EVENT INFO
Come experience this educational and empowering event. Please see more event information below.
Conference Information
The 2025 Tennessee Disability MegaConference will be back in person at the Loews Vanderbilt Hotel in Nashville, TN. If you would like to book a room, please click here.
With four amazing keynote speakers and 45 exciting breakout sessions, you don’t want to miss out on joining us as we analyze our Past Reflections, Future Directions!
Thursday, May 22, 2025
Click on sessions to learn more!
7:00 am
Breakfast Buffet
Time: 7:00 am
Room: Symphony Ballroom
8:00-9:00 am
KEYNOTE! Bruce Keisling, PhD, ABPP, FAAIDD
Presenter(s): Bruce Keisling, PhD, ABPP, FAAIDD
Time: 8:00 am
Room: Symphony Ballroom
To kickoff the 2025 MegaConference, Dr. Bruce Keisling will remind us of where we have been as a country and state in our treatment of and advocacy for those with disabilities. He will discuss our struggles and celebrate our accomplishments in this look at Past Reflections, Future Directions.
9:15-10:15 am
KEYNOTE! Charting the LifeCourse With Jane St. John
Presenter(s): LifeCourse
Time: 9:15 am
Room: Symphony Ballroom
Charting the LifeCourse (CtLC) is a person-centered framework being used around the country to help people of all ages to explore, envision and plan their good life. It is driven by the core belief that all people and their families have the right to live, love, work and play, and pursue a good life in the community. Jane St. John, one of the key developers, will share her personal journey with using the framework to support her son in living his good life. She will introduce the CtLC life domains and how they will guide you in your MegaConference experience. Wherever you are on your journey, get inspired to learn more and try Charting the LifeCourse in your own life or with someone you support.
10:30 am
Employment 2024: A Year in Review
Presenter(s): Kelly Kuhns, Nichole Phillips-Brock, John Camperlino, Carrie Brna
Time: 10:30 am
Room: Blackbird B
Strategies to Help Assess Mental Health Concerns
Presenter(s): Verity Rodrigues, Janet Shouse
Time: 10:30 am
Room: Blackbird Studio A
Many individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism, deal with mental and behavioral health issues, and they and their families, support persons and health care providers struggle to figure out what’s going on and why. The IDD Toolkit offers strategies on identifying and addressing some of the mental health challenges people with IDD face.
Money Follows the Person (MFP) Updates
Presenter(s): Anna Lea Cothron, Evy Boyer, Hanna Arn
Time: 10:30 am
Room: Melody
An Innovative Approach to Community-Based Housing for Persons With Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities
Presenter(s): Earle J. Schwarz, Justin Koziol
Time: 10:30 am
Room: Lyric
Kramer Davis Health: Embracing Abilities, Elevating Health
Presenter(s): Matt Holder
Time: 10:30 am
Room: Ocean Way
At Kramer Davis (KD) Health, our sole purpose is to provide exemplary healthcare to people with IDD. We are patient-focused experts who understand that different abilities require a different approach to care. The breakout participant will be able to describe the benefits of a transdisciplinary health care model. The participant will be able to identify how to make an appointment or refer a patient to Kramer Davis Health. Founded by physicians Dr. Matthew Holder and Dr. Henry Hood of the renowned Lee Specialty Clinic, our transdisciplinary model puts people with IDD at the center of their healthcare. Designed for adults and adolescents with IDD over the age of 13, KD Health provides a revolutionary option in healthcare-inclusive, compassionate, specialized care for the whole person.
Living With a Disability and Thriving
Presenter(s): Jessica Wyatt
Time: 10:30 am
Room: RCA
Attendees will learn about a personal experience of a young woman living with cerebral palsy and how she overcame a life-threatening eating disorder and other mental health illnesses.
A Deep Dive Into Self-Directed Options With CDTN
Presenter(s):
Time: 10:30 am
Room: Tracking Room
Self-Care, Healthy Mind, Healthy Life
Presenter(s): Annette Graves, Sandra Hawkins
Time: 10:30 am
Room: Southern Ground A
This session will raise awareness about the importance of self-care practices, educating participants on various self-care strategies across physical, mental and emotional aspects. Enabling individuals to identify personal self-care needs and providing practical tools to implement a simple self-care routine.
