What Teach Access does

Teach Access is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN #86-1697668) founded in April 2016 and headquartered in Michigan (Grand Rapids / East Lansing), with a small team of 1-10 employees. The organization is purpose-built to bridge the digital accessibility skills gap between higher education and industry by helping students and educators embed accessibility and universal design principles into curricula across disciplines including computer science, graphic design, human-computer interaction, instructional technology, technical writing, and UX design. Its programmatic portfolio includes the Teach Access Fellowship, Teach Access by Design (facilitated course on Canvas), Teach Access Grants ($5,000 curriculum development awards totaling more than $350,000 since inception), Student Academy (monthly virtual webinars), the Student Ambassadors Program, the Faculty Fellowship Program, and the Study Away experiential learning program (Silicon Valley and virtual variants). Free supporting resources include seven self-paced courses, a Curriculum Repository, an Accessibility Skills Hiring Toolkit, and an AI and Accessibility Toolkit.

Teach Access does not develop a commercial technology product; rather, its "technology" is a curated open-education content stack delivered primarily through its website (teachaccess.org) and Canvas LMS. The organization operates a unique trilateral collaboration model linking major technology industry members (Microsoft, Google, Verizon, Salesforce, Meta, Adobe, Apple, Oracle, Walmart, Intuit, Yahoo), higher-education institutions (MSU as founding academic partner, plus Cornell, Stanford, University of Colorado Boulder, Olin College, University System of Maryland, University of Southampton, and others), and disability advocacy organizations (American Foundation for the Blind, World Institute on Disability, Knowbility, PEAT, The Valuable 500). It has reached 1.5 million+ students across 350+ schools in 66 countries and 500+ educators as of 2026, with a stated 2030 target of 1 million+ students.

The business model is a nonprofit sponsorship-and-grant model rather than a commercial sales motion. All programs and resources are provided free of charge. Revenue is sourced from (1) corporate sponsorships from major technology firms, (2) foundation grants (Reader's Digest Partners for Sight Foundation, Ability Central, New York Community Trust, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, CTA Foundation), and (3) individual donations through the Building Bridges Collective. Governance is provided by an independent Board of Directors whose members include senior figures from Google, P&G, CTA Foundation, Knowbility, and the disability rights community. Distribution is self-serve via the Teach Access website and amplified by corporate sponsor channels. The organization has earned a Charity Navigator 4-star rating and Candid Platinum Transparency 2026 seal, and has won recognition from the FCC Chairman's Award, Knowbility, and the Shorty Awards.

Name

Teach Access

Legal name

Teach Access

Website

https://teachaccess.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Teach Access is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that bridges the digital accessibility skills gap by helping higher-education students and educators integrate accessibility and universal design into curricula, serving 1.5M+ students across 66 countries with free programs funded by corporate sponsors and foundation grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital Accessibility Education

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Open Accessibility & Inclusive OER (UDL, alt formats) (EDAGAJAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Accessibility for Live Instruction (Live Captions, Transcription, Translation) (EDAFABAL)

Keywords

• Digital accessibility education
• Accessibility curriculum development
• Disability inclusion training
• Faculty professional development
• Accessibility skills training

Headquarters

HQ city

Eaton Rapids

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Corporate Sponsorship: Teach Access relies heavily on corporate sponsorships from technology companies (Google, Microsoft, Verizon, Salesforce, Meta, Yahoo, etc.) who fund programs and keep resources free. Corporate sponsors also provide volunteers and industry expertise.
2. Grants and Foundation Funding: Grants from foundations including Reader's Digest Partners for Sight Foundation, Ability Central, and the New York Community Trust. Grants fund specific programs such as curriculum development awards, Summer Institute, and Study Away.
3. Individual Donations: Individual giving program called the Building Bridges Collective, supporting all Teach Access programs and initiatives. One-time and recurring gift options available.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Teach Access is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that bridges the digital accessibility skills gap between higher education and industry. It offers free educational programs, fellowships, grants, study-away experiences, self-paced courses, curriculum repositories, and toolkits that help educators integrate accessibility into their courses and connect students with accessibility-focused career opportunities. All programs and resources are provided at no cost to students and educators.

