The Forbes 2026 Accessibility 200 list recognizes innovators and impact-makers in accessibility around the globe
DES MOINES — Creating a world where people with disabilities have access to competitive, integrated employment in all settings strengthens our workforce and empowers our communities. Today, The Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement at Drake University has been named to the Forbes 2026 Accessibility 200 list for its work to advance inclusive, evidence-based public policy by connecting research, civic learning, and diverse lived experiences.
The Forbes 2026 Accessibility list includes the top 200 global impact-makers in accessibility-related fields like communication, mobility, education, software, consumer products, robotics, sports and recreation, travel, the workplace, entertainment, and more.
The Tom and Ruth Harkin Center, home of The Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement at Drake University and one of the most accessible buildings in the United States, serves as a model of inclusion and accessibility to public policy research and citizen engagement made possible by the exceptional vision, leadership, and collaboration of people committed to social justice and decision-making.
“The ADA brought about a major transformation in how disability was approached in the United States. It has helped to improve the lives of millions of Americans and began a global conversation on disability rights,” said retired U.S. Senator Tom Harkin. “Despite the progress that we have made since the passage of the ADA, we still have a long way to go to make our world more accessible for everyone. I am proud that The Institute is a global example of how we can work together to bridge the gap between people with disabilities and meaningful employment opportunities.”
Building on Senator Harkin’s public-service legacy and his commitment to advancing the rights of people with disabilities, The Harkin Institute gathers and shares best practices for inclusive hiring, workforce retention, universal design, workplace accommodations, and other disability employment issues.
Working at the intersection of self-advocacy and the public and private sectors, The Harkin Institute provides trainings, conducts research, and consults for companies, nonprofits, disabled persons organizations, universities, and government entities in Iowa, around the United States, and globally.
“It is a profound honor to have our work recognized on a global scale, reinforcing the need to make our world more accessible for hundreds of millions of disabled people who face barriers every day,” said Daniel Van Sant, director of disability policy at The Harkin Institute. “For an entity with the audience and influence of Forbes to recognize the importance of accessibility is a cultural achievement. Let’s celebrate how far the disability rights movement has come and use this to propel the work forward.”
The Harkin International Disability Employment Summit brings together key champions and implementers from around the world to increase opportunities for people with disabilities to achieve full economic participation with dignity. Since 2016, the Summit has brought together private employers, government leaders, and disability advocates from more than 40 countries to address the barriers to competitive, integrated employment for persons with disabilities.
“We are delighted to have received this recognition,” said Craig Owens, executive director of The Harkin Institute. “Still, the real reward of our work comes from advancing our mission to create a more inclusive world informed by an engaged citizenry and sound policy-making.”
The Tom and Ruth Harkin Center opened in 2020, 30 years after the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Today’s honor from Forbes is the latest in The Harkin Institute’s list of accessibility recognitions, including The Harkin Center’s 2025 Gold Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification. The Harkin Center is only the second building in the United States to achieve this certification.
Learn more about the Forbes Accessibility 200 list here.
###
About The Harkin Institute
The Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement at Drake University exists to inform citizens, inspire creative cooperation, and catalyze change on issues of social justice, fairness, and opportunity. Founded on the premise that good public policy is best achieved when policymakers have access to high quality information, political processes are open and well-understood, and citizens are informed and active participants, The Harkin Institute offers programming, experiences, research, and connectivity focused on the areas that defined Senator Harkin’s career: people with disabilities, retirement security, labor and employment, and wellness and nutrition.