Mental Health First Aid, Preparing Front Line Staff for Challenging Conversations
Presenter(s): Dan Dumont
Time: 10:30 am
Room: Southern Ground B
11:30 am - 1:30 pm
Lunch Buffet: Featuring The Arc TN Awards Luncheon
Time: 11:30 am (Awards begin at 12:15 pm)
Room: Symphony Ballroom
1:45 pm
Housing Evolution: The Co-op Factor
Presenter(s): Hal Baker, Michael Decosimo, Nick Decosimo
Time: 1:45 pm
Room: Blackbird Studio A
This presentation features a brief summary of the supply of residential options for individuals with intellectual disabilities from large facilities through the years culminating in a co-op model that operates in line with Supported Decision-Making and without governmental or bureaucratic involvement. You’ll learn how it is working in one community and how to replicate it.
Personalized Emergency Kits: Meeting Unique Disability Needs
Presenter(s): Shayla Hurst
Time: 1:45 pm
Room: Blackbird Studio B
This presentation explores the importance of creating personalized emergency kits tailored to the unique needs of individuals with disabilities. Attendees will learn how to identify essential items, adapt kits for mobility, communication, sensory, and medical needs, and maintain accessibility during crises. Practical tips, resources, and hands-on activities will empower participants to enhance their preparedness and resilience.
Workforce Development Updates for TennCare & MCOs
Presenter(s): Anna Lea Cothron, Nichelle Johnson, Christian Ceccotti, Simone Stewart
Time: 1:45 pm
Room: Melody
TennCare supports workforce development efforts to address workforce challenges for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) in Tennessee. These workforce development programs and partnerships are supported through collaboration with multiple partners including the Dept. of Disability and Aging, Managed Care Organizations (MCOs), advocacy agencies, and other state departments. This presentation will highlight unique efforts being made on the state-level to address workforce challenges.
Leveraging Social Capital to Improve Quality of Life
Presenter(s): Courtney Kelly Chapman
Time: 1:45 pm
Room: Lyric
Social Capital involves connections people create and the resulting trust, reliance, and reciprocity that comes out of those relationships. Despite its importance, only 38.8% of people with disabilities have Social Capital present in their lives. This breakout will help you understand and promote Social Capital. Attendees will leave with specific strategies to support people in establishing connections and nurturing relationships.
Building a Strong Future: Results From a Statewide Needs Assessment
Presenter(s): Emily Lanchak, M.Ed., Lauren Pearcy, MPP, Julie Lounds Taylor, PhD, Bruce Keisling, PhD, Anna Bass
Time: 1:45 pm
Room: Ocean Way
Special Needs Ministry in Local Churches
Presenter(s): Torben Jensen
Time: 1:45 pm
Room: RCA
How do local churches grow in their ability to include and serve families affected by disability? What are some of the obstacles toward successful disability ministries in churches, and what are the best steps to take if you are part of a church that wants to develop a special needs ministry? Find out in this presentation.
Living in Your Community Just Like Everybody Else
Presenter(s): Martie Lafferty
Time: 1:45 pm
Room: Tracking Room
Landlords must treat people with disabilities equally. They can’t say, “People with disabilities cannot live here.” A landlord also can’t refuse to rent to someone because they use a service animal or emotional support animal. Landlords must make reasonable changes that are needed due to a person’s disability. With these examples in mind, let’s talk more about your right to equality in housing during this presentation.
Let's Make It Awkward: Incorporating Disability, Access, and Functional Needs Into Response Plans
Presenter(s): Robert Goff
Time: 1:45 pm
Room: Southern Ground A
This session will describe how the Tennessee Department of Health built a multi-agency workgroup to develop and improve functional- and access-needs support resources to be used in emergency preparedness and response activities, documents, and events. Examples of practical applications will be included.
Southeast ADA Center: Engaging Spanish-Speaking Communities in Disability Rights
Presenter(s): Oscar Gonzalez, Angelica Deaton
Time: 1:45 pm
Room: Southern Ground B
This session highlights the Spanish Language Outreach Project, designed to bridge gaps in knowledge of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) through cultural competency and language accessibility. Participants will explore strategies for engaging Spanish-speaking individuals, families, and service providers by addressing barriers and fostering knowledge-sharing within the disability community.
