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Thinking about going?

Why You Should Attend

The Disability Policy Seminar is the premier opportunity to cultivate support on Capitol Hill and amplify the concerns of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) before Congress. The seminar brings together passionate advocates, including people with disabilities, experts, and professionals in the field, to learn about key issues and advance the grassroots movement for people with IDD.

This is your chance to make an impact!

Your presence will help us establish allies on Capitol Hill and press for progress on critical disability rights issues that make life in the community possible for people with IDD.

The Disability Policy Seminar is packed with informative sessions featuring experts in the field and offers opportunities to discuss key issues with others from your state. The event culminates with the attendees converging on Capitol Hill to speak directly to their members of Congress about the high-priority issues that affect people with disabilities, their families, and supporters.

Designed to help both beginners and experts elevate the impact of their advocacy.

Who Should Attend:

  • People with disabilities 
  • Family members of individuals with disabilities
  • Board members, staff, trainees, and volunteers of disability organizations
  • State and local public policy committee members
  • Public policy staff
  • Any disability rights activists! 

Please note: Scholarships are not currently available for this event. We also do not accept requests to speak at this event. The sponsoring partner organizations identify Congressional staff, policy experts, advocates, and others to speak.

Schedule at a Glance

Schedule is tentative and subject to change. Check back for updates! All times are listed in Eastern Daylight Time.

See full schedule

April 8

Monday

9:00 am – 9:45 am

Breakfast

10:00 am – 11:00 am

Opening General Session:  

The Congressional Landscape 

11:00 am – 12:00 pm

General Session: 

Administration Panel

12:00 pm – 1:30 pm

Lunch on your own

1:30 pm – 2:30 pm

Breakout Sessions:

How Congress and the Budget Work

Autism Cares Act 

 DSPs and the Workforce 

2:45 pm – 3:45 pm

Breakout Sessions:  

Preparing for Hill Visits  

Current Social Security Issues  

Responding to Criminal Legal Issues

3:45 pm – 4:15 pm

Networking Break

4:15 pm – 5:30 pm

General Session: 

State Caucus Meetings 

April 9

Tuesday

9:30 am – 10:15 am

Breakfast

10:30 am – 12:00 pm

General Session: 

Home and Community-Based Services

12:00 pm – 1:30 pm

Lunch on your own

1:30 pm – 2:30 pm

Breakout Sessions: 

Social Security and Medicaid 101 

Education and Employment 

Health Care Access and Equity 

2:45 pm – 3:45 pm

Breakout Sessions:

Telling Effective Stories

Open Policy Forum 

Disability Funding Updates

4:30 pm – 5:30 pm

Closing General Session: 

Civic Engagement & Voting 

April 10

Wednesday

Advocacy Day on the Hill 

Registration Fees

The cutoff date for online registration is Friday, March 29. You can register onsite from April 7 – 9. Registration includes access to all sessions, meeting materials, and advertised meals.

Attendee Self-Advocate, Direct Support Professional, Student Personal Care Attendant*
$465 $305 $235

*This rate is for personal care attendants who are supporting an attendee at the event.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

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