By Carol Leish, MA
The second annual summit will be a unique opportunity for attendees representing disability organizations, government agencies, and corporate entities to explore and become aware of possibilities for furthering disability access for youth, older adults, and everyone in-between. This is important in order to make it possible for a better collaboration between government and disability organizations in California.
The theme of this year’s summit is: ‘Collaborate, Innovate, Activate Disability Across the Lifespan.’ Through the learning from leading experts in accessibility policies, programs, and new and innovative ideas, and networking, this is an opportunity to be a part of an important event that will be shaping the future of access in California and beyond.
The summit will run from Tuesday, September 23 -Friday through September 26 at the Crown Plaza Ventura Beach Hotel, 450 Harbor Blvd. Besides having a variety of speakers, some of who are speaking from their own personal experiences of living with a disability, networking between non-profits, government agencies, and others who share the desire to advocate and improve lives for people with disabilities will be possible. The summit will also empower those with disabilities to share their experiences in order to make others without disabilities realize that we are all more similar than different.
- On Tuesday, September 23rd the day will include: 1) Creating New Pathways for Voters with Disabilities; 2) Building your Constituents’ Capacity for Self-Advocacy; and 3) Project R: Rethink, Respect, which will emphasize the importance of an antibullying campaign.
- On Wednesday. September 24th, the day will include: 1) Life with Disability: A Look at Daily Energy and Efforts in Rights Advancement from Real World Experts; 2) Access in Focus, a Candid Conversation; and, 3) Ensuring Accessibility: Understanding the CA Commission on Disability Access, in order to promote disability compliance at places of business to improve access for all.
- On Thursday, September 25th, the day will include: 1) Empowering Youth Through Peer Mentorship: the YLF (CA Youth Leadership Forum) Model; 2) The Invisible Advantage: Transferring Hidden Struggles into System Solutions, and an emergency preparedness panel.
- On Friday, September 26th, the day will include: 1) A Look at Crisis Intervention Training, which will spotlight Ventura County’s model; 2) Embracing Universal Design in Housing; and, 3) State Support with Emergency Sheltering.
Learn more about this upcoming summit in to be a part of important understanding in order to change things for the better concerning accessibility of those with disabilities, and change attitudes, too. For information about attending the summit or becoming a sponsor, visit www.govdisabililtysummit.org.
