2026 Annual Conference on Independent Living
July 20-23, 2026
Grand Hyatt, Washington, DC
Presented by the National Council on Independent Living
Basic Agenda
All times listed are Eastern.
Presenter’s Orientation
May 6, 2026; 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Eastern
Presenters can contact Angela@ncil.org for access to the archived recording.
Candidate’s Forum
June 17, 2026; 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Eastern
View the Candidate’s Forum archived webinar to learn more about the candidates up for election to the NCIL Board of Directors.
July 7, 2026; 2:00-3:00 p.m. Eastern
Join this meeting to get more info and learn about the Conference agenda, events, and workshops!
Sunday, July 19, 2026
Registration Open
3:00 – 6:00 p.m. / Independence Foyer
Board Meeting
1:00 – 5:00 p.m. / Lafayette + Farragut
Board meetings are open to the public but not part of the formal conference agenda.
Monday, July 20, 2026
Registration + Exhibits Open
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. / Independence Foyer
Sensory Retreat / Quiet Space
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. / Washington Boardroom
Opening Plenary
9:00 – 10:00 a.m. / Independence A
Don’t miss this exciting conference opening session with Keynote Speaker Mia Ives-Rublee!
Concurrent Workshops 1
10:00 – 11:15 a.m. / Various Locations
- Expanding Our Movement: Ensuring Independent Living Access for (Im)migrant Communities
- Supporting People with I/DD at Local CILs
Exhibit Fair 1
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. / Independence Foyer
Spend some time browsing the products and services offered by our exhibitors. Exhibits will be open: Monday, July 20 (8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.); Tuesday, July 21 (8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.); Wednesday, July 22 (8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)
Regional Caucus A: Regions 1 and 10
11:30 – 12:30 p.m. / Various Locations
This is an opportunity for attendees from Regions 1 and 10 to meet with their Regional Representatives and strategize for their Capitol Hill Visits.
Region 1 will meet in Lafayette / Farragut. Region 1 states are Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
Region 10 will meet in McPherson. Region 10 states are Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.
Awards Luncheon & Annual Meeting
1:00 – 2:45 p.m. / Independence Ballroom
This year’s Awards Luncheon will feature a Keynote Address from former NCIL Executive Director Kelly Buckland! Advocacy Awards will be presented to the 2026 honorees. Following lunch, the results of NCIL board elections and any other matters voted on by the NCIL membership will be announced.
Exhibit Fair 2
2:45 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. / Independence Foyer
Spend some time browsing the products and services offered by our exhibitors. Exhibits will be open: Monday, July 20 (8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.); Tuesday, July 21 (8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.); Wednesday, July 22 (8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)
Regional Caucus B: Regions 6 and 7
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. / Various Locations
This is an opportunity for attendees from Regions 6 and 7 to meet with their Regional Representatives and strategize for their Capitol Hill Visits.
Region 6 will meet in Lafayette / Farragut. Region 6 states are Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Region 7 will meet in McPherson. Region 7 states are Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska.
Regional Caucus C: Regions 2, 4, and 5
4:00 – 5:00 p.m. / Various Locations
This is an opportunity for attendees from Regions 2, 4, and 5 to meet with their Regional Representatives and strategize for their Capitol Hill Visits.
Region 2 will meet in McPherson. Region 2 states and territories are New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
Region 4 will meet in Lafayette / Farragut. Region 4 states are Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
Region 5 will meet in Independence Ballroom. Region 5 states are Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
Regional Caucus D: Regions 3, 8, and 9
5:00 – 6:00 p.m. / Various Locations
This is an opportunity for attendees from Regions 3, 8, and 9 to meet with their Regional Representatives and strategize for their Capitol Hill Visits.
Region 3 will meet in Independence Ballroom. Region 3 states are Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Region 8 will meet in McPherson. Region 8 states are Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming.
Region 9 will meet in Lafayette / Farragut. Region 9 states are Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, American Samoa, Guam, and Northern Mariana Islands.
Empowher Presentation & Networking
7:00 – 10:00 p.m. / Independence Ballroom
Come celebrate a whole year of hard work, leadership, and big ideas! Young Leaders from EmpowHer Camp are taking the stage to share the Community Impact Projects they’ve been pouring their hearts into over the last year. From awesome advocacy work to new inclusion projects, come see firsthand how these amazing young leaders are making their communities more accessible. Show up, cheer them on, and see the future of leadership in action!
Tuesday, July 21, 2026
Registration + Exhibits Open
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. / Independence Foyer
Sensory Retreat / Quiet Space
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. / McPherson
Concurrent Workshops 2
9:00 – 10:15 a.m. / Various Locations
- Navigating the Funding Landscape: Successful Philanthropic Engagement for the Disability Rights Movement
- IL T&TA Workshop 1
- From Inside the House: How Surveillance Tech Poses Risks to Independent Living
- Everything I Learned About Self-Care I Learned from My Cat
Advocacy Panel
10:30 – 11:30 a.m. / Independence A
Lunch (on your own)
11:30 – 2:00 p.m.
