Thank you to all 600+ of you who participated in our 2025 conference! We are pleased with the record attendance and the over 98% of participants who reported that they were satisfied/ highly satisfied with our conference this year.
We hope the conference was a positive experience for each of you and hope to see many of you again at our 2026 conference. More information about our 2026 conference will be shared shortly.
Join us for our 26th annual disability conference!
Conference
Monday, June 23 – Tuesday, June 24, 2025
Pre-Conference Workshops
Sunday, June 22, 2025
Wild Horse Pass Resort, Chandler, AZ
Come learn, grow, and connect at our in-person 2025 disability conference!
Topics
Assistive Technology
Innovative Practices in Disability Disciplines
American Indian/Alaska Native Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment
Speakers
Listen to keynote speakers Lawrence Weru and Rachel Simon
Choose from 60 breakout sessions focused on today’s hottest topics in disability and assistive technology
Learn from nationally known speakers & local experts
Sessions
Delve into Generative AI, Disability Policy / Advocacy, and Adapted Physical Education (APE) in sessions led by nationally known specialists
Participate in (optional) hands-on preconference workshops, exploring genAI tools and iOS accessibility settings and features.
Development
Visit our vibrant Exhibit Hall, featuring assistive technology companies, government agencies and disability organizations
Earn up to 17 CE Credit Hours (12 contact hours for the general conference; 5 contact hours for a preconference workshop)
Customize the program to match your interests, have fun learning alongside 300+ participants, and win prizes too!
Affordable Pricing
- $319: General Conference
- $175: Preconference Workshop
- $429: Bundled Discounted Rate for Preconference + Conference
NOTE: For those who cannot attend both days of the conference, or who are interested in a specific conference strand, single-day registration is available for $189.
Special discounts are available for school-based staff, consumers/family members and full-time college students. See the registration page for details.
NOTE: AIVRS staff are also invited to join us for an TVR in Action Workshop which will take place in the same venue on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. There is no charge for this program.
Room rate is $110/night until May 30, 2025 (inclusive of resort fees). Get Hotel Information
Featured Speakers
Keynote Speaker
Lawrence Weru
Lawrence “Larry” Weru began raising awareness about the need for developing disability-inclusive technologies after his own experiences with inaccessibility. As an associate in biomedical informatics at Harvard Medical School, Lawrence has led research to improve the keyboard accessibility of web-based tools and lectured on digital accessibility for the Harvard Pre-College Program. Recently, Forbes, Disability Rights Florida, and the Harvard Gazette have featured his advocacy work on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and accessibility.
He has authored and co-authored health stories in Vox, Slate Magazine, Toronto Star, Orlando Sentinel, and other national and regional outlets. During his time as a Dean’s Scholar at Harvard Medical School, he explored how the inaccessible web impacts the health of people with disabilities. He identifies as a person who stutters and currently serves on the board of Harvard Alumni Disability Alliance (HADA).
Lawrence Weru’s keynote is titled “Navigating the Opportunities & Challenges for Disability-Inclusive AI.” Additionally, he will also be presenting a breakout session “Moving Away from Mouse-Dependency: Empowering Productive Web Experiences with Keyboard Accessibility” at the conference.
Closing Speaker
Rachel Simon
Rachel Simon is an acclaimed New York Times bestselling author whose books have been published in fifteen countries. She is best known for two books featuring characters with intellectual and developmental disabilities: the memoir Riding the Bus with My Sister, which was adapted for a Hallmark Hall of Fame film of the same name, and the novel The Story of Beautiful Girl. These works have established Rachel Simon as one of the leading literary voices writing about characters with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Rachel has also been a public speaker for over twenty years and across forty states. Her presentations focus on diversity and disability. Among Rachel’s many honors are the prestigious American Book Award, a special recognition award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and a TASH Image Award for positive portrayals of characters with disabilities. Rachel is a frequent guest on television and radio programs and has appeared on public radio numerous times.
The complete name of Rachel Simon’s presentation is “Riding Through Life with Cool Beth: My Sister’s Journey to Independence, My Journey to Embracing My Sister.“
Preconference Workshops
Shelley Haven
One of our conference’s most highly prized presenters is back … with a hands-on preconference workshop designed to build confidence and provide attendees with practical skills to effectively utilize Generative AI in their day-to-day job activities!
Shawn Malcomson
PRC-Saltillo’s Access Product Specialist will bring his expertise and 20 years of experience to lead a hands-on preconference workshop covering the settings and features that make iOS customizable for individual clients using alternative access.
Other Featured Speakers
Cheryl Bates-Harris
Former senior disability advocacy specialist for National Disability Rights Network for over 29 years is speaking about increasing participation of people with disability in the labor force.
Christopher Marotta & Joe Slaninka
Adapted physical education (APE) experts from the Henry Viscardi School in New York will present a double session on the role of AT in APE.
Maggie Mosher
Assistant research professor at the University of Kansas specializing in artificial intelligence (AI) and extended reality (XR) will present two sessions about FREE Generative AI tools and how to use them in education and transition.
Michelle Soriano
National Center on Accessible Educational Materials for Learning at CAST expert will discuss Accessible Education Materials (AEM)!
Mo Buti
Conference favorite – and respected authority on Autism, AAC, Behavioral Strategies, and Educational Supports – will return this year to present at the conference!