3:00 pm
CIE: The Employment Path for Me
Presenter(s): Alli Beth Freeman, Denetris Grandberry, Judy Pate
Time: 3:00 pm
Room: Blackbird Studio A
Attendees will get a brief history of Employment First and the benefits of working in competitive, integrated employment. An interactive activity that includes mock interviews and identifying interests related to employment skills will follow.
Breaking the Cycle of Learned Dependence: Fostering Independence in Daily Living Through the MAPs Program
Presenter(s): Jay Camperlino, Brea Dormaier, Rachael Goddard
Time: 3:00 pm
Room: Blackbird Studio B
You've Got This, Man: Becoming Better Fathers, Better Spouses, Better Men
Presenter(s): John Shouse, Matt Rehbein
Time: 3:00 pm
Room: Melody
Fathers of individuals with IDD are a quite diverse group. Yet, they all have one thing in common in being “dad” to sons or daughters with unique and challenging needs. Moms often find avenues for peer support and encouragement more readily than fathers, so this session looks at the “Mastermind” method of building community for all men.
Autistic Empowerment in the Workplace
Presenter(s): Casey Davis, Amy Correia
Time: 3:00 pm
Room: Lyric
This Autistic-led session will empower Autistic people navigating the job market. We’ll explore strategies for navigating employment barriers and decoding the interview process; highlight unique strengths Autistic people bring to professional environments; and discuss workplace self-advocacy. Embracing our Autistic identity and reframing our self-understanding through neuro-affirming frameworks is key to self-advocacy, personal development, and our overall well-being when attaining fulfilling employment.
AAC and Self-Determination: Autonomy and Safety in Home- and Community-Based Services
Presenter(s): Courtney Johnson
Time: 3:00 pm
Room: Ocean Way
Many people with disabilities rely on direct support professionals in their daily lives, including some individuals who use AAC. This presentation discusses personal experiences as an AAC user receiving home and community-based services — with an emphasis on the importance of access to communication for ensuring an individual’s safety and autonomy.
What Can the Arts Community Do for You?
Presenter(s): Donna Goodaker, Kyle Graden, Debby Throckmorton, Lauren Morris, Emma Supica, Waverly Ann Harris, Jen Vogus, Melissa Humphries
Time: 3:00 pm
Room: RCA
Planning for Your Money
Presenter(s): Susan S. Lafferty
Time: 3:00 pm
Room: Tracking Room
Let’s talk about your money. How can you make sure you have enough money for everything you need and some things you want? What’s the deal with credit cards? Do you ever get calls from people saying you owe them money? What do you do? We’ll talk about all this and more.
Pathway to Impact: Building a Solid Foundation for a Career in Direct Care
Presenter(s): Simone Stewart, M.Ed., CCSP, FCD-I
Time: 3:00 pm
Room: Southern Ground A
Join us for a fun and exciting session just for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) and caregivers who want to grow in their careers. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn important strategies to build a strong base for a career in direct care. Through interactive activities and group discussions, you’ll create a personal career plan that shows your next steps and helps you move up. You’ll leave with useful tools and ideas that can help you advance in your career and make a real difference in your work. This is your chance to set a clear path for success and growth in the direct care field.
Medicaid & Medicare
Presenter(s):
Time: 3:00 pm
Room: Southern Ground B
5:00-6:30 pm & 7:00-8:30 pm
Transforming Tennessee: A Convening on Disability-Forward Housing
Presenter(s): The Kelsey’s Allie Cannington With the Tennessee Department of Disability & Aging
Time: 5 to 6:30 PM and then 7 to 8:30 PM
Room: Symphony Ballroom
Join us for a groundbreaking convening led by The Kelsey, a pioneering disability-forward housing organization, in partnership with the TN Department of Disability & Aging.
The Kelsey will share findings from our recent research initiative exploring barriers and opportunities in state housing and disability services funding and programs.
Our community-engaged research will inform policy, funding, and program design to increase affordable, accessible, and inclusive housing for people with all types of disabilities.
Participants will:
- Learn key findings and solutions for the housing landscape in Tennessee, including identified gaps and actionable recommendations.
- Explore recommendations, policies, programs, and funding mechanisms to expand affordable, accessible, and inclusive housing for people with disabilities.
- Provide feedback on the proposed strategies on how to design, fund, and manage integrated housing projects that meet the needs of diverse populations, including those with cross-disabilities.
- Learn about commitments stakeholders can make to support the implementation of proposals, policy actions, cross-sector partnerships, and participation in the co-development of inclusive housing projects.
This event is free of cost. For any questions, reach out to [email protected].
7:00-10:00 pm
The Arc Tennessee’s Dance Party!
Presenter(s): DJ Jackson
Time: 7 to 10 PM
Room: Starstruck Gallery
The Arc Tennessee presents DJ Jackson deejaying at our annual Dance Party! This event is free to all MegaConference attendees. Complimentary snacks will be provided.
Friday, May 23, 2025
Click on sessions to learn more!
7:00 am
Breakfast Buffet
Time: 7:00 am
Room: Symphony Ballroom
8:00-8:45 am
KEYNOTE! Big Power in Me by Friends Life Community
Presenter(s): Friends Life Community
Time: 8:00 am
Room: Symphony Ballroom
Friends Life Community presents Big Power in Me. The creators of this devised theatre production, artists with disabilities, lead the audience through an authentic, vulnerable journey of self-discovery and acceptance. As the audience leans into these personal stories, they quickly realize that the experience is not unique to the performers, they have crafted an experience that speaks the universal language of the human experience. The collaboration of artistic modalities, including dance, improvisation, visual arts, sounding, film, and storytelling will speak to each individual through multiple senses and is supported from over ten local organizations. Audience members will experience the push and pull of competing powers, both internal and external, and will leave the theatre with a greater sense of self and more in tune with the threads of power that tie us all together.
9:15-10:00 am
KEYNOTE! Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging
Presenter(s): Commissioner Brad Turner, Jeremy Norden-Paul, Allie Cannington
Time: 9:15 am
Room: Symphony Ballroom
During this session, the Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging (DDA) will give an overview of its new Housing Innovation Program, which is focused on increasing housing opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and older adults. The session will also highlight a new partnership with a disability-forward housing organization called The Kelsey and the community-driven process of creating a 5-year strategic plan for affordable, inclusive community housing in Tennessee.
10:15 am
How to Limit Conservatorship Abuse
Presenter(s): Amy Willoughby Bryant
Time: 10:15 am
Room: Blackbird Studio A
This will be a best practices session for conservatorships when they are necessary. This session will detail how Tennessee has implemented limited conservatorships. This allows the judges to put the least restrictive authorities in place and maintain the most autonomy for the person with a disability. This session will also detail how states can develop programs of oversight of conservators by detailing how conservatorship management is done in Tennessee. A blueprint will be provided for welfare and financial review of the fiduciary.
AAC in the Community
Presenter(s): Kaleena Smith, Chrissy Hood
Time: 10:15 am
Room: Blackbird Studio B
A supportive learning environment is necessary for the development of AAC skills. Generally, this begins in a formal therapy setting; however, the use of AAC in natural environments is also critical to success with AAC. This presentation will cover an AAC user’s journey from the therapy room to the community and provide examples of resources for community-based options in Middle Tennessee.
Teaching About Personal Safety When Using Technology
Presenter(s): Brian F. Geiger
Time: 10:15 am
Room: Melody
Teens and young adults with disabilities increasingly rely on technology for time management, communication, shopping and banking, travel, life-skills training, and clinical support. There are multiple risks, including misinformation, cyberbullying, inappropriate content, fraud and financial theft, and exploitation. This presentation will feature useful resources to protect individuals and families, including a family technology planner and free toolkits from trusted sources.
Customizing Decision-Making Supports: A Tailored Approach
Presenter(s): Penny Johnson, Breanna Atwell
Time: 10:15 am
Room: Lyric
Each day a person makes up to 35,000 decisions. Many times, people with disabilities lose their right to make some or most decisions about their life. In this session attendees will learn about decision-making options in Tennessee, how to use them in the least restrictive manner to uphold decision-making autonomy, and how to incorporate tools and resources for greater support.
Navigating Relationship, Advocacy, and Choice as an Interabled Married Couple
Presenter(s): Rion Humphries, Josh Humphries
Time: 10:15 am
Room: Ocean Way
Join Rion and Josh Humphries as they share their experience navigating the complexities of caregiving within a marriage. This session highlights the often-overlooked transition to adulthood for people with disabilities, stressing the need for better support and access to caregivers, particularly for working individuals. Attendees will gain insights into how people with disabilities can live full, independent lives with the right care.
Choose Your Own Adventure With Pathfinder
Presenter(s): Megan Hart, April Meredith
Time: 10:15 am
Room: RCA
All people have the right to live, love, work, play, and pursue their life aspirations. Join us for this fun, interactive session to learn how TN Disability Pathfinder can catapult you in the right direction by connecting you to resources available to support you. We will walk you through scenarios and then prepare you to choose your own adventure!
Improving Self-Determination Practices Through the Neurodiversity Paradigm
Presenter(s): Jordan Brooks
Time: 10:15 am
Room: Tracking Room
Self-determination is an evidence-based practice that has been proven to improve the life outcomes of our disabled students. However, research has shown that implementation is scarce and not well understood by practitioners. This talk discusses the history of self-determination and how this can guide the development of solutions to these limitations regarding the implementation of principles from the neurodiversity paradigm.
Language Equality and Acquisition for Deaf Kids / LEAD-K
Presenter(s): Tracy Duncan, Amy Ferrell, Kelly Bandas, Chrissy Davis, M. Ed., M.A.
Time: 10:15 am
Room: Southern Ground A
A panel of experts will provide a description of LEAD-K. This will feature a brief review of evidenced-based peer-reviewed research, varied community perspectives, and family/consumer experiences with language equality and acquisition for dDeaf* children. Current advocacy efforts in Tennessee undertaken by a Grassroots Stakeholder Group will be outlined. *dDeaf = Deafblind, hard of hearing, unilateral, single-sided deafness, Deaf, CAP, Auditory Neuropathy, aphasic, atresia, etc.
Technology Solutions at Home and Work
Presenter(s): Penny Pirtle, John Camperlino
Time: 10:15 am
Room: Southern Ground B
Technology plays a crucial role in enhancing the lives of individuals with disabilities by providing tools that promote independence in all aspects of life. It enables individuals to perform daily tasks, engage in social interactions, and manage their health, fostering a more inclusive and equitable society. This empowerment leads to greater self-sufficiency, improved quality of life, and reduced reliance on caregivers. Join UnitedHealthcare in a presentation on how technology can assist in daily life, the community and at work.
11:30 am
Don't Gamble With Fate! Make End of Life Decisions Before That Date!
Presenter(s): Glenda M. Bond, Karen M. Downer, Donald Redden, Doria Panvini
Time: 11:30 am
Room: Blackbird Studio A
This panel discussion addresses the decision-making involved at the end-of-life state. Based on their own experiences, each panel member discusses practical considerations that should be accomplished well in advance. What if the primary advocate or caretaker predeceases the individual with IDD? Panelists also discuss involving direct and circle of support individuals in this important process as well as coping with grief.
Empowerment Through the Lens: Work-Based Learning and Community Connection with AbleVoices Photo Academy
Presenter(s): Jen Vogus, Nicholas Coakley, Jack Burrows
Time: 11:30 am
Room: Blackbird Studio B
An Employment Planning Tool to Help Students With Disabilities Find Paid Employment
Presenter(s): Justine Hrvatin, Leah Burgess, Jessica Awsumb
Time: 11:30 am
Room: Melody
This presentation will explore an employment planning tool to help support students with disabilities to find paid employment. We will explore how when we work together to help students find employment in high school, future job outcomes can improve. We will share two success stories, the employment planning tool, and resources to help connect students to employment.
