September 23, 2026 at the Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel & Trade Center in Marlborough
Agenda:
Hosts: Nancy Garr-Colzie and Desi Forte
Welcome & Commissioner Presentations
- Commissioner Toni Wolf, MassAbility
- Commissioner John Oliveira, Massachusetts Commission for the Blind
- Commissioner Opeoluwa Sotonwa, Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Morning Workshops
Unhoused and Unconnected: Meeting the challenge of housing stability for people with disabilities
- Presenter: Angela Clarke, Community Counseling of Bristol County, Inc.
- Description: This workshop first offers an overview of the homeless system, provides clarity around understanding the trauma responses of those facing homelessness and considers solutions in meeting housing needs for those unhoused. The workshop reviews definitions of housing instability and homelessness across different funding sources and helps participants understand how to access services throughout the Commonwealth.
Looking Ahead – Non-college Options after High School
- Presenter: Leslie Leslie, Federation for Children with Special Needs
- Description: Students with disabilities attend postsecondary education or training at rates far lower than their peers without disabilities. There are many options that lead to good careers. Explore certificate and license programs, 2 year degrees, apprenticeships, corporate training, military and federal service training as well as volunteer options.
Empowering the Disability Vote: A Guide for Advocates
- Presenter: Brianna Zimmerman, Disability Law Center
- Description: Most Americans believe that voting is an important part of being a good citizen, and researchers agree that there are social, economic, and health benefits to voting. People with disabilities are just as interested in voting as their nondisabled peers; however, they are less likely to vote and three times more likely to encounter barriers to voting. In this interactive workshop, we will provide an overview of the rights of Massachusetts voters with disabilities; share information about accessible voting options; and brainstorm creative strategies to empower the disability vote in our everyday work.
Unraveling the Mysteries of Guardianship Alternatives
- Presenters: Sandy Heller, Craig Kinney, and Lee Larriu, Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council
- Description: This session, Demystifying Guardianship Alternatives, breaks down the legal, practical, and ethical landscape of decision making supports available before guardianship becomes necessary. Participants will explore a range of less restrictive options such as supported decision making, powers of attorney, representative payees, and learn how these tools can preserve autonomy while still providing needed protection. The presentation clarifies when each alternative is appropriate, how they function in real world scenarios, and what families, professionals, and individuals should consider when choosing the right level of support. The goal is to replace confusion with confidence and empower attendees to make informed, person-centered decisions.
Afternoon Workshops
Navigating Mental Health Through an Independent Living Lens
- Presenter: Jill Gichuhi, NAMI
- Description: Supporting people who are experiencing mental health symptoms can be challenging, especially when systems feel complex or hard to navigate. This workshop is about ways to support people at different points in their mental health journey, with a focus on choice and self-determination. We’ll start by looking at how people experience mental health in different ways, including how they define their own needs and what support actually feels helpful to them. We’ll also look at the mental health system and how different kinds of support fit together. We’ll also look at situations that can make things more complex, like high distress, hard-to-follow communication, or when someone seems stuck or disengaged. We’ll talk through how to respond in those moments while still holding clear, respectful boundaries.
Consumer Housing Workshops & How to Adjust to Changing Consumer Needs
- Presenters: Sam Larue, Southeast Center for Independent Living, Steve Stolberg, Your Access Advocates, Andy Forman, Boston Center for Independent Living, Cindy Ribeiro, Southeast Center for Independent Living, and Samantha Bertolino, Adlib
- Description: This workshop explores the topic of consumer housing workshops and how to better understand their role in consumer housing search. Consumer housing workshops are an integral part of the housing work done by Independent Living Centers. They establish a baseline understanding of what consumers can expect staff to help them with and how the Independent Living philosophy works. However, the 10 Massachusetts Independent Living Centers have reported varied experiences in hosting these sessions, despite the continued need for housing support among consumers. A panel of four Independent Living staff engage in a moderated discussion, talking about how they approach leading housing workshops and how centers can work collaboratively to share best practices in supporting consumers with housing searches. This discussion follows up on months of outreach and collaboration between staff from all 10 Massachusetts Independent Living Centers and the Statewide Independent Living Council as part of a project to address changes in consumer housing needs over the past 2 years.
Making It Meaningful: Fostering Active Participation for High-Support-Needs Youth in Independent Living Programs
- Presenters: Maddie Heavey and Maximo Pimentel, Boston Center for Independent Living
- Description: This workshop will explore practical strategies for supporting youth with high support needs in meaningful participation in independent living programs. Participants will learn how to create inclusive, accessible programming that promotes choice, self-determination, and engagement for youth with diverse support and communication needs. Topics will include instructional strategies, differentiation, adapting materials and activities, and supporting communication and participation. Attendees will leave with practical tools and strategies to make independent living programs more inclusive, engaging, and accessible for all youth.
Preparing for Emergencies
- Presenters: Jamie Barry and Fernando Calderon, Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency
- Description: The workshop is geared towards individual/family planning for emergencies with considerations for those in the independent living community. This workshop could be helpful for an individual that has an access or functional need as well as those that support them.
Panel: Shifting Cultures, Changing Systems: Journeys in Independent Living
- MacKenzie Bonaiuto, CORD
- Valerie Pease, AdLib
- Joan Philip, Your Access Advocates
Closing Session: Shaping Our Future: Your voice in the next State Plan for Independent Living
- Nancy Garr-Colzie, MASILC Chair
- Roxy B. Rocker, MASILC Member
- Aliza Levine, MASILC Coordinator
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Exhibitors
