Wednesday, April 29, 2026

8:00 – 9:00 a.m. In Person Only: Registration, Continental Breakfast, Visit with Exhibitors, View Art Exhibit

9:00 – 9:15 a.m. Welcome, Kimberly Johnson, Board President, The Arc of Illinois (Live Streamed for Virtual Attendees)

9:15 – 11:00 a.m. Keynote – “Reframe, Refresh & Resilience: Adjusting Our Caregiver Lens” presented by Kris Burbank

Caregiving can be demanding, isolating, and deeply meaningful — but only when we have enough energy for all it requires of us. In Reframe, Refresh, Resilience: Adjusting Our Caregiver Lens, resilience coach and author Kris Burbank invites parents, caregivers, and advocates into a dynamic, interactive experience that blends powerful storytelling, research insights, and real-life learnings from her book Embracing Another Normal: Stories & Strategies for Raising Children with Disabilities. Throughlively discussion and small group exercises, participants will explore shared challenges and learn a practical framework to helpbuild resilience, restore perspective, and strengthen their capacity to thrive, both personally and professionally.

11:30 a.m – 12:15 p.m. Breakout Sessions (Session #1 will be live-streamed)

Session #1 (Live Streamed): Claire Cook and Courtney Kerfoot – “My Health, My Future: Encouraging Self- Determination in Healthcare Transitions.” This session helps youth with I/DD and their families learn about health care transition, build confidence, strengthen communication, and actively participate in managing health and future care decisions.
Session #2 Brian Rubin, JD, and Benji Rubin, JD – “Special Needs Legal & Future Planning…The who, what, where, why, and how of Special Needs Trusts, ABLE Accounts, and related topics.” Brian Rubin, a parent, and Benji Rubin, a sibling, of Mitchell Rubin, who has Autism, will present the basics of special needs planning, including special needs trusts, ABLE accounts, selecting the future team of trustees and guardians, impact of divorce and lawsuit settlements, educating the extended family, letters of intent, and many related topics.
Session #3 Donna Ennis, Jesse Brian McMorris, Dr. Kristen Salkas, Jacqueline Steward, Kimberly Hill – “Beyond Traditional Staffing: Remote Support that Transforms Lives” Envision Unlimited members and staff will share their experiences developing remote supports in a CILA setting, including a self-advocate’s perspective on his experience in his new home, lessons learned, and post-placement outcome data.
Session #4 – Amanda Hedberg and Garrett Reynolds – “Classroom to Community: Empowering Transitions Through Aspire’s Employment Train.” “From Classroom to Community” demonstrates how Aspire’s ETP is a critical stepping stone for students leaving high school transition services — opening pathways to competitive employment, connections, and a thriving life.
Session #5 – Daniel Smrokowski – “From Challenges to Opportunities” Join Daniel as he shares how turning challenges into opportunities shaped his leadership journey—empowering others to overcome adversity, embrace their strengths, and lead with purpose and possibility.

12:15 – 1:45 p.m. – Lunch

12:45 – 1:30 pm Plenary Session: System Redesign Coalition Panel (Live Streamed for Virtual Attendees)

2:00 – 2:45 p.m. Breakout Sessions (Session #6 will be live-streamed)

Session #6 (Live Streamed) Christine Escobar-Sawicki and Sean Sawicki – “Shared Care: Building Support Networks” A self-advocate and his mom share real-life strategies for building support networks. This interactive presentation will provide strategies for identifying, inviting, and sustaining support relationships, emphasizing the benefits of interdependence.
Session #7 Brian Rubin, JD, and Benji Rubin, JD – “Guardianship & the Many Alternatives to Guardianship” Brian Rubin, a parent, and Benji Rubin, a sibling, of Mitchell Rubin who has Autism, will explain Guardianship (Limited and Plenary), and the alternatives, including Supported Decision Making (new law), Powers of Attorney, and related matters.
Session #8 Christopher Landis and Amy Newell – “Inclusion In Action” Discover how meaningful inclusion transforms lives. Learn how the Arc of WBO Counties develops responsive, client-driven programs that expand access, foster connection, and ensure people with ID/DD participate fully alongside their peers.
Session #9 Sherill Mae Flores – “Practical Strategies to Build Independence for Students with Significant Needs” Learn simple, practical strategies that help students with significant needs build independence through visuals, routines, task systems, and teamwork. Easy tools for teachers, paraprofessionals, and families to use immediately.
Session #10 Sydney Badeau, Vincent Smith, Jada Thompson, Gary Arnold – “Putting AI to Work: Tips from Self-Advocates.” In this presentation, a panel of self-advocates will share useful tips about a few Artificial Intelligence platforms and how community members can use Artificial Intelligence in their own lives.

2:45 – 3:15 p.m. – Break

3:15 – 4:00 p.m. Breakout Sessions (Session #11 will be live-streamed)

Session #11 (Live Streamed) Kirby Rabalais – “Redefining Strong: Masculinity, Resiliency, and Fatherhood in the Disability World” Explore how redefining masculinity and resiliency helps fathers raising children with disabilities move from silent burnout to supported strength, through vulnerability, community, and father-focused practices that organizations can integrate into their work.
Session #12 JJ Hanley and Stephanie Kanter – “Get Hands-on with IL ABLE” Bring your questions, and your curiosity for some essential learning and hands-on practice about opening and managing ABLE Savings and Investment Accounts.
Session #13 Sharon Anderson and Anne Thurston – “From Vision to Action: Self Advocates Leading Change” Be inspired by RGA’s Self Advocacy Council’s journey in launching a Wellness Committee and Peer Mentor team, and explore the opportunity to create a statewide network of Peer Mentors.
Session #14 Robyn L Lewis – “Who’s Knocking at your Door?” The session discusses how leadership and direct service professionals can understand and assess a customer’s situation and needs. Participants learn to use a decision matrix to help determine services and referrals for clients.
Session #15 Sam Miller – “We’re All Connected” If you’re like me, one of the last things you want is to be dependent on anyone. However, life has taught me we are set up to help others, and others are set up to help us.

