CREATE and our partners hold a few hackfests/hackathons each year. These events are intended to be fun, challenging, and accessible opportunities to generate new research ideas, pursue solutions to accessibility problems, work with mentors and peers, and gain new skills.
CREATE Accessibility Hackathon, Summer 2026
We are excited to announce the 2026 CREATE Accessibility Hackathon at the UW Paul G. Allen Center for Computer Science and Engineering!
Friday, July 31 and Saturday, August 1
Bill and Melinda Gates Center (CSE2) | Directions and Parking
Everyone is welcome; Not just for developers
We especially encourage people with lived experience of disability to join us. Does this describe you? Then your perspective is essential to building an accessible future.
If you have advanced experience with generative AI and building software, fabrication, or other tools—or if you're brand new to coding or have never even heard of hacking—there's a meaningful role for you:
- Brainstorming ideas
- Writing or vibe-coding
- Leading or joining a project team
- Participating in workshops
- Mentoring others
Can't make the whole event? No problem: join for the parts that work for your schedule. Virtual options available for some sessions.
Schedule
The schedule is still tentative. Stay tuned for updates!
Friday, July 31
9 a.m.
Food and Meet & Greet. In-person only.
10 a.m.
Introductory session about the potential of AI for accessibility.
Virtual attendance option.11:30 a.m.
Brainstorming project ideas. In-person only.
12 p.m.
Lunch. In-person only.
1 - 5 p.m.
Workshops and/or Worktime. In-person only.
5 p.m.
Food + mentorship session to finalize project ideation and group formation. In-person only.
Saturday, August 1
10 a.m.
Presentation (tentative).
Virtual attendance option.11 a.m.
Worktime. Hybrid based on team preference.
Virtual attendance option.12 p.m.
Lunch + casual feedback from mentors.
1- 4 p.m.
Worktime. Hybrid based on team preference.
Virtual attendance option.4 p.m.
Final presentations. In person only.
Hackathon Accessibility Chair and contact
The Accessibility Chair’s goal is to ensure the conference is accessible to everyone. Contact the Accessibility Chair as early as possible if you have special requests or questions not covered here.
Jennifer Mankoff, create-contact@uw.edu
Accessibility Q&As
Contact the Accessibility Chair as early as possible if you have questions or special requests not covered here.
Event contact information
Event contact informationThe conference registration form includes a question asking about access needs.
In your response, please indicate any accessibility needs such as wheelchair access, sign language interpretation, or a guide. The Accessibility Chair will follow up with you to clarify your needs.
More information about accessibility at the Paul G. Allen School is available on their accessibility information page.
Please contact the Accessibility Chair to discuss your specific needs with the venue directly.
If there is specific accessibility information you would like to see here, or if you wish to discuss any conference accessibility requirements, please contact our Accessibility Chair and someone will respond to you shortly.
For information about Seattle accessibility, including public transport, see Seattle Accessible Travel Guide or contact Citywide ADA Coordinator via email at adacoordinator@seattle.gov or by phone at (206) 684-2489.
Event format: what to expect
Event format - What to expectThe elevator opens straight into the venue space. The bathroom is close to the elevator. The only ramp you’ll need/encounter is at the 1st floor entrance.
Please contact the Accessibility Chair as early as possible if you have further questions or special requests.
Yes, microphones will be used for all speakers. Attendees with questions will be requested to use a microphone so that their question is more easily heard.
Venue: what to expect
Venue - What to expectFor the overall layout of the venue, refer to the maps on this page.
- Friday’s events will be on the 4th floor of the CSE II (Gates) building. The 4th floor has a bathroom, two event rooms, and an entry room.
- Saturday’s events will be held in the bottom floor (Ground) of the same building.
We are still working on an evacuation plan for attendees with mobility limitations.
See our other FAQs for more details about wheelchair or power scooter access, provisions for presenters, restrooms, walking and steps, and facilities for assistance animals.
There is an accessible stall in the 4th floor bathroom. We are still working on a description of the restrooms.
The entire conference venue is a no-smoking area. The University of Washington (UW) Seattle campus is strictly smoke- and vape-free.
The event will not use loud music, strobe lighting, or flash photography.
The UW has an on-campus hospital system. If you require non-urgent medical care, please contact the Accessibility Chair or ask any student volunteer. They will provide you with information about local doctors, specialists, chiropractors, etc.Non-resident attendees are encouraged to consider buying travel insurance that covers medical expenses, as fees for emergency treatment can be very high.
Accessibility and accommodations
Accessibility and accommodationsThe conference will provide a team of sign language interpreters or captioners if requested by any attendees during the early registration period.
Please make your request as early as possible. Our Accessibility Chair will follow up with you to discuss your needs in more detail. After July 16, 2026 (the deadline for early registration), a best effort will be made to accommodate requests, but we cannot guarantee that interpreters or captioners will be available.Student volunteers will be available to assist attendees with disabilities with navigation, meal service, or other accessibility needs.
If you will need volunteer assistance at the conference, please indicate this on your conference registration form.Attendees who require personal care assistance should bring their own assistant. Personal care assistants do not need to register for the conference. If the assistant will be having food and drink provided by the conference during coffee/tea breaks, lunches, and/or the reception, we ask that these be added into the attendee’s registration at the ‘extra options’ stage of the registration process.
There are no extra steps needed for presenting. There will be a podium. Tall chairs and short chairs are both available. The 4th floor event space has no stages; everything should be wheelchair accessible.
If you would like a student volunteer to operate slides or guide you onto and off the stage, or have other accessibility requests please contact our Accessibility Chair by July 16, 2026.
Yes! Guide dogs and other service animals are welcome at the CREATE Accessibility Hackathon. A relief area with water will be available. A grassy area is across the street from the building.
Please indicate on your registration form if you anticipate bringing a service animal to the conference.
We are sorry, but the CREATE Accessibility Hackathon will not be able to accommodate remote attendance by robot.
Induction loops are not available.
Gates 274 (the Paul & Jessica Mikesell Conference Room, map below) is reserved as a quiet space. On Saturday, attendees will need to be escorted to and from the room.
Yes, the conference will be accessible to wheelchair users. The 4th floor event space has no stages, everything should be wheelchair accessible. There is an accessible stall in the 4th floor bathroom.
Access to the 4th floor:
- First floor entry: There are stairs straight ahead and a ramp to the left. Go up the ramp to the elevators on your right.
- Ground floor entry: Flat all the way to the elevator.
Note: We are still working on an evacuation plan for attendees with mobility limitations.
Food and meals
Food and mealsTentative plans for food:
Friday:- 9:00 – Coffee and light food during Meet and Greet
- Noon – Buffet lunch, with dishes labeled
- 5:00 – Pizza during Mentorship session
Saturday:
- Noon – Lunch and networking
If you have special dietary needs, please indicate these clearly on your registration form.
Further questions? Contact the Accessibility Chair.
Yes, attendees who indicate special dietary requirements on their registration form will be provided with special meals when the conference catering does not accommodate them.
If you have a severe allergy, please indicate this on your registration form. For more detailed information, contact the Accessibility Chair.
Travel directions and parking
Travel directions and parkingRefer to these web pages for details:
- CREATE Event Directions and Parking for detailed directions and accessible parking information, plus walking directions from parking lots
- The Allen School’s Getting Here page for further information on travel from downtown or Seatac Airport
- UW Seattle maps for interactive maps of the UW Seattle campus
Venue maps
Zillow Commons
Quiet room, Gates 274
Questions?
Reach out to create-contact@uw.edu.
Join our mailing list to get announcements for future hackfests and hackathons.
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