Submit a workshop proposal

The theme of NCIL’s 2026 Annual Conference on Independent Living is Protect. Persist. Prosper.

This year’s conference will take place onsite in Washington, DC. If our budget permits, we will broadcast major conference events via livestream for those who cannot attend.

NCIL strongly encourages workshop proposals to clearly connect to the 2026 conference theme, Protect. Persist. Prosper.

Successful proposals will demonstrate how the session:

• Protects Independent Living, civil rights, funding, programs, or community-based services
• Persists in advancing the Independent Living movement while honoring our hard-won victories, lived experience, and core values
• Advances prosperity by strengthening leadership, access, economic security, innovation, and community power for people with disabilities

Presenters should describe how their session supports at least one of these pillars and contributes to peer support, organizing, advocacy, or practical skill-building for the IL Network.

Workshop Tracks

We will host 18 workshops that align with the following tracks.

Building Resilient Organizations: This track focuses on strengthening the foundation of your organization for long-term success. It will help you ensure your CIL or SILC can adapt, withstand, and thrive in the face of challenges, uncertainty, and change.

Prioritized Topics: Diversifying Funding, Contingency Planning, Succession Planning, Organizational Culture, Innovation

Empowered to Lead: This track is dedicated to developing strong, inclusive leadership at every level. This track focuses on cultivating the next generation of leaders within your organization and community.

Prioritized Topics: Mentoring for success, creating leadership opportunities among your staff, consumers, and youth, and building youth / young adult leadership and programming.

Advocacy in Action: The demand for disability advocacy has never been higher. Join our advocacy track workshops to grow your skills and work on the top advocacy issues facing Independent Living across the country.

Prioritized Format: workshops that are working spaces instead of lectures.

Strengthening Connections – Community and Peer Networks: This track focuses on the power of relationships to drive change. It will give you tactics to help you improve partnerships, grow networks, and increase overall impact through community engagement.

Prioritized Topics: building peer networks and peer support opportunities, developing strategic partnerships, and community and consumer-driven initiatives.

Important Information for Presenters

Please see the Important Information for Presenters before planning your proposal. 

A proposal form in Word is available for those who are unable to complete the online form or wish to use it for planning purposes.

Deadline for Submission is March 7, 2026. No proposals will be accepted after 5:00 p.m. Eastern time.

Registration and fees:

• Presenters and facilitators are not exempt from registration fees. Presenters must register and pay for all days they plan to attend.
• NCIL will offer a 5% discount to up to three presenters per accepted workshop (use code PRESENTER2026).
• Presenters who attend only their session and no other events do not need to pay but should register using the code PRESENTERNAME to receive a name tag.