4:00 – 4:15 p.m. – Break

4:15 – 5:00 p.m. Breakout Sessions (Session #16 will be live-streamed)

Session #16 (Live Streamed) Shirley Sains and Paul Blobaum – “Families Leading the Way: Transforming Supports for Adults with Complex Disabilities” Discover how Community Supported Living and proposed Illinois Medicaid waiver legislation can expand real community-based options, 24-hour supports, and housing choice to address long-standing gaps for adults with developmental disabilities and intense support needs.
Session #17 Suzanne Aaron, Vicki Borlin, and Tiffany Steinhauser – “Navigating the Maze: Understanding Agencies and Acronyms.” Ever seen a list of acronyms in the DD world? The Illinois Life Span team will introduce agencies, define their acronyms, and describe the services you need to know.
Session #18 Meaghan South and Jordyn Klingbeil – “Creating and Establishing a SAFE Workplace” Discover the SAFE model for building trauma-informed teams, enhancing communication, and boosting morale through creative strategies that strengthen team meetings and foster a supportive, resilient workplace culture.

Session #19 Cat Principe and David Pufundt – “People with Disabilities Thriving in Nature” Attendees will hear about a new initiative that is expanding the world for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities by welcoming them into nature and transforming them into community stewards.
Session #20 Kari Jones – Boosting your Ability to Make Decisions – Self Advocacy” This session guides individuals with disabilities and comorbidities to strengthen self-advocacy skills, build supportive relationships, and confidently participate in decisions affecting their healthcare, community, and daily life.

6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Awards Reception – Celebrate our Award Winners! Join us for cocktails and appetizers as we announce the 76th Annual Convention Award
Winners.

Thursday, April 30, 2026

8:00 – 9:00 a.m. In Person Only: Registration, Continental Breakfast, Visit with Exhibitors, View Art Exhibit

9:00 – 9:15 a.m. Welcome, Samantha Alloway, Executive Director, The Arc of Illinois (Live Streamed for Virtual Attendees)

9:15 – 10:15 a.m. Keynote Presentation – “Joyful Grit: How Embracing Obstacles Unlocks Optimism” Presented by Zach Anner. Author and comedian Zach Anner blends laugh-out-loud stories with the legacy of disability rights activism. He highlights how progress comes from both trailblazers and everyday acts of kindness, urging us to face obstacles with humor, resilience, and joy as our constant companions.

10:15 – 10:45 a.m. – Break

10:45 – 11:30 a.m. Breakout Sessions (Session #21 will be live-streamed)

Session #21 (Live Streamed) Sara Buttita and Michelle Halm – “Anticipatory Grief: Understanding, Supporting, and Living Through Ongoing Loss” This session explores anticipatory grief and its impact on our community. Participants will learn practical tools for supporting individuals, families, and staff through ongoing loss with collective compassion and resilience.
Session #22 Ruth Aguilar, Shakari Asbury, Annie Bruno, Jerin Olson, Veronica Salazar – “Home-Based Boot Camp” Join us to learn more about the ins and outs of the Home-Based program within the Adults with Developmental Disabilities Medicaid Waiver.
Session #23 Marney Orchard – “A Nonprofit’s Practical, Person-Centered Transition Toolkit for Life After 22” Learn how a direct service non-profit developed My Full Life, a digital, person-centered life skills toolkit that supports transition planning and real-world readiness for young adults with IDD, featuring self-advocate insights.
Session #24 Jennifer Summers – “Menstruation Management: Practical Ways to Support Girls and Women with Intellectual Developmental Disabilities” This session helps caregivers learn simple, practical ways to support girls and women with IDD during their periods, focusing on everyday skills, comfort, safety, and respectful, person-centered care.
Session #25 Brandon Eddy – “See a Seizure: Seizure Recognition for Adults with I/DD and Epilepsy” A practical training using CGI seizure videos to help DSPs, nurses, and caregivers accurately recognize, differentiate, and document seizure types commonly seen in individuals with I/DD and epilepsy.

11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. – Lunch

12:00 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. Primary Session: DHS/DDD Panel (Live Streamed for Virtual Attendees)

Session #26 (Live Streamed) Kathy Carmody and Rebecca Clark – “BHC’s and CTP’s: Unique service models outside of the waiver.” This session will focus on 2 service models that don’t require Medicaid Waiver funding that people with IDD can consider: Behavioral Health Clinics (BHCs) and Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary Programs (CTPs) at colleges.
Session #27 Randa Abdelrahim, Piyush Mishra, Jae Jin Pak – “Virtual Future is Now (VFIN) Train the Trainer Project” Attendees will gain an understanding of the Virtual Future is Now train-the-trainer (TTT) program, resources on future planning, and possible ways to be involved in the TTT program.
Session #28 Scott Sanders and Elana Sickman – “Understanding Behavior & Supporting People on Tough Days” Understand reasons behind behavior, recognize signs of escalation, and learn to apply strategies that support individuals while promoting safety, regulation, and improved outcomes for all involved.
Session #29 Adam Herges, Becca Obuchowski, Hannah Sheets – “Getting from A to B – Starting and running a successful Transportation Program.” Learn the nuts and bolts of how one organization developed and implemented a transportation program addressing one pervasive barrier to those with I/DD, leaving an understanding of the whys and how-tos.