The March & Rally can be physically and emotionally taxing. We encourage you to take advantage of this lunch break to eat something.
March Assembly
2:15 – 3:00 p.m. / 11th & G Streets NW
Participants should assemble between 2:15 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. at G and 11th Streets, NW. The March will begin promptly at 3:00 p.m.
March to the Capitol
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. / Washington DC
NCIL conference attendees, members, and allies march from the Grand Hyatt to Capitol Hill.
Complimentary Do-It-Yourself Sign Kits will be available on the conference floor the morning of Monday, July 20. People who are not conference attendees are encouraged to bring their own signs.
Rally at the Capitol
4:00 – 5:00 p.m. / U.S. Capitol
Marchers will converge at the U.S. Capitol for an empowering rally featuring a number of speakers, including leaders in the Independent Living Movement and elected officials working on the issues we care about most.
Wednesday, July 22, 2026
Registration + Exhibits Open
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. / Independence Foyer
Sensory Retreat / Quiet Space
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. / McPherson
Concurrent Workshops 3
9:00 – 10:15 a.m. / Various Locations
- Defending Civil Rights at the Intersection of Disability and Immigration Under Escalating Federal Enforcement
- CILs and Veteran-Directed Care: A Match Made in IL Heaven
- Beyond the Checklist: Student-Centered Advocacy in Action
Concurrent Workshops 4
10:30 – 11:45 a.m. / Various Locations
- Addressing the Direct Care Crisis: Creating an Advocacy Campaign around Direct Care
- Shared Stewardship: A Lab for Emerging and Legacy Leaders
- Architects of Resilience: A New Model for SILC-Led Systems Advocacy in Emergency Management
- IL T&TA Workshop 2
Day on the Hill
12:00 – 5:00 p.m. / Congressional Buildings
NCIL members are strongly encouraged to go and meet with their elected officials (or set up virtual meetings where necessary) to discuss pressing legislation impacting people with disabilities and Independent Living nationwide.
These meetings must be arranged in advance. Senators and Representatives set their own policies about whether they are meeting with constituents in-person or virtually.
The public spaces within the Grand Hyatt can be utilized for in-person meetings with elected officials and their staff for those needing a meeting space outside of the Capitol.
Congressional contact information is available at house.gov and senate.gov, or you can call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 or 202-224-3091 (TTY) and ask for your Senators’ and / or Representative’s office. Participants must arrange their own accommodations, including interpreters, for Hill Visits ahead of time. Direct requests for interpreters and other accommodations to Congressional staff. Contact angela@ncil.org with any questions.
Professional Headshots
4:00 – 6:00 p.m. / Independence Level
For two hours, you will have the opportunity to have your headshot taken with NCIL’s professional photographer, Andrew Robertson.
Sessions are expected to take approximately 5 minutes per person. Registration is not required, but please do your best to arrive at or before 5:00 to accommodate any wait time. The event will end promptly at 6:00.
Donations are appreciated and will be split 50/50 between NCIL and the photographer. Photos will be available for download shortly after the conference concludes. Please note that by participating in this event, you agree to allow NCIL to use the photos taken on NCIL’s website and other marketing materials.
Networking & Social Hour
8:00 – 9:00 p.m. / Independence Ballroom
With the music low, NCIL welcomes all our attendees to a low-key hour of relaxed networking and mingling. Meet new people and revisit old friendships.
Celebration of Community
9:00 – 11:00 p.m. / Independence Ballroom
Let’s take time to celebrate our community, the connections that keep us strong, and the 2026 Annual Conference on Independent Living! After the Networking & Social Hour, the dance floor will open and we will dance the night away. Join us for a fun-filled evening.
For attendees who would like a quieter space, we will open Lafayette + Farragut, just across the hall, for fun and games.
Thursday, July 23, 2026
Registration Open
8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. / Independence Foyer
Sensory Retreat / Quiet Space
8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. / McPherson
Concurrent Workshops 5
9:00 – 10:15 a.m. / Various locations
- The Dynamite Power of YLF: Igniting the Next Generation of IL Leaders
- NCD 2027 Policy Projects and Town Hall
Concurrent Workshops 6
10:30 – 11:45 a.m. / Various locations
Lunch (on your own)
11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Closing Plenary
1:00 – 2:00 p.m. / Independence A
The Closing plenary will feature a Keynote Address from Dr. Victor Pineda of The CIL Berkeley as we wrap up the events of the week and prepare to head back to our local communities, ready to make change.
