Presented by the National Council on Independent Living
About Workshop Sessions
Workshops are classified by target audience: frontline staff & consumers, advocates & project directors, or executive directors & board members. Workshops are also classified as newcomer, experienced, or appropriate for all knowledge levels.
Workshop 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.
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.
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.
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.
Concurrent Workshops 1: Monday, July 20; 10:00-11:15 a.m.
Expanding Our Movement: Ensuring Independent Living Access for (Im)migrant Communities
Track: Strengthening Connections — Community and Peer Networks
Target Audience: Appropriate for all audiences.
Knowledge Level: Appropriate for all knowledge levels.
(Im)migrants and refugees with disabilities face unique barriers to accessing Independent Living services, including language access, fear of immigration enforcement, documentation requirements, transportation barriers, and lack of culturally responsive outreach. This session explores how CILs can strengthen access through community partnerships, trauma-informed and culturally competent practices, and targeted advocacy. Participants will learn actionable strategies to build trust, improve outreach and create inclusive systems that better support (im)migrant communities with disabilities. Interactive discussion and practical tools will be shared.
Presenters
Maria Stepanyan brings over a decade of experience in nonprofit leadership, strategic development, and change implementation. Since 2010, she has focused on advancing independence and equity for individuals with disabilities in the United States. Prior to that, she worked with children with disabilities in Russia. Maria holds a degree from the Moscow Financial College and is a graduate of the Leadership Academy program at Georgetown University. Fluent in Armenian, Russian, and English, Maria brings a global perspective shaped by her diverse work and life experiences in Armenia, Russia, and the United States. Committed to promoting intersectionality and inclusion, Maria is passionate about fostering sustainable growth, empowering teams, and creating opportunities for individuals with disabilities to achieve independence and a high quality of life.
Elham Youssefian joined International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) as director of Disability Inclusion and Accessibility in March 2024. Her role is to lead IRAP’s transition to a more disability-inclusive and accessible organization both internally and externally. Her mission is to promote equal access to safety and protection, and meaningful participation for refugees and other displaced persons with disabilities. Elham is a blind human rights lawyer born and raised in Iran. Before joining IRAP, Elham was working with the International Disability Alliance, a global network of organizations of persons with disabilities, as the senior adviser on humanitarian, disaster risk reduction, and climate action. Prior to that, Elham did extensive research and advocacy on human rights of persons with disabilities in Iran. In 2015, she also worked as protection officer with Danish Refugee Council office in Iran, serving Afghan refugees in the country. Elham holds a Master of Human Rights Law from the London School of Economics.
Craig Towler is a dedicated disability rights advocate focused on dismantling barriers and advancing meaningful policy change that improves the lives of people with disabilities. As the Director of Public Policy and Advocacy at the Center for People With Disabilities (CPWD), Craig leads advocacy efforts centered on equity, accessibility, and community inclusion. He regularly collaborates with consumers, community partners, and advocates to ensure policy reflects the lived experiences of the disability community. In 2024, Craig served on the Governor’s Task Force Related to the Rights of Coloradans with Disabilities – Government Subcommittee, and is currently on the Board of Directors for Disability Law Colorado, and on the Move United Access and Opportunity Advisory Council. Through this work, Craig is committed to elevating lived experience as expertise and ensuring people with disabilities have a seat at the table.
IL T&TA Workshop 1
Information about this workshop will be posted here when it becomes available.
Concurrent Workshops 2: Tuesday, July 21; 9:00-10:15 a.m.
Navigating the Funding Landscape: Successful Philanthropic Engagement for the Disability Rights Movement
Track: Building Resilient Organizations
Target Audience: Advocates and Project Directors
Knowledge Level: Appropriate for all knowledge levels.
As critical federal programs like the Independent Living Program face structural cuts and funding threats, disability rights and justice organizations must strategically pivot to secure resources from the other sectors. Historically, a disproportionate amount of foundation funding for disability has focused on service delivery and not the movement’s core needs for advocacy, policy, and systems reform. Furthermore, engaging with philanthropy has long been a challenge for the disability community.
This crucial session brings together leading disability rights funders to offer transparency and demystify the grantmaking process. Hear directly from foundation staff on the essential strategies to successfully engage with philanthropy in this high-stakes moment.