Featured Sessions and Strands
Preconference A: Generative AI Literacy: A Hands-on Workshop for Educators, AT Specialists & Disability Service Providers
Generative artificial intelligence (genAI) is rapidly reshaping many aspects of life, including education and supports for people with disabilities. To harness its benefits, educators and disability‑service providers must understand how genAI works, where it excels, and its inherent limitations, then make informed decisions about its use. However, recent surveys indicate fewer than half of all educators have received any professional development on using genAI.
Through lecture, demos, and hands-on activities, AT consultant Shelley Haven will provide participants with foundational knowledge, practical skills, and (just as importantly) confidence to effectively apply genAI to teaching and learning tasks, with a focus on disabilities and assistive technology accommodations.
Participants will use a selection of generative AI tools to explore key concepts and real-world applications. Participants are asked to bring a Mac or Windows laptop, Chromebook, or large screen iPad (external keyboard strongly recommended). Registrants will receive a list of selected free apps plus instructions in advance so they can create accounts prior to the workshop.
This preconference workshop is led by conference favorite Shelley Haven, ATP, RET, BSME and ties nicely with the Generative AI Strand that will take place during the conference.
Preconference B: Access iOS: Advanced Applications of iOS Accessibility Features
This workshop is designed to provide participants with an in-depth clinical understanding of the settings and features that make the iOS ecosystem customizable for individual clients using alternative access.
The iOS Accessibility features are quite robust with many adjustments that can be made. That depth can lead to confusion and frustration when trying to apply the settings appropriately based on the actual access skills of the user. This session will focus on first assessing the learner’s access skills using the Assessment of Learning Process, then applying the settings adjustments to just the right level.
This is a hands-on session exploring touch access, switch control, eye tracking, and head tracking. Equipment will be provided. Participants will work in pairs.
This preconference workshop is led by PRC-Saltillo’s national expert, Access Product Specialist Shawn Malcomson.
AI Strand: A multi-session strand focused on disability related Generative AI issues
Four sessions covering the intersection between generative AI and disability. The broad array of related issues that will be covered include:
- AI in the Workplace – Friend and Foe? Presented by three staff members from Disability Rights Arizona: Rebecca Sobie, Skyler Colavito, and Lindsey Stevens
- Free AI Tools to Transform K-12 Education: Personalized Learning to Provide More Time with Students Presented by University of Kansas assistant research professor, Dr. Maggie Mosher
- Easing the Workload: Empowering Professionals through the Integration of AI in Planning and Documentation Presented by the team of Dawn Armfield, Associate Professor at Embry-Riddle, Shadow Armfield, Associate Dean at the College of Education at Northern Arizona University, and NAU graduate assistant and PhD student Andrew Oxley.
- Free AI Tools to Empower Successful Transitions for Individuals with Disabilities Presented by University of Kansas assistant research professor, Dr. Maggie Mosher
The sessions will take place on Monday, June 23 and Tuesday, June 24.
Policy & Advocacy Strand: A multi-session strand focused on the timely topic of disability policy
This strand is focused on the fundamentals, and unique attributes, of public policy, legislative proceedings, and agency actions that affect the disability community. Sessions will provide attendees with a deeper understanding of challenges and opportunities within the current public policy environment, as well as guidance about how to effectively engage in policy advocacy at the local, state, and federal level. Presenters include Jon Meyer, Executive Director of the Arizona Developmental Disabilities Planning Council, Sara Clancey, Assistant Director of Community Services at the Institute for Human Development at Northern Arizona University, and Toni Saia, Assistant Professor and Director of Rehabilitation Technology Certificate Program at San Diego State University.
All four sessions of this strand will take place on Monday,June 23 (from 10:30 am until 5:30 pm)
American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation Services Workshop (Part 1 and 2): 4-session strand that is part of the American Indian/Alaska Native track
This 4-session strand is focused on sharing information about the Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation Process to showcase the culturally appropriate and responsive services provided to enrolled Tribal members with disabilities. The strand consists of two different 2-session parts:
- American Indian Vocational Rehabiliation Services Workshop Part 1: Comprehensive Assessment that is Reflective in IPE
- AIVRS Workshop: Developing a Culturally Appropriate IPE Based on Key Components of Comprehensive Assessment.
This strand is especially beneficial for AIVRS staff members. All four sessions will take place on Tuesday, June 24
(from 8:00 am until 3:15 pm).
NEW! Rapid Roundtable Forum
New to our conference this year, the rapid roundtable forum provides participants with the opportunity to gain insights into a variety of disability-related topics in a small group, more informal setting than our usual breakout session format. During this session there will be a number of different roundtables, each discussing a specific topic.
Participants will rotate tables every 20 minutes (speed-dating style) and will each have the opportunity to participate in three different roundtable discussions during this breakout session.
Roundtable Topics:
- Something to Talk About: Advance Care Planning – Helping to Guide Medical Decision Making (Sutter)
- Getting Past the Transportation Desert (Snead / Barry)
- Makers Making Change AZ Chapter (Levac)
- NAMI Ending the Silence (Angela Cross)
The rapid roundtable forum will take place on Monday, June 3 (from 4:15 pm until 5:30pm) in the Yucca Room