Designed for organizations interested in inclusion, this year's intensive will specifically feature disabled perspectives on the ethical use of AI in accessible communications.
Apply by 6/26 ››Learn to
The cost of our one-week training is $500. Thanks to the generous support of the Borealis Philanthropies' Disability Inclusion Fund, partial scholarships are available to disabled participants with financial needs.
Our virtual intensive kicks off on Sunday, July 26, 2026, the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. It continues that week with two-hour sessions on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings, concluding with a certificate presentation.
This intensive is designed specifically for digital practitioners working independently or working within groups interested in inclusion: no prior experience in accessibility is required. Participants will workshop current projects by integrating cutting-edge tactics.
Our annual intensive is facilitated by our founder, Jess Moore Matthews. In addition to her role at Backbone, Jess teaches digital accessibility at New York University. She'll be joined by disabled instructors from Purdue, Georgetown, and more.
In addition to receiving a certificate, all participants who complete the intensive are invited to join the Backbone Creative Network. This network of accessibility-trained collaborators supports Backbone and its partners in paid projects throughout the year.
This virtual intensive includes both American Sign Language (ASL) Interpretation and CART captioning for all participants. Other access needs will be surveyed prior to the intensive so that all can fully engage.
As more and more organizations are sued for inaccessible content each year, "AI hype" continues to blur the lines between which tools help and which tools harm. Backbone aims to help digital leaders navigate this changing landscape with care and confidence.