Presenters
Sandy Ho is the Executive Director of the Disability & Philanthropy Forum. Ho was most recently the program director of the Disability Inclusion Fund at Borealis Philanthropy, where she led a grantmaking strategy of $4 million for disabled-led organizations across the country. Prior to her role in philanthropy, Sandy was a disability policy researcher and comes to disability community organizing by way of mentoring for youth with disabilities. She was a member of the inaugural Obama Foundation USA Leaders cohort in 2023; and in 2022 Sandy was named a Disability Futures Fellow supported by Ford Foundation and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Sandy received her Master’s Degree in Public Policy from Brandeis University in 2023. She identifies as a disabled queer Asian American woman and is an obnoxious Red Sox fan. In her spare time, she enjoys birding, being an Auntie, and reading by Lake Merritt.
Patrick Cokley joined the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation as the Senior Program Officer for Equity & Social Justice Partnerships in 2023. As a disability advocate, Patrick has worked to bring issues of inclusion to the forefront of all communities and believes that it is imperative that the disability and traditional diversity communities learn to work together, as they both share the core values of inclusion. Cultural barriers have led to disability being a taboo subject in many ethnic communities, and the disability community needs the experience of the diversity field to continue their advocacy and policy goals. Through work with Tribal, African American, AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander), Latinx and LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, and more) groups to develop and implement polices to support positive change is underserved communities, Mr. Cokley has learned that only together can our communities realize the success of an America that is inclusive of all its citizens. He is a proud graduate of Howard University.
Rebecca Cokley is the Program Officer for the Ford Foundation’s U.S. Disability Rights program, where she has moved over $100 million to the disability rights and justice movements. Prior to joining Ford, Rebecca was the co-founder and Director of the Disability Justice Initiative at the Center for American Progress, where she stewarded a campaign that resulted in an unprecedented 12 presidential candidates developing disability policy platforms in 2020 and managed campaigns to protect the Americans with Disabilities Act, Supplemental Nutrition Program (SNAP), and Medicaid. A three-time presidential appointee, Rebecca served in key policy roles at the U.S. Department of Education (where she introduced the language of the “ADA Generation”) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as well as oversaw diversity and inclusion efforts for the White House. She served as the Executive Director for the National Council on Disability for four years. Rebecca has a Bachelor’s Degree in Politics from the University of California, Santa Cruz where she was a Karl S. Poster Scholar.
Supporting People with I/DD at Local Centers for Independent Living
Track: Strengthening Connections — Community and Peer Networks
Target Audience: Appropriate for all audiences.
Knowledge Level: Appropriate for all knowledge levels.
This presentation aims to teach CIL staff more about how to better connect with and serve community members with intellectual and developmental disabilities. People with I/DD are often looking for supports to make living independently more possible, especially when it comes to managing and directing our own supports. CILs can help make that possible — we’re here to help bridge the cultural gap that can sometimes stand in the way of that partnership.
Presenters
Colin Killick is Executive Director of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN). Prior to joining ASAN, he was Executive Director at Disability Policy Consortium (a Boston-based disability rights advocacy nonprofit) from 2019 to 2024, and was previously a community organizer at that organization. In 2018, he received his Master’s Degree in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, where he won the Robert F. Kennedy award for public service. His work has covered a variety of disability rights issues, including founding an advocacy partnership that led to a 450% increase in state housing voucher funding for low-income people with disabilities, and overturning Massachusetts’ Crisis Standards of Care, which deprioritized disabled patients for lifesaving treatment, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. He is a published poet whose work has appeared in Health Affairs and Freezeray Magazine, and an avid fan of Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) and the Red Sox.
Skyler Love (he / they) is the Development Manager at ASAN. Their goal in this position is to expand and diversify funding to allow for ASAN projects to grow and expand. Skyler has a background in grant writing, management, and project development. With a degree in English Literature, they understand the importance of a narrative and how that applies to grant writing and development. Skyler has served on a number of boards, working for disability representation. For five years, they worked in the Independent Living movement, fighting for community access. When not working, Skyler is writing, training their service dog, or listening to music.
Noor Pervez is the Community Engagement Manager at the Autistic Self Advocacy Network. He is a student organizer turned community organizer and storyteller. His writing often centers on exploring the intersections of disability, LGBT+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and more), and religious issues.
