Self-Advocacy Conference Details and Stats 2024

Self-Advocacy Conference September 18-19, 2024 700 2nd Ave Ste 101 | Des Moines, Iowa 50309

Theme 700 2nd Ave Ste 101 | Des Moines, Iowa 50309

Sponsors SUNFLOWER SPONSOR Molina Healthcare BLOSSOM SPONSORS Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation Systems Unlimited University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities CALMING ROOM SPONSOR & SPROUT SPONSOR Easterseals Iowa SPROUT SPONSORS IAble Iowa Total Care Principal 700 2nd Ave Ste 101 | Des Moines, Iowa 50309

Exhibitors 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Iowa Blueprint for Change 11. Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault 12. Iowa Department for the Blind 13. Iowa Secretary of State Abstracted & Distracted Aging Resources Allies in Advocacy American Data Arc of Iowa ASK Resource Center Balance Autism Epilepsy Foundation infoNET 14. Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services 15. National Federation of the Blind of Iowa 16. New Hope 17. Relay Iowa & Telecommunications Access Iowa 18. Special Olympics Iowa 19. Straw Hat Farms of Marion County 20. Talk to Me Technologies 21. Therap 22. ON TRAC 23. University of Iowa REACH Program 24. Wellpoint (Amerigroup) 700 2nd Ave Ste 101 | Des Moines, Iowa 50309

Volunteers Kevin Harris Kristen Aller Mark Schneider Mike Hoenig Roxanne Cogil Stella Thompson Brady Werger Caitlin Owens Charlene Sauer Eric Evans George Thompson Hugh Kelly Julie Bergeson 700 2nd Ave Ste 101 | Des Moines, Iowa 50309

Attendance 2019 (In-Person) 2020 (Virtual) 2021 (Hybrid) 2022 (In-Person) 2023 (In-Person) 2024 (In-Person) Attendance 148 159 212 171 171 215 Individuals w/ Disability 53 51 82 58 76 86 Family Members 29 44 21 95 34 39 (family member or DSP) Service Providers 31 Professional 27 30 Volunteer 10 13 Other 47 N/A N/A 18 61 90 Sponsors 4 19 10 4 1 1 Exhibitors 15 18 25 15 3 22

Conference Budget Expense Revenue Sponsors N/A $10,000 Exhibitors / Professionals N/A $11,400 Shirts Sold N/A $735 Venue (hotel and A/V) $33,300 N/A Speaker Fees $7,300 N/A Giveaways (Awards, Prizes, Tote Bags, Shirts) $1,630 N/A Supplies (Shirts, Folders, Nametags, Signage, Programs) $3,300 N/A Event Support (Photography, ASL Interpreting) $7,500 N/A Total Expense $53,030 Total Revenue $22,135 Total DD Council Cost - $30,895 700 2nd Ave Ste 101 | Des Moines, Iowa 50309

Morning Keynote Session Title: Achieving Goals Through Adversity Presenter: Aaron Golub Comments / Lessons Learned A person with a disability can play college sports Never stop trying - it only takes one person to say yes! Don't let people tell you you can't do something, just find another way!! Aaron talked about how he mentally navigated through changing how he did things to reach his goals and didn't expect people to change for him. Never stop trying - it only takes one (1) person to say yes! That no matter what Challenges your face, you can overcome anything Aaron s story was so compelling - I think the takeaway was just adjust, adjust, adjust Resilience, change of mindset Excellent speaker who did a fantastic job involving attendees. Meaningful content that applies to all. Aaron was inspirational. Loved his enthusiasm and upbeat energy.

Afternoon Keynote Session Title: One Self-Advocate s Journey and Lessons Learned in Advocating Around Town and the World Presenter: Daniel Van Sant Comments / Lessons Learned Advocacy is important We are more alike than different. Collaborating, building relationships w others tips join other groups, hill days. Knowing I don't have to plan from scratch. I can join others already going to same place/event I want to attend. Always have a leave-behind item. Session was a little long post lunch. Might be good to cut to 1 hour. We teach a group about effective advocacy, this will help to do that.

General Sessions Session Name Comments / Lessons Learned I learned a lot on this issue How changes to waivers affect services. HHS townhalls, waiver service changes Director Matney Medicaid Update (Breakfast Keynote) Rooted in Advocacy Town Hall Advocates need to speak out for there selfs What too much and just enough pestering v. annoyance (email/phone calls ) Talking to my representatives is more simple than I thought. What TOO much & just enough pestering v. annoyance (email/phone calls...) Hear from elected officials and their stories both personal and professional I will take that info and apply to future emails going forward. Thanks for taking the questions from people

Community Garden Conversations Session Name Comments / Lessons Learned I learned the rights of Iowans with disabilities Anyone can join this group! Allies in Advocacy has established themselves as an authority of adults w/ disabilities. Thanks to these self advocates for telling their story Good to hear from self advocates Allies in Advocacy Discussion with Elected Officials I enjoyed that u were able to talk one on one to elected officials Be a good listener and leader Hopes and Dreams in the Goal- Setting Process Love the BHAG process! How to choose/modify goals I can use this tool/handout for home and worklife! Continue to question the processes to clients goals to make it more realistic and relatable to what the clients want to achieve. Based on submitted evaluations.

