Monday, April 27th
Conference Registration
Exhibits
Welcome and Kickoff
Deanna Rennon, vaACCSES President
The Science of Hope
John Richardson-Lauve, LCSW, Senior Director of Community Outreach and Trauma-Informed Care Specialist, St. Joseph's VillaBased on the work of Dr. Rick Snyder and colleagues, the science of hope is well researched. Hope is the intersection of a goal along with the willpower (agency) and the waypower (pathway) to achieve the goal. Hope is measurable and teachable. In this presentation, we will go through the fundamentals of hope theory, a variety of evidence-based tools to measure hope and practical strategies to cultivate hope in those we work with and in ourselves. Through interactive engagement, participants will be the ones to make the case that those with hope have better outcomes, therefore growing hope is a way to promote success.
Break Out Sessions
Hope When It Counts: The Proper Role of AI in DD Services
Maria McWhirt, Co-Founder and CEO, MPower Me
This session uses a real-world lived experience of repeated medical crises for a young adult with developmental disabilities (DD)—whose outcomes were both helped and harmed by technology—to make the “proper role of AI” immediately relevant to DD professionals. The case provides a concrete anchor for defining a practical framework of four distinct elements of human interaction as the foundation of DD services, and AI as an embedded component of technologies that influences each of them. Participants will learn about the net effects of technology on human interactions and outcomes in the context of DD services. Specifically, the session will highlight positive and negative impacts on staff insights and understanding, administrative burden, bias, individual autonomy, staff and individual experience, risk, and health outcomes. Participants will learn a decision making process for evaluating technology functions and effects as either supporting or burdening their staff, safeguarding or risking targeted outcomes, and aligning with or undermining their agency’s values and mission.
The session will provide the building blocks for an agency’s approach to aligning responsible technology use with organizational policy, procedure, training, and accountability so AI supports—rather than replaces—professional judgment and person-centered practice across direct support, supervisory, clinical, and administrative roles. This methodology can be applied repeatedly as new technologies emerge, enabling agencies to evaluate new tools consistently over time and maintain alignment with targeted outcomes, staff needs and organizational values. Attendees will leave with practical tools they can use immediately in service delivery and in AI-related decisions—small, repeatable actions that, over time, prepare staff and agencies to more reliably safeguard the voice and choice of the individuals they support when it matters most.
What attendees will take away:
- A practical understanding of AI, relevant to DD services without hype or jargon.
- A template for evaluating AI functions and effects on human service delivery.
- A clear, repeatable process for aligning policies and procedures for service delivery and technology use with agency mission and values.
- Examples of AI that can enhance insights and reduce administrative burden, but also introduce bias, amplify misassumptions, and increase risk.
- A practical framework for applying human and technology resources to safeguard individual voice, choice, and consent in everyday, and in high-stakes interactions.
The Future is ABLEnow
Brittany Bullock, Relationship Marketing Specialist, Commonwealth Savers
More independence, greater financial security and an improved quality of life—that’s the future ABLEnow is helping to build. Discover how ABLEnow accounts can help individuals with disabilities save for the future without jeopardizing eligibility for critical benefits. This session will provide an overview of ABLEnow’s features, eligibility requirements and the advantages of tax-advantaged savings.
We’ll also cover recent updates to ABLEnow, including expanded contribution limits, enhanced online tools and new options that make managing your account easier than ever. Whether you’re opening an account for yourself or assisting someone you care about, these sessions will equip you with the knowledge to make informed decisions
Networking Break
Break Out Sessions
CARF: 2026 Standards Manual Updates and Survey Prep Tips
Disability Law Center
Social Event