From Inside the House: How Surveillance Tech Poses Risks to Independent Living
Track: Advocacy in Action
Target Audience: Appropriate for all audiences.
Knowledge Level: Appropriate for all knowledge levels.
Amidst a political and legal landscape rife with attacks on independent living, emerging technologies — many of which are marketed at allowing aging or disabled people to stay at home — are also playing an insidious role. Independent living means more than living at home — it means living free from privacy intrusions, by the government or other parties. But, when surveillance technologies are presented as the only option for staying at home, how should we proceed? This session discusses common at-home technologies, focusing on privacy risks, and how to mitigate harms so disabled people can stay at home while safeguarding not just their independence, but also their autonomy.
Presenters
Ariana Aboulafia currently leads the Disability Rights in Technology Policy Project at the Center for Democracy & Technology, where her work focuses on advancing policy solutions that maximize the benefits and minimize the harms of AI, algorithmic systems, and emerging technologies for people with disabilities. An attorney with particular expertise in disability law, tech policy, criminal law, and the First Amendment, Aboulafia is a former assistant public defender in Miami-Dade County. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and law, history, and culture from the University of Southern California, as well as a J.D. (Juris Doctor) with a concentration in social justice and public interest from the University of Miami School of Law. Her academic work has been featured in publications including the University of Florida Journal of Law and Public Policy and the Connecticut Public Interest Law Journal, and she has published opinion editorials (op-eds) in outlets that include Slate, the San Francisco Chronicle, and Teen Vogue.
Everything I Learned About Self-Care I Learned from My Cat
Track: Building Resilient Organizations
Target Audience: Appropriate for all audiences.
Knowledge Level: Newcomer
Looking at self-care through the lens of lessons learned from our cat. Participants will learn about self-care and will leave inspired to look at their own self-care strategies. We need to promote a resilient workforce in order to keep the disability rights movement moving forward. No live cats will be invited or involved in the actual presentation.
Presenters
Alex Mikowski has served as the Executive Director for a small Center for Independent Living for the past three years. Alex is a person with a disability and a social worker by training. Outside of the office, Alex loves making cards and being near any body of water. Alex also volunteers at the local Elks lodge and for youth sports. She is also on the board of several local agencies. Alex lives in Cortland, NY with her husband Paul and her black cat named Yoda.
Dr. Paul Mikowski, Psy.D. is a person with a disability and a licensed clinical psychologist with nearly 20 years of experience with adult psychotherapy. His expertise is substance abuse recovery, suicide prevention, and mindfulness meditation. Paul is in recovery from substance use and other mental health disorders. Outside of the office, Paul loves board and video games, hiking, and campfires. He also volunteers with AFSP (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention) and his local Center for Independent Living! He lives with his wife Alex in Cortland, NY. Paul identifies as a person who is a member of the queer community.
Concurrent Workshops 3: Wednesday, July 22; 9:00-10:15 a.m.
Defending Civil Rights at the Intersection of Disability and Immigration Under Escalating Federal Enforcement
Track: Advocacy in Action
Target Audience: Appropriate for all audiences.
Knowledge Level: Appropriate for all knowledge levels.
This working session will draw from and expand on a March 11 webinar. What does federal enforcement mean for disabled immigrants’ civil rights, and what advocacy tools do we have? The Task Force’s 50+ organization coalition is a powerful proof of concept. This session will include small-group work on identifying local pressure points and drafting advocacy asks.
Presenters
Chris Ramos is the Latinx and Immigration Community Organizer at Access Living (since Jan. 2024), building spaces where Latinx immigrants with disabilities organize and advocate for systemic change. Formerly a volunteer with Cambiando Vidas, Chris draws on organizing training from Access Living, the Chicago Community Learning Partnership, and Alianza Americas. Raised in Chicago by Salvadoran and Guatemalan immigrants, Chris brings lived experience of the impacts of war trauma, undocumented status, gentrification, and disability. Chris advances equity through legislative advocacy, coalition-building, and grassroots campaigns.
Michelle Garcia (she / her) is Access Living’s Manager of Organizing and Community Development and has been with the organization since 2009, starting as the Latinx Community Organizer. She builds disability leadership in Latinx and immigrant communities and advances disability justice at the intersection of immigration and healthcare through education and partnerships. In 2016, she helped launch the National Coalition for Latinxs with Disabilities (CNLD) and serves as a co-founder and board member. After a 2019 summit, she supported creation of the Disability and Immigration Taskforce of Illinois (DITI). She also represents the 7th District on the Cook County Commission on Women’s Issues.
Claudia Castillo is a PhD candidate in Disability Studies at the University of Illinois Chicago, where her research focuses on structural barriers and community-led strategies at the intersection of disability and migration. She is a member of the Disability and Immigration Task Force of Illinois, a coalition of over 50 organizations, and previously served as Consul for Community, Cultural, and Political Affairs at the Mexican Consulate in Chicago, bringing extensive experience in bilateral policy, community diplomacy, and migration advocacy.
Centers for Independent Living and Veteran-Directed Care: A Match Made in IL Heaven
Track: Building Resilient Organizations
Target Audience: Executive Directors and Board Members
Knowledge Level: Experienced
Centers for Independent Living and the Veterans Administration (VA) Veteran-Directed Care program belong together.
It is the goal of all Centers for Independent Living to find financial diversity equating to stability, while balancing the mission-driven perfect alignment of the Independent Living philosophy. It has also been the goal of the nine Centers for Independent Living of Colorado to create a symbiotic partnership that would link the Centers together in the next 50+ years to create a stronger CIL interstate network.
Presenters
Rochelle Mitchell, PMP (Project Management Professional), is a 22-year veteran of the nonprofit sector, having held executive leadership positions with the Douglas County Community Foundation, High Plains Library District, Weld Community Foundation, Right to Read, and Larimer Humane Society. Rochelle is the current Chief Executive Officer of Connections for Independent Living, the CIL that covers all of northeastern Colorado. She is a person with a neuro disability and a competitive rower. She attended the University of Missouri-Columbia and Colorado State University, and holds Master’s certificates in project management and nonprofit administration.
Beyond the Checklist: Student-Centered Advocacy in Action
Track: Empowered to Lead
Target Audience: Appropriate for all audiences.
Knowledge Level: Appropriate for all knowledge levels.
Learn how our participant-centered approach meets Vocational Rehabilitation standards while addressing the whole person. We identify strengths, needs, and interests first, then align supports with Pre-ETS categories, balancing compliance with meaningful, individualized services that build engagement and improve outcomes.
Presenters
Danielle Bentley is a dedicated educator, proud disabled woman, and mom of two. With over eight years of teaching experience, she brings a deep passion for education and empowering students. Danielle holds a Child Development credential specializing in ages 3–5, a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education, and a Master’s in Elementary Education. She is currently completing her second Master’s Degree in Educational Technology and Instructional Design, which she uses to design accessible, technology-rich learning experiences that prepare students with disabilities for job exploration and workplace readiness. Dedicated to preparing students for life beyond the classroom, Danielle loves integrating real-world skills into her teaching, helping young adults discover their futures, embrace possibilities, and realize their full potential.
SCPP: How to Build Better Systems Together
Track: Strengthening Connections — Community and Peer Networks
Target Audience: Advocates and Project Directors
Knowledge Level: Appropriate for all knowledge levels.
The South Carolina Pathways Project (SCPP) flips the script on youth transition. Instead of treating Centers for Independent Living as afterthoughts, we’ve embedded them as equal partners alongside Education and Vocational Rehabilitation. Learn how this integrated model goes beyond graduation requirements to ensure students leave school with a high school diploma, paid work experience, a strong disability identity, and the self-advocacy to lead their own lives. Leave with a blueprint for building state partnerships where disability leaders have an equal say.
Presenters
Rebecca Faile brings over two decades of dedicated experience to the field of special education. After beginning her career in Ohio with a B.A. from Capital University, she relocated to South Carolina, where she spent the majority of her 23-year tenure in the public school system. Her classroom experience spans elementary through high school levels, primarily serving rural districts. Upon earning her Master’s Degree from American Intercontinental University, Rebecca transitioned into administrative leadership as a District Special Education Inclusion Coordinator. In this role, she was instrumental in facilitating district-wide inclusion initiatives, conducting staff training in inclusive best practices, and contributing to long-term strategic planning. Currently, Rebecca serves as the Director of the South Carolina Pathways Project at Able South Carolina, a Center for Independent Living. In this capacity, she works as part of a multi-agency collaborative to develop a high-quality, seamless transition service delivery model. As a disabled person herself with Autism and ADHD, Rebecca leverages her lived experience, both professionally and personally, to ensure students and individuals with disabilities have access to the tools and resources needed to navigate the path to independence.