Product overview

Teach Access is a nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive suite of educational programs and free resources focused on bridging the digital accessibility skills gap in higher education. The portfolio consists of several interconnected programs: Teach Access Fellowship provides professional development opportunities; Teach Access by Design offers facilitated online courses in Canvas for educators; Teach Access Grants funds curriculum development ($5,000 awards totaling over $350,000); Student Academy delivers virtual monthly webinars; Student Ambassadors Program builds campus advocacy; and the Study Away Program provides experiential learning in Silicon Valley. Supporting resources include Self-Paced Accessibility Courses (7 free online courses), the Accessibility Skills Hiring Toolkit, Curriculum Repository (open education resources), Faculty Fellowship Program (year-round professional development), and AI and Accessibility Toolkit. All programs aim to ensure students enter the workforce with knowledge of accessibility principles so technology products are born accessible.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Teach Access Fellowship Fellowship program providing professional development, collaboration, networking, and funding opportunities for educators and students focused on digital accessibility.
• Teach Access by Design A facilitated online course introducing educators and administrators to basic concepts related to disability, accessibility, and Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Participants are guided through learning resources, activities, and discussions to understand how these concepts apply to their disciplines.
• Teach Access Grants Grant program supporting educators in creating innovative course materials that develop a workforce skilled in making technology usable by people with disabilities. The program has totaled more than $350,000 since inception with $5,000 individual awards.
• Student Academy A free series of virtual monthly webinars for students to explore topics on disability and accessibility. Open to any students enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program at a college or university.
• Study Away Program Experiential learning program bringing together students, faculty, and industry partners to explore the field of accessible technology design and development. The program includes visits to tech company campuses and team-based project challenges.
• Self-Paced Accessibility Courses Seven free, self-guided courses introducing faculty to disability, accessibility, and accessible design across various disciplines including Computer Science, Graphic Design, Human Computer Interaction, Instructional Technology, Technical Writing, and UX Design.
• Accessibility Skills Hiring Toolkit Toolkit to help organizations build internal capacity for producing accessible digital products by developing a knowledgeable and skilled workforce. Contains sample position description language for adding accessibility responsibilities and qualifications to job postings.
• Curriculum Repository Free collection of open education resources such as syllabi, slide decks, assignment props, discussion questions, and quizzes developed by faculty to support teaching accessibility to students in a wide variety of disciplines.
• Student Ambassadors Program Program engaging students from across disciplines and institutions to learn about disability and accessibility, build a community of inquiry, and develop projects to advocate for accessibility in their institutions.
• Faculty Bootcamps Faculty training bootcamps launched at universities across the country to train faculty on accessibility fundamentals, beginning at Michigan State and University of Michigan.
• AI and Accessibility Toolkit Toolkit providing considerations for higher education regarding AI and accessibility, helping educators understand how to integrate AI tools while maintaining accessibility standards.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1.5 million+ students reached across 350+ schools in 66 countries with digital accessibility education
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• MicrosoftcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 November 2025Microsoft serves as the Presenting Sponsor of the 2026 Teach Access Student Academy and provides keynote speaker Jenny Lay-Flurrie. Microsoft has a longstanding partnership with Teach Access, providing industry expertise, volunteers, participating in Study Away programs, and collaborating on curriculum. Microsoft also works with Teach Access to change accreditation language so accessibility is included in all courses.
• Procter & GamblemajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 22 September 2025Sam Latif, Procter & Gamble's first Company Accessibility Leader, joined the Teach Access Board of Directors in October 2025, representing P&G's commitment to accessibility.
• Lainey FeingoldmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 September 2025Disability rights lawyer and author Lainey Feingold joined the Teach Access Board of Directors in April 2023, bringing legal and advocacy expertise. She co-edited the book 'Digital Accessibility Ethics: Disability Inclusion in All Things Tech' published May 2026.
• The Valuable 500majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 September 2025Teach Access is partnering with The Valuable 500 to upskill students with the curriculum and experience needed to design an inclusive world. Caroline Casey, founder of The Valuable 500, mentioned Teach Access during a Harkin Institute webinar.
• MicrosoftcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 February 2025Teach Access collaborated with Microsoft to develop a comprehensive course on accessibility education on MS Learn platform, announced February 2025. This follows Microsoft's five-year plan to expand accessibility in technology and workforce.
• University System of Maryland (William E. Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 February 2025Teach Access announced its newest Academic Hub at the University System of Maryland's William E. Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation. The collaboration aims to advance accessibility in higher education through research, faculty fellowships, and innovative pedagogy.
• Coursera (via University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 September 2023Marc Thompson from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign provided free access to the Coursera course 'An Introduction to Accessibility and Inclusive Design' for all students participating in the Spring 2023 Virtual Study Away program.
• VerizoncoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 September 2023Verizon is a corporate sponsor of the Teach Access Student Academy and has committed to upskilling students through scaling Teach Access, as announced in their disability advisory board initiatives. Verizon focuses on scaling Teach Access to reach more students.
• Yahoo (Verizon Media)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 September 2023Yahoo (operating as Verizon Media) is a corporate sponsor of the Student Academy and has been an industry partner since the beginning, participating in Study Away programs and providing industry expertise.
• SalesforcemajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 September 2023Salesforce is a corporate sponsor of the Teach Access Student Academy and has been an industry member since early years of the organization.