Living Lessons: Stories We Live By
Presenter(s): Tonya Bowman
Time: 11:30 am
Room: Lyric
This is a powerful and thought-provoking training that delves into the lived experiences of people with disabilities, highlighting the intersectionality of their identities and the multiple forms of marginalization they navigate. This session aims to explore how various aspects of identity — including race, gender, ability, sexuality, and class — intersect to create unique and complex experiences of discrimination and resilience. Through personal stories and facilitated discussions, participants will gain a deeper understanding of how racism, ableism, and other forms of oppression combine to shape the lives of individuals with disabilities. The training emphasizes how these intersecting identities affect access to healthcare, education, employment, public services, and social acceptance, and how systemic barriers often exacerbate the challenges faced by those with disabilities who are also marginalized by other aspects of their identity. The session encourages participants to reflect on their own biases and experiences, while offering tools and strategies to promote inclusivity, dismantle systems of oppression, and create spaces that respect the dignity and rights of all individuals.
Fit to Frail: Navigating Frailty Status Among Home and Community-Based Services Populations
Presenter(s): Chelsea K. Rick, DO, MPH
Time: 11:30 am
Room: Ocean Way
This presentation will introduce the concept of frailty as a syndrome distinct from disability, multimorbidity, or normal aging and examine the prevalence across HCBS populations. We will discuss the dynamic progression one can experience along a fitness to frailty continuum, present targeted interventions to prolong decline, and identify the impact of long-term services and supports on one’s frailty status.
Water Safety and the Special Needs Community
Presenter(s): Pam Walston, Brenda Vroon
Time: 11:30 am
Room: RCA
This hour-long training provides an excellent foundation for helping individuals with special needs be safer in, on and around water. It offers practical advice on how caregivers can help their swimmers get the most from a swim lesson and educates participants about the dangers specific to swimmers in the community and strategies for increasing their water safety skills.
Healthcare Advocacy and Organizing: Turning Outreach Into Storytelling at the State Level
Presenter(s): Lacey Lyons
Time: 11:30 am
Room: Tracking Room
State-level participation in self-advocacy varies by location. It ranged from a “high of 45%” to “a low of 12%” among people with disabilities in 2018, according to National Core Indicators. But people with disabilities who took part in self-advocacy were more likely to be involved in important decisions like choosing where to live, how to budget, and how to spend their free time than those who did not. Tennessee Health Care Campaign, a 35-year-old healthcare advocacy organization, has a history of grassroots advocacy in Tennessee. Self-advocate Lacey Lyons works for THCC as its communications coordinator and seeks to promote the inclusion of stories of people with disabilities in the story databases she compiles for THCC.
Emergency Preparedness With Access and Functional Needs
Presenter(s): Ashley Edwards Hill, Robert Goff
Time: 11:30 am
Room: Southern Ground A
“If you’re looking for friends when you need them…it’s too late,” once said Mark Twain. When we think about emergency preparedness and response, we often don’t think about community engagement before a disaster. But that’s changing. Tennessee is flipping the way it approaches emergency preparedness by creating opportunities for individuals with varied access and functional needs to create resources, tools, and policy for communities and emergency responders. Learn more about how to be part of that process.
Advancing Behavioral Health and Community Integration
Presenter(s): Crystal Hicks, Abbigayle Hicks
Time: 11:30 am
Room: Southern Ground B
Discover Emory Valley Center’s innovative Behavioral Health Programs designed for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This session highlights therapy services, psychosocial rehabilitation, enabling technology, and impactful community partnerships that promote growth, independence, and safety. Join us to learn about the program’s outcomes and explore how collaboration drives positive change and inclusion.
12:30 pm
Grab-and-Go Snacks for Lunch!
Time: Available from 11:15 am – 1:15 pm
Room: Symphony Ballroom Foyer
AWARDS
The Arc Tennessee Awards Luncheon
The awards ceremony will be hosted Thursday, May 22, 2025 at the Loews Vanderbilt Hotel during lunch. Click here to register!

Have more questions?
Reach out to us anytime if you still have questions or need more information.

2025 Sponsors
The MegaConference would not be possible without the sponsorship of community businesses, agencies, disability organizations, advocacy groups and individuals that invest in this event each year!
