MBA/MPP CANDIDATE @ MICHIGAN ROSS & FORD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY
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Tina Childress
AUDIOLOGIST | LATE-DEAFENED ADULT | ADJUNCT INSTRUCTOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS | ADVOCATE AND PROFESSIONAL SPEAKER | CONSULTANT/TRAINER AND COCHLEAR IMPLANT OUTREACH SPECIALIST
Judging Criteria
Impact: How much does the project improve accessibility for people with disabilities or different abilities? How many people will benefit from the solution?
Innovation: Does the project offer a novel solution to a problem faced by people with disabilities or different abilities? Does it bring a new and creative approach to accessibility?
Usability: How easy is it to use the solution? How user-friendly is the design and interface?
Technical Merit: How well is the solution executed from a technical perspective? How well does it utilize technology to improve accessibility?
Scalability: Can the solution be easily adopted by a large number of people or organizations? How easy is it to scale and implement on a larger scale?
Presentation: How well is the solution presented and communicated to the judges and audience? How effectively does the team demonstrate its impact, innovation, and potential for real-world use?
Feasibility: Is the solution practical and achievable within the constraints of time and resources available at the hackathon?
FAQs
Who can participate in this hackathon?
The Hackathon is open to everyone, but pre-registration is required. You must register by buying a ticket at least 5 days in advance via this event page. You can be a developer, designer, biz dev person, idea person, student, or anything in between. There are high school, university, and professionals tracks.
What are examples of the types of projects that can be worked on?
Assistive Technology: Teams can develop assistive technology devices or software that help people with disabilities perform daily tasks more easily.
Website and App Accessibility: Teams can work on making websites and mobile applications more accessible for users with visual, auditory, or motor impairments.
Accessible Gaming: Teams can develop video games or game accessories that are inclusive for people with disabilities.
Accessible Transportation: Teams can focus on creating accessible transportation solutions, such as ride-sharing apps, for people with disabilities.
Accessible Smart Home: Teams can work on developing smart home technology that is accessible for people with disabilities.
Augmented Reality for Accessibility: Teams can create AR applications that help people with disabilities navigate their surroundings or perform tasks more easily.
These are just a few examples of the many types of projects that can be tackled at an accessibility-focused hackathon. The goal is to develop innovative solutions that improve accessibility and empower people with disabilities.
What types on projects can be worked on?
At a hackathon, teams have the opportunity to tackle a wide range of projects, including web applications, mobile apps, wearable technology, data visualizations, algorithms, and even visual presentations or mock-ups in video format. For a hackathon focused on accessibility, teams can work on projects that aim to make technology and services more accessible for people with disabilities or with different abilities.
Who owns the technology that each team produces?
While the team members who work on a project own the resulting technology, simply being part of the team at the hackathon does not grant ownership of any code or intellectual property that may be generated by team members or others in the future. Ideas shared at the hackathon are considered to be in the public domain and attendees are not required to sign non-disclosure agreements. It's important to keep in mind that a hackathon is a fast-paced, collaborative event, and if you're concerned about protecting your startup idea, this may not be the best forum for its debut.
Can I request accommodations?
Thank you for considering attending our event. We want to make sure that everyone is able to participate fully, so please let us know if you require any accommodations. We are happy to provide ASL interpreters, wheelchair-accessible facilities, and any other accommodations that would make it possible for you to attend. Please don't hesitate to let us know what you need, and we will do our best to ensure that you can fully participate in the event.
Is parking available?
We recommend taking public transportation whenever possible. The Morgan CTA station (Green and Pink lines) is one block from the office.
For those driving, there is a paid, public parking garage at 1K Fulton which is under our building. Otherwise, there is typically plenty of paid street parking in the blocks surrounding the office.
How do I form a Hackathon team?
You can form a hackathon team before the hackathon (either with friends/co-workers or you can find team members at the event.
What is the Code of Conduct for this event?
We expect everyone involved, including attendees, sponsors, partners, volunteers, and staff, to contribute to creating an environment that is inclusive and respectful to all, regardless of race, gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, national origin, ethnicity, or religion. Any form of harassment, including offensive comments, verbal threats, sexually suggestive images, intimidation, stalking, harassing photography or recording, disruption of sessions or events, and unwanted physical contact or attention, will not be tolerated at the event or online.
All participants, including attendees, speakers, sponsors, and volunteers, are expected to adhere to the Code of Conduct during the hackathon, including any related social events and online communities. Any individual asked to stop their harassing behavior is expected to comply immediately.
We appreciate the efforts of all participants in maintaining a welcoming, respectful, and inclusive environment at the hackathon.
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Looking for inspiration?
Watch some of our high school students as they pitch apps they’ve built in previous programs.