• Meta (Facebook)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 September 2023Meta (formerly Facebook) is a corporate sponsor of the Student Academy. Meta has been an industry partner from the beginning, with Jeff Wieland (Director of Accessibility at Facebook) involved from the early days. Facebook hosted the final day of the inaugural Study Away Silicon Valley program.
• University of Southampton (Centre for Research in Inclusion)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2023Teach Access partnered with University of Southampton's Centre for Research in Inclusion's Teaching Accessibility team to host an international gathering of accessibility educators on GAAD 2021, with participants from 16 universities across 6 countries.
• Michigan State University (MSU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 April 2023Teach Access partnered with Michigan State University's Experience Architecture (XA) undergraduate program to co-sponsor an intern. MSU is the founding academic partner; Executive Director Kate Sonka came from MSU. The partnership supports projects to enhance students' understanding of digital accessibility.
• World Institute on Disability (WID)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021WID participated as a guest speaker in the Teach Access Student Career Development Series 2022, presenting on careers in disability advocacy.
• American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021AFB participated as a guest speaker in the Teach Access Student Career Development Series 2022. AFB's CTO Matthew Janusauskas was appointed to Verizon's Disability Advisory Board, and AFB is a member organization of Teach Access.
• ApplecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 July 2018Apple joined as an industry member of Teach Access in 2018 and participated in Study Away Silicon Valley 2019, providing campus visits and industry engagement for students.
• OraclemajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 July 2018Oracle joined as an industry member of Teach Access in 2018, contributing to the industry-academia-advocacy collaborative.
• WalmartcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 July 2018Walmart joined as an industry member in 2018. Walmart participated in Study Away 2019 campus visits and provided guest speakers for the Student Career Development Series 2022.
• KnowbilitymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2018Knowbility joined as a member in 2017. Sharron Rush from Knowbility served as Vice Chair of the inaugural Teach Access Executive Committee. Knowbility awarded Teach Access its Educational Achievement Award.
• Stanford UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 May 2018Stanford University served as the Day 1 venue for the inaugural Study Away Silicon Valley 2018 program, hosting industry experts and introductory accessibility presentations.
• Partnership on Employment & Accessible Technology (PEAT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017PEAT is a project funded by the U.S. Department of Labor that partners with Teach Access to advance common outreach and program goals. PEAT conducted the original 2018 skills gap survey that inspired Teach Access's work. PEAT also featured Teach Access in its Future of Work Podcast and published a Teach Access case study.
• AdobecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2017Adobe has been an industry member from the early days of Teach Access. Amy Chen, Product Manager for Accessibility at Adobe, participated in panels and Study Away programs. Adobe hosted sessions during Study Away Silicon Valley 2018.
• IntuitcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2017Intuit has been an industry member from the beginning, participating in Study Away programs. Ted Drake from Intuit served as Co-Chair of Web4All 2020 Conference.
• GooglecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2016Google is a corporate sponsor and board member organization. Laura Allen, head of strategy and programs for accessibility and disability inclusion at Google, serves as Board Chair of Teach Access. Google participated in Study Away programs and provides volunteers and industry expertise.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Knowbility: Knowbility is a nonprofit that runs AccessU, an accessibility education conference and training program for developers, designers, and educators. It directly competes with Teach Access on accessibility curriculum and faculty training, and has previously awarded Teach Access its Educational Achievement Award.
• Partnership on Employment & Accessible Technology (PEAT): PEAT is a U.S. Department of Labor-funded initiative that conducts the same kind of accessibility skills-gap research Teach Access relies on and partners directly with Teach Access on outreach. It is the closest peer in terms of mission and stakeholder ecosystem (employers + workforce policy).
• WebAIM: WebAIM provides free web accessibility training, evaluation tools, and curriculum resources used by universities and developers. It overlaps with Teach Access on accessibility education delivery and the free-resource model.
• The A11Y Project: The A11Y Project is a community-driven, open-source effort to make web accessibility easier for developers and designers through free educational content. It is directly comparable to Teach Access's free, open curriculum repository model targeting the same audiences.
• International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP): IAAP is the leading professional body for accessibility practitioners, offering certifications, training, and a credentialing framework. While Teach Access focuses on pre-workforce education and IAAP on workforce certification, both target the same underlying accessibility-skills talent pipeline.
• Ability Central: Ability Central is a nonprofit that funds disability and accessibility programs, including the Teach Access Summer Institute. As a peer funder and partner in the accessibility education ecosystem, it operates in an adjacent capacity to Teach Access.

Emerging players

• Disability:IN: Disability:IN is a corporate-led nonprofit advancing disability inclusion in business, with programs for employers (Disability Equality Index) and student-to-career pipelines. It overlaps with Teach Access on the employer-demand side and corporate partnership model.
• G3ict: G3ict is a UN-affiliated global initiative promoting ICT accessibility policies and digital inclusion, with research, policy advocacy, and higher-education engagement. It shares Teach Access's interest in embedding accessibility into higher education but operates more at the policy/research level.
• Perkins School for the Blind: Perkins is an education and advocacy organization serving people who are blind or visually impaired, including teacher training programs and accessibility curriculum development. It overlaps with Teach Access on educator training in the disability/accessibility space but specializes in vision impairment.

Others

• World Institute on Disability (WID): WID is a disability advocacy nonprofit that participates in Teach Access's Student Career Development Series and partners on accessibility workforce programs. As a disability-rights peer organization, it shares the advocacy mission but focuses more on policy and direct services than curriculum delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/teachaccess
• Facebookfacebook.com/TeachAccess
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/teach-access

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Teach Access