Breakout Sessions Based on submitted evaluations. Session Name Comments / Lessons Learned A specific org was able to add big impact. We need extra efforts for inclusion. Community Inclusion Club Cultivating Advocacy: Nurturing Voices in Children Assisting children (and others) to advocate for themselves isn t just about big picture items, but is a lifelong skill to ensure needs are being met and challenging status quo is where magic happens!! Super relatable presenter, loved hearing about her children and their unique abilities and personalities and how they leverage those things in advocacy! Jen, some of her Power Points were hard to see/read because the background was so dark colors. Each point/bullet/print too light/small font to see from middle of room with or without glasses. Growing a Community of Health Self- Advocates How to talk to doctor because I am young adult with a disability How to advocate on my own Growing Great Advocates and Planting Your Story I learn I can do anything I try to do As a parent of a child with a disability, I loved hearing the experiences for self advocates. I learn about self advocate need to speak out for there selfs Growing Into Work You Love This training helped to know how to support people in understanding benefits of working, career planning tools. Benefits planning website. How to Have Meaningful Relationships by Being a Good Sexual Self-Advocate I learned 2 not date a coworker from work Create a community understanding about consent. Ask hug or kiss Have a good relationships with friends, family, boyfriends and family The beauty of consent. Very fun and interactive. Facilitate shared understanding. There were too many breaks, too much time on breaks

Full Conference Feedback What have you learned at this conference? I learned how to be a good and a better self advocate Goals, relationships, helping people It's ok to join forces/team up w/ other groups attending same events How to talk to people Medicaid service updates, employment support To be a better self advocate and better leader of my arc group That I can advocate for myself Self advocacy can be done in many different ways Options for post high school, including work and 4+ programming options and learning I need to change learn new things to advocate for my child into adulthood. 1. 2. Overall Conference Rating 3. 4. Excellent Very Good 5. 6. 86% 14% 7. 8. 9. 700 2nd Ave Ste 101 | Des Moines, Iowa 50309

Full Conference Feedback How will you use what you learned? I will try to use the stuff in my community To advocate in my community back home I will keep in contact w/ new contacts and continue to build those relationships. Both personal and professional levels. I may start a group Learn more, teach others about advocacy, look for more opportunities for advocacy To take it back to our meetings and be a better leader for my arc group Talk to my legislative office about getting more funding for organizations that help people with disabilities Share with others Since he really didn t know what options existed beyond high school Only options have been for child to stay at home with us, and we would be fully responsible for any sort of socialization. Learning that there are options through Voc rehab in the ask resource center we will be advocating for different options rather than the ones that were just assumed for us. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

Full Conference Feedback What would you change about this conference? 1. N/A This is one if not the best conf I've been to in very long time. :) 2. Shorter lunch break 3. Better food 4. The first Keynote address by Aaron Golub was outstanding, if a similar keynote occurred in the future, and MYM is near a university might be an opportunity to co-book a speaker to present at Mark your Mark and a university athletic department to speaker reduce costs. 5. The afternoon keynote with Daniel VanSant was very good but long after lunch cutting15 minutes would be helpful. 6. Staff were cleaning the restrooms during passing time which did create space challenges and accessibility issues. 7. While there was fairly good spacing between the tables in the garden room. More space would have been helpful for motorized wheelchairs so the wheelchair users didn t have to ask somebody to move. A few less tables would have pushed people closer to the front as well; with less attendance on Thursday removing some tables wood, bring the attendees closer to the legislative panel. 8. The online evaluation system only allowed for feedback on the sessions and attendee was preregistered for. In the sessions I moderated some attendees were not pre-registered for that session and therefore could not easily provide feedback. I appreciate that the feedback form was tailored to the individual so you didn t have to sift and sort for a session. It might be good if the feedback was not tied to an individual and a unique QR code could be creative for each session. 9. The feedback system asked demographic questions for each session. This was quite redundant and created more scrolling for individuals and may deter some from completing any evaluation if there are any dexterity limitations. 10. Vendor area would be helpful to spread tables out a bit a little more and add more time in between sessions to allow for people to speak with vendors. 11. Having the Thursday breakout sessions in the garden room was a little distracting with the ambient noise. I thought it was harder for me to understand individuals with a speech impediment.

Full Conference Feedback What would you like to learn next year? Soc security/work/benefit/assets. How much can I work and still keep benefits! 1. Social media tips, spending money, Identity protection 2. About jobs 3. How are changes to waiver expansion/services going. 4. What changes have been made for people with disabilities as well as their families 5. Current issue that we need to advocate on 6. Early adulthood transitions. Caregiver supports. Legislative updates, Medicaid updates. 7.