Elizabeth Moore has served South Carolina schools for two decades. After earning her B.A. from the University of South Carolina and her Master’s Degree from Converse College, she worked within a local school district in South Carolina. She then joined the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) as an Assistive Technology Specialist, supporting students with disabilities who required assistive technology across the state. She later transitioned into the role of Corrective Actions Specialist, helping districts navigate the legal requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Throughout her tenure with the SCDE, Elizabeth has continued to support districts through multiple roles including corrective actions, virtual professional development course design, and providing technical assistance to districts. She currently serves as the Team Lead for the Review & Analysis Team within the Office of Special Education Services, where she supports districts in implementing the IDEA with fidelity.
Jeni Garner has dedicated her career to helping students and youth with disabilities prepare for employment and life after high school. After graduating from Marquette University with her Master’s Degree in Counseling, she worked as a skills trainer for Project SEARCH in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. After moving to South Carolina, she started her career at South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department providing services to high school students and helping them prepare to reach their employment goals. She moved to a position in the State Office in 2020 and helped update Vocational Rehabilitation programs for students in virtual settings. She had the pleasure of taking over as Coordinator in 2022 and has dedicated her career to ensuring quality services are available to students statewide and working to break down silos between community service providers.
Concurrent Workshops 4: Wednesday, July 22; 10:30-11:45 a.m.
Addressing the Direct Care Crisis: Creating an Advocacy Campaign around Direct Care
Track: Advocacy in Action
Target Audience: Advocates and Project Directors
Knowledge Level: Appropriate for all knowledge levels.
The disability community has faced significant challenges in finding, keeping, and training direct care workers who can assist people with disabilities to live independently since the inception of community-based services. This workshop gives an overview of the crisis and the advocacy activities one CIL, The Ability Center, has taken to try to address it. As we discuss the actions taken by The Ability Center, we will look to the participants of this workshop to share their own knowledge and advocacy actions on direct care. This interactive workshop will allow CILs to learn about each other’s advocacy on this important issue and share stories on what has worked and what hasn’t worked in addressing this crisis.
Presenters
Katie Hunt Thomas is the Disability Rights Attorney for the Ability Center of Greater Toledo, a Center for Independent Living in northwest Ohio with the mission to assist people with disabilities to live, work, and socialize within a fully accessible community. She received her B.A., magna cum laude, from Xavier University and J.D., cum laude, from the University of Toledo College of Law. Ms. Thomas is also a part-time professor of disability law at the University of Toledo College of Law.
Jules Patalita (he / him) is a Disability Rights Advocate for The Ability Center of Greater Toledo, a Center for Independent Living in northwest Ohio. He holds a PhD in Media and Communications, previously serving as a professor of digital media and interactive technology. Now focusing on public access and healthcare, Jules creates educational materials that simplify complex topics. He believes that informing the community means starting at their level of knowledge and building from there.
Shared Stewardship: A Lab for Emerging and Legacy Leaders
Track: Empowered to Lead
Target Audience: Appropriate for all audiences.
Knowledge Level: Appropriate for all knowledge levels.
This interactive lab bridges the gap between frontline grit and executive leadership. Moving beyond traditional barriers to advancement, we explore how Community Wisdom — the unwritten history and strategic memory of our CILs — serves as our most valuable professional asset. Through a series of parallel activities, legacy leaders will identify high-level spaces they are ready to vacate, while emerging leaders identify the “Big Things” they are ready to own. Attendees will leave with a concrete “Growth Partnership” plan that protects organizational stability, persists in honoring lived experience, and advances prosperity by strengthening our leadership pipeline from the ground up. Join us to build the bridge for the next generation.
Presenters
Brittany Boyd-Chisholm is a dedicated leader with 20 years of experience advocating for home and community-based services. Her career is a testament to the “Full Circle” leadership model, having begun her journey in 2005 as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) providing Personal Assistant Services (PAS). Motivated by a belief that care should be personalized and consumer-controlled, Brittany transitioned from the front lines into administrative leadership roles, including Receptionist, Office Manager, Quality Assurance Monitor, Scheduler, and Managing Director. Brittany often says she “grew up” in the Independent Living movement. This foundation remains the core of her values and her vision for Thrive CIL. After spending eight years in the private homecare sector as an Administrator — she spearheaded significant operational growth and served on the Board of Directors for the Pennsylvania Homecare Association (PHA) — Brittany made the intentional decision to return to the Center for Independent Living of Central PA (now rebranded as Thrive CIL). This move was driven by a desire to step beyond a “billing mindset” and refocus on the core services that empower people to not only live independently but to truly thrive in the community.
Architects of Resilience: A New Model for SILC-Led Systems Advocacy in Emergency Management
Track: Building Resilient Organizations
Target Audience: Appropriate for all audiences.
Knowledge Level: Appropriate for all knowledge levels.
In Washington, we stopped asking for a seat at the emergency planning table and started building it. This session introduces the WA-REACH Pilot, a model where the SILC acts as a “Systems Architect” to operationalize disability inclusion without violating federal direct-service firewalls. Attendees will learn how we leveraged state law (HB 1541) to secure a mission-essential role at the State Equal Opportunity Commission (EOC), audit shelter accessibility, and build real-time resilience dashboards. Leave with a toolkit to turn disability advocacy into a state-funded budget asset.
Presenters
Courtney Williams is a strategic leader dedicated to advancing cross-disability equity through public policy and coalition building. As Executive Director of the Washington Statewide Independent Living Council (WASILC), she leverages her expertise in negotiation and legislative advocacy to drive systemic change. Courtney’s distinguished career includes serving as Director of Government Affairs at the Adult Family Home Council, where she was instrumental in eliminating the subminimum wage in Washington and establishing a statewide school-to-work initiative. A recognized expert in CMIST (an emergency management framework), she currently leads the WA-REACH Pilot, integrating disability perspectives into state emergency management. Named one of South Sound Magazine’s 40 Under 40 in 2023, Courtney is a published researcher and sought-after speaker. She holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration and a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work / Civic Intelligence from The Evergreen State College. Courtney remains committed to empowering individuals and fostering the collaboration necessary to create truly inclusive, resilient communities.
IL T&TA Workshop 2
Information about this workshop will be posted here when it becomes available.
Concurrent Workshops 5: Thursday, July 23; 9:00-10:15 a.m.
The Dynamite Power of YLF: Igniting the Next Generation of IL Leaders
Track: Empowered to Lead
Target Audience: Advocates and Project Directors
Knowledge Level: Appropriate for all knowledge levels.
Centers for Independent Living across the country are looking for ways to engage youth with disabilities and ignite the next generation of leaders in the Independent Living movement. The Youth Leadership Forum (YLF) model provides a proven pathway. This interactive workshop explores how YLF programs build youth leadership, advocacy, mentorship, and cross-generational networks — and how Centers for Independent Living and partner organizations can work together to launch, strengthen, or revitalize YLF programs in their states.
Presenters
Jen Hermanson serves as the Program Director of the Montana Youth Leadership Forum (MYLiFe), a statewide leadership program for high school students with disabilities. Through MYLiFe, she works with youth leaders, Centers for Independent Living, educators, and community partners to build self-advocacy, leadership, and independent living skills. Jen is also an educator and nationally recognized Speech and Debate coach who focuses on helping young people find their voices and become confident advocates in their communities. Her work centers on youth empowerment, mentorship, and developing the next generation of leaders in disability rights and advocacy.
Ricky Burns II is a disability advocate and leader within Montana’s Independent Living community. Through his work with Independent Living programs and community initiatives, he supports efforts to expand leadership and advocacy opportunities for people with disabilities. Ricky has been actively involved in mentoring and supporting youth engagement through the Montana Youth Leadership Forum (MYLiFe), helping young people develop confidence, self-advocacy, and leadership skills. Drawing on lived experience and a commitment to peer support, Ricky works to empower the next generation of disability leaders and strengthen connections between youth and the Independent Living movement.
Michael Beers has been in an open relationship with advocacy since attending the Montana Youth Leadership Forum (MYLiFe) as a delegate in 2001. He began working with Summit Independent Living as a Peer Advocate in 2003 and later served as Youth Transitions Coordinator from 2008–2022, helping young people with disabilities develop leadership, advocacy, and independent living skills. Michael is the founder of BASE, an all-ages, all-abilities social and activity center where people explore the arts, build self-advocacy, and connect with community. He now serves at APRIL as Program Outreach & Advocacy Manager and Interim Coordinator of Youth Services and performs stand-up through Comedy with Disabilities. Michael is also very proud to brag that he has returned as staff to MYLiFe every summer since 2002.
NCD 2027 Policy Projects and Town Hall
Track: Strengthening Connections — Community and Peer Networks
Target Audience: Appropriate for all audiences.
Knowledge Level: Appropriate for all knowledge levels.
The National Council on Disability (NCD), as an independent federal agency, advises the President, Congress, and other federal agencies about issues that are important to people with disabilities. Come learn about the latest topics NCD’s Council Members have selected as new research areas for 2027 and share your experiences and knowledge with NCD about those topics in a town hall format.
Presenters
Amged Soliman is a Senior Attorney-Advisor at the National Council on Disability. He serves as the Staff Lead of NCD’s Health Disparities work, has helped draft legislation that would designate people with I/DD as a medically underserved population, and has also worked in the space of accessible currency, policing and disability rights, and education and disability rights, among others. He is a member of the Maryland State Bar and continues to lecture on the subject of disability rights law and administrative law at various disability conferences nationally.
Joy Levin Welan is a senior attorney advisor at the National Council on Disability. Previously, she served as a deputy chief in the Disability Rights Section of the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, where she co-led the Section’s regulatory and policy work. Joy joined the Disability Rights Section through the Attorney General’s Honors Program, and worked on ADA regulations, general ADA enforcement, and Olmstead enforcement. She clerked on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Joy received her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center, where she was a Public Interest Law Scholar and served as an editor on The Georgetown Law Journal. She received her B.A. from The George Washington University.
Concurrent Workshops 6: Thursday, July 23; 10:30-11:45 a.m.
Advocacy: From Barriers to Breakthrough
Track: Advocacy in Action
Target Audience: Appropriate for all audiences.
Knowledge Level: Appropriate for all knowledge levels.
A 3-part interactive working space that allows participants to understand the complexity of advocacy, understand systematic barriers in Independent Living, and reflect on how protecting rights, persisting through challenges, and creating prosperity requires strategy, resources, and collaboration.
Presenters
Brittany Stuckey is a mission-motivated disability advocate with strong ties to her community, more specifically Ward 8 of Washington, D.C. Ms. Stuckey holds a degree in Mass Communications with a minor in Sociology and is a Master of Social Work / Doctor of Social Work candidate focused on macro and mezzo work. She is committed to building strong networks and partnerships, disability empowerment and advocacy in youth, and continuing evidence-based programming to further positive outcomes in the community. She has been a pivotal partner in increasing ADA accommodations in education spaces and has developed internship opportunities, a sighted-guide field trip series, and a host of other ventures to increase awareness, social interaction, and education in the disability community.
LaKenya Pitchford has had a passion for Human Services in her heart for years. LaKenya was diagnosed with Stargardt disease as a teenager, which affects her central vision. As a person with a visual impairment, LaKenya did not let her limitations stop her from reaching her goals and ambitions. During her journey in Human Services, she has accomplished a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communication, a Master’s Degree in Assistive Technology Studies and Human Services, and certificates in Case Management and Human Services. LaKenya has worked in the disability community in several capacities, including advocate, Independent Living Specialist, facilitator / trainer, and Assistive Technology Assessment Specialist. To effectively serve people with disabilities, LaKenya became a Certified ADA Coordinator and Certified Mental Health First Aid Instructor. LaKenya is an Independent Living Specialist at the DC Center for Independent Living and desires to continue supporting, encouraging, assisting, and informing individuals with disabilities. She also continues to educate the community on disability etiquette and awareness related to interacting with individuals with disabilities and the ADA. LaKenya is enthusiastic about her future in disability service.
Assisted Suicide Panel
In a time of Medicaid cuts and widespread ableism, people with disabilities are increasingly being labeled as “terminal” under assisted suicide laws — not because of their conditions, but due to systemic barriers that deny access to essential care, services, and community-based supports. For decades, the disability community — especially leaders within the Independent Living movement — have been at the forefront of opposing these laws, highlighting the risks they pose to disabled people’s autonomy, safety, and dignity.
This panel will explore the core reasons behind this opposition, examine the current landscape of these laws and their real-world consequences, and provide practical guidance for advocates in the independent living movement. Participants will learn how to protect themselves and their communities from the harms of these policies, and how to actively engage in advocacy efforts aimed at challenging and ultimately abolishing these discriminatory laws.
Presenters
Jessica Rodgers, is the Coalitions Director for the Patients Rights Action Fund (PRAF), a national, secular, non-partisan leader defending the rights of patients, people with disabilities, our elders, and the poor from the threat of legalized assisted suicide. PRAF is a 501(c)(4) not-for-profit corporation. With personal experience as a caregiver in a state with legal assisted suicide, she has seen firsthand how these laws undermine the doctor-patient relationship. Jessica has a long history of non-profit advocacy, most recently running a program for college students with disabilities. She holds a Master of Social Work Degree with a concentration in gerontology and lives in Albany, NY.
Theo Braddy is the Executive Director of the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL), a role he assumed in 2023 after more than three decades of leadership in disability advocacy. He previously served as CEO of the Center for Independent Living of Central Pennsylvania (CILCP), where he helped pioneer the concept of “Living Well with a Disability,” built inclusive community resources, and played a key role in advancing accessible transportation and Medicaid waiver services in Pennsylvania. Braddy’s journey began with personal adversity — living in a nursing home as a teenager after a spinal cord injury — but he transformed that experience into a lifelong mission to challenge ableism and promote independence for people with disabilities.
Ian McIntosh is the Executive Director of Not Dead Yet (NDY), a national grassroots disability rights group opposed to the legalization of assisted suicide and euthanasia as deadly forms of disability discrimination. Prior to his time at NDY, Ian served as Director of Disability Outreach at the Patients Rights Action Fund, a national, coalitions-based organization fighting against the legalization of assisted suicide. In addition to his personal experiences with disability, Ian’s interest in marshaling coalition-based opposition to disability discrimination is informed by his history with union organizing in his native Ontario, Canada.
Horacio Esparza has worked for Progress Center since 1999 and has served as Executive Director since 2008. Horacio was born in Zacatecas, Mexico. He lost his vision at the age of seven, but his activism began the very next day, after leaving the hospital. Thoughts of death never once crossed his mind. Horacio recalls hearing his mother say one day, “I would not want to die before Horacio and leave him unprotected.” Upon hearing those words, he replied, “And why should I die first, Mom?” From that moment on, his parents worked tirelessly to provide him with all the tools necessary to achieve an independent life. His parents departed this earthly life satisfied and proud to see their son become self-sufficient — just as all individuals with disabilities should have the opportunity and support to become.
Sebastian Nalls is the Healthcare and Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Policy Analyst at Access Living, where he works on disability rights, Medicaid, healthcare, and community-based care policy in Illinois. He previously worked in the Office of Equity under the administration of JB Pritzker and was a candidate for public office in 2021. Sebastian graduated from Purdue University in 2022 and is currently pursuing a Master of Public Policy at Northwestern University.
Clifton (“Cliff”) Perez of Troy, New York has advocated for disability rights since 1985. He holds a master’s degree in social work from Stony Brook and serves as Systems Advocate at the Independent Living Center of Hudson Valley. Nationally, he has held key leadership roles with the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL), including Vice President, Region II Representative, and Co-Chair of NCIL’s Transportation Subcommittee. He also represented NCIL on the U.S. Access Board’s Railroad & Vehicle Accessibility Advisory Committee. Perez has held numerous state leadership roles, including board member of New York State Independent Living Council (NYSILC) and representative to the NY State Rehabilitation Council. His honors include induction into NYSILC’s Disability Rights Hall of Fame, Hudson Valley Community College Outstanding Alumni Award, and NCIL’s 2024 Max Starkloff Lifetime Achievement Award.
