2025 Self Advocacy Conference
May 17 @ 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
FreeJoin us Saturday May 17th, 2025, For our 2025 Self Advocacy Conference. Our conference will be held online from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Join self advocates from around the country as we come together to learn, talk, and share information about the issues important to people with disabilities.
This year’s conference will include:
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- Presentations on issues important to people with disabilities
- Opportunities to talk with self advocates from across the country
- Introductions to self advocacy groups in Arizona
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2025 Self Advocacy Conference Schedule
| Introduction and keynote address | George Garcia, Juliana Huereña, SARTAC panel | 9 AM to 9:55 AM |
| This year’s keynote address will be a panel discussion about what’s going on in the self advocacy movement around the country. Panel members will be self advocates from the national Self Advocacy Resource and Technical Assistance Center. |
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| Job-Seeking Tips from a Self-Advocate: Empower Yourself for a Better Future in Employment | Loretta Alvarez and Gabe Martinez | 10 AM to 10:55 AM |
| Join Gabe Martinez, Program Aide and Peer Navigator, along with Loretta Alvarez, Program Manager for Employment and Transition at the Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities, to learn valuable job-seeking tips and strategies as you work toward a brighter future. Based on insights from our monthly job groups for high school students, we will cover the following topics: how to search for a job, the importance of networking, and key elements to include on your resume. We hope you’ll join us and share your own tips and tricks so that we can all learn together! | ||
| AZ ABLE Accounts: How to Protect Benefits and Build Financial Security! | Brittaney Chipley and Jason Snead | 11 AM to 11:55 AM |
| Opening an AZ ABLE account will not only protect benefits, but also build savings and financial security. Anyone can contribute to an ABLE account, including the account owner, friends, family, organizations, nonprofits, and employers, up to $19,000 per year as of 2025.Through an ABLE account, imagine for the first time having: • The opportunity to save over a $2,000 limit • The ability to accumulate wealth without jeopardizing eligibility for benefit programs • The ability to save for a down payment on your first home • The choice to work more for the chance to earn more income • The empowerment of changing your financial plan from monthly to yearly | ||
| Your Vote, Your Voice | George Garcia and Dani Duarte | 12:05 PM to 1:00 PM |
| Voting is one of the best ways of advocating for your rights. Join us as we talk about your rights and responsibilities as a voter. Learn about the current laws around voting and your rights to an accessible voting experience. We will also talk about programs that help you have the proper documents needed to register as a voter. | ||
| Peer-Based Services Professional, Diverse Ability Incorporated | Audra Paletta | 1:05 PM to 2:00 PM |
| Young Adult Leaders from Diverse Ability Incorporated will explore the Steps to Self-Advocacy with other young adult attendees. This interactive session will include short videos, discussion, and fun role-play activities designed for participants to Learn, Practice, and Engage around the topic of Self-Advocacy. Presenters will also share resources for skill-building and advocacy opportunities that they have found helpful during their own Steps to Self-Advocacy. Steps to Self-Advocacy: Learn about Self-Advocacy (what it is and looