Looking to grow your network and gain a new perspective on the disability services industry?
Look no further. We’ve rounded up over 40 of the best disability services conferences and events happening in 2023. There’s something for everyone, with conferences on employment, community inclusion, education, leadership, assistive technology, legislation and policy issues, and more.
Our list is organized by month, including the location and the organizer’s website description, to make it easier to plan your calendar. Many conference details and dates are still to come, so we’ll update this list throughout the year. Be sure to bookmark this page and subscribe to our email list for additional information!
Date: January 18-19, 2023
Location: Virtual
Website description: “The mission of the LIFE Conference is to be at the forefront of providing information, educational resources and opportunities for persons with disabilities, their families, caregivers, educators and providers. The primary goal of the LIFE Conference is to promote and support full community integration by focusing on the four areas of Legislation, Independence, Families, and Education. The LIFE Conference offers its attendees the opportunity to learn, network, and participate in sessions designed to share information with all participants, including policy makers and the general public.”
State-of-Science on Disability Statistics Conference
Date: February 7 OR 8, 2023
Location: Virtual
Website description: “Join us for the virtual release of the Annual Disability Statistics Collection on Tuesday, February 7th, 2023, or on a second repeated live broadcast Wednesday, February 8th, 2023. People can attend either date … or even both dates.”
California Disability Services Association (CDSA) Legislative Affairs Conference
Date: March 7-9, 2023
Location: Sacramento, CA
Website description: “Held during legislative session, our Legislative Affairs Conference offers our members, their staff, and clients the chance to get directly involved in our advocacy work. More than 100 member executives, staff, self-advocates, and families from all over the state join us in Sacramento for a series of briefings on our policy agenda and trainings on legislative advocacy. Trained and up-to-date on issues affecting IDD providers, participants then meet with state legislators to advocate for IDD services.”
Developmental Disabilities Nurses Association (DDNA) Annual Education Conference
Date: April 14-17, 2023
Location: New Orleans, LA
Website description: “We invite everyone to join us in New Orleans, LA April 14-17, 2023. By attending, you will have the opportunity to earn over 20 hours of nursing CEs, network with fellow DD nurses, and connect with our industry leading sponsors/exhibitors!”
New York Alliance For Inclusion & Innovation Annual Conference
Date: April 18-21, 2023
Location: Bolton Landing, NY
Website description: “The theme for this year’s conference is: Come Together: Reconnect, Reflect & Reimagine This year’s theme represents our move back to face-to-face connections after nearly 3 years of virtual connections only. This theme shares our hope for reconnecting with colleagues, reflecting on what we all have experienced and reimagining how we all move forward using the knowledge we’ve gained over the last few years.”
Date: April 23-26, 2023
Location: Chicago, IL
Website description: “As we write the next chapter of our community’s story, it’s time to reach higher, dream bigger and be bolder. This year’s conference theme, Possibility Unleashed, challenges us to embrace the creativity generated through intentional innovation.”
More: Check out the SETWorks team’s top takeaways from the 2022 ANCOR annual conference!
North Carolina Training, Instruction, Development and Education (NC TIDE) Conference
Date: April 24 – 26, 2023
Location: Wilmington, NC
Website description: Coming soon
Date: April 26-28, 2023
Location: Lake of the Ozarks, MO
Website description: “MASWM will return to Margaritaville Lake Resort at Lake of the Ozarks for the Annual Meeting April 26-28. An evening reception is planned for Wednesday, April 26, then meetings and training will be the 27th and 28th. MASWM is continuing the offer to pay for one night per workshop reservation. Registration and hotel information have been emailed to members. If you did not get yours, email editor@moworkshops.org.”
The Arc Oregon Annual State Convention
Date: May 4-6, 2023
Location: Eugene, OR
Website description: “We are excited to be holding our annual convention in person for the first time in four years! Our team is currently putting together a schedule of dynamic speakers and topics of interest to our community.”
Community Employment Alliance (CEA) Spring Conference
Date: May 9-11, 2023
Location: TBD
Website description: Coming soon!
Iowa Association of Community Providers (IACP) Annual Conference
Date: May 9-11, 2023
Location: Coralville, IA
Website description: “With over 400 attendees annually, the IACP Annual Conference & Trade Show is the pinnacle event of the year bringing community providers and industry professionals to central Iowa. This year’s theme, Redefining Relentless, is a tribute to the unwavering advocacy Iowa’s community providers continue to demonstrate.”
Ohio Provider Resource Association (OPRA) Spring Conference
Date: May 18-19, 2023
Location: Lewis Center, OH
Website description: “The OPRA Spring Conference is THE place to network, engage around the latest issues facing providers, find resources to benefit your organization and learn from first-rate speakers.”
Maryland Association of Community Services (MACS) Direct Support & Supervision Conference
Date: May 21-23, 2023
Location: Ocean City, MD
Website description: “Registration opening soon”
Date: May 22-24, 2023
Location: Anaheim, CA
Website description: “Join us in Anaheim to be an even greater force for creating employment opportunities for people with disabilities.”
Missouri Rehabilitation Association (MRA) Annual Conference
Date: June 5-7, 2023
Location: TBD
Website description: Coming soon
National Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE) Conference
Date: June 12-15, 2023
Location: Columbus, OH
Website description: “Early bird registration is now open through 3/31/23! Register today to save money and save your spot to Create Connections in Columbus!”
The Mergers, Acquisitions, & Affiliations Summit
Date: June 14, 2023
Location: TBD
Website description: “Explore growth strategies and nurturing innovations that fuel growth of health and human services.”
Association on Higher Education & Disability (AHEAD) Equity & Excellence International Conference
Date: July (TBD)
Location: TBD
Website description: “AHEAD’s annual international conference is its hallmark event. Now in its 41st year, Equity & Excellence: Access in Higher Education draws approximately 1,500 participants from around the world for a week of extraordinary professional development and networking. Presenters and participants come from diverse fields, including education, technology, law, scholarship, and government, but share a common interest in fostering equitable higher education experiences for disabled individuals.”
Missouri Association for People Supporting Employment First (APSE) Employment Summit
Date: July 20-21, 2023
Location: TBD
Website description: Coming soon
Home & Community-Based Services (HCBS) Conference
Date: August 27-31, 2023
Location: Baltimore, MD
Website description: “The Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Conference is ADvancing States’ national conference that annually brings together state, federal, and local policymakers as well as leaders who administer, manage, and deliver waiver and other HCBS programs. The purpose of the HCBS Conference is to share practices and policies that improve state systems delivering long-term services and supports (LTSS) for all ages and abilities.”
Iowa Association for People Supporting Employment First (APSE)
Date: September 27-28, 2023
Location: West Des Moines, IA
Website description: Coming soon!
Missouri Association of County Developmental Disabilities Services (MACDDS) Annual Conference
Date: September 27-29, 2023
Location: Columbia, MO
Website description: Coming soon!
Rehabilitation & Community Providers Association (RCPA) Conference
Date: October 10-13, 2023
Location: Hershey, PA
Website description: “Save the Date for RCPA 2023 Conference: Oct 10-13 at Hershey Lodge!”
Date: October 11-13, 2023
Location: Wichita, KS
Website description: “Power Up! is an annual conference designed to inspire, educate, and empower professionals who support persons with disabilities. Power Up! features a keynote speaker, breakout sessions, and networking activities featuring speakers who further innovation and progress in disability services.”
Ohio Provider Resource Association (OPRA) Fall Conference
Date: October 26-27, 2023
Location: Lewis Center, OH
Website description: Coming soon!
Date: November 6-8, 2023
Location: New Orleans, LA
Website description: “The Arc’s National Convention is an unmatched opportunity to connect and learn with advocates, professionals, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and their families. If you are interested in employment, education, advocacy, housing, criminal justice, and more, our sessions are sure to challenge, inspire, and motivate!”
Maryland Association of Community Services (MACS) CEO & Leadership Conference
Date: November 29 – December 1, 2023
Location: Cambridge, MD
Website description: “Registration TBA”
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