Ann Arbor to Host 2027 Move United Education Conference

Ann Arbor, Michigan, will host the 2027 Move United Education Conference that unites athletes and adaptive sports leaders as well as healthcare and rehabilitation professionals, recreation providers, educators, students and advocates committed to advancing inclusive sport and recreation for individuals with disabilities.

The event will be held from May 11-13 and be hosted locally by the University of Michigan Adaptive Sports and Fitness and the Ann Arbor Sports Commission. It is expected that 600 people will attend, including those from Move United member organizations, parks and recreation staff, Paralympic national governing bodies, VA hospital staff and wounded warfighters, occupational and recreation therapists, academic professionals, disability resource groups, and more.

“We are excited to bring adaptive sports professionals from across the country to Ann Arbor next year,” said Move United CEO Glenn Merry. “The University of Michigan is a model for collegiate and community-based adaptive sports and a strong Move United member organization, so we look forward to highlighting their work as we gather together to shape the future of adaptive sports.”

This will be the first time the conference will be held in Michigan, and it will offer 90 educational sessions and keynote presentations.

“I’ve had the opportunity to both present at and attend the Move United Education Conference over the years and I’ve seen firsthand the impact it has on driving innovation, collaboration, and meaningful change across adaptive sport,” said Erik Robeznieks, Associate Director of Adaptive Sports and Fitness at the University of Michigan. “This conference creates a unique space where emerging ideas and proven practices come together, where challenges are addressed openly, and where leaders across disciplines work collectively to expand access and opportunity. There is no better setting for this work than the University of Michigan. As a leading public institution grounded in innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration, it brings together expertise across sport science, healthcare, engineering, business, and beyond. That intersection creates an ideal environment to advance adaptive sport in thoughtful and impactful ways.”

Move United dates to 1956 and is an affiliate of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee. It provides opportunities for individuals with disabilities in more than 70 adaptive sports through community-based sports recreation, education and competition.

The University of Michigan Adaptive Sports & Fitness, which debuted in 2019, is a comprehensive program that spans student engagement, community outreach, competitive athletics, and research. Its goal is to address barriers and disparities in access to sport.

Merry spent 23 years with USRowing, retiring as its CEO in 2017. The next year he was appointed executive director of Disabled Sports USA, which is now known as Move United.