Policy Summit 2026 – “The People Say”: Centering People in the Future of Aging & Disability Policy
Too often, public policy is designed around assumptions about what people need rather than listening to what they actually say. This conversation centers insights from qualitative research with older adults and people with disabilities, bringing their voices and perspectives to the forefront and exploring what it looks like to align our policy frameworks with the […]
We Are Social Insurance: 2026 Policy Summit
Event Overview In 2026, the Academy celebrates 40 years of advancing understanding and collaboration around social insurance. As we mark this milestone during a time of profound change and debate about the future of our social contract, we brought together Members, thought leaders, and changemakers for our annual Policy Summit. Watch the Summit Program https://youtu.be/jD_9ZnzutOY?si=yBIKMvSycgbzaaWk […]
Policy Summit 2026 – Intergenerational by Design: What Gen Z Wants for the Future of Social Security
Charting the future of Social Security takes more than just visioning and analyzing policy. It requires engaging younger generations — and investing in the next generation of policy leaders, scholars, advocates and lawmakers. The closing panel of the summit brings together young people who are already stepping up to lead the charge. The conversation explores […]
Policy Summit 2026 – Bringing SSI Into the 21st Century: Bipartisan Momentum for Reform
Created as part of the Social Security system more than 50 years ago, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) remains governed by rules written in the 1970s, including strict asset limits and income restrictions that can penalize work and savings and leave too many eligible people without support. This conversation explores what it would mean to bring […]
Policy Summit 2026 – Social Security’s Role in the U.S. Economy
As we look to the future of Social Security, this panel considers the role of the program on national, local, and personal finances; its connections to the broader retirement security landscape; the effect of recent economic trends on the program’s financial health; and how we should think about Social Security’s value as policymakers consider its […]
Policy Summit 2026 – Armchair Conversation: How Do We Meet the Moment?
Day Two’s opening conversation steps back to ask a bigger question: What kind of society are we choosing to be when it comes to aging and disability, and how do we show up for one another across the lifespan? At a time when fear and retrenchment dominate the headlines, and when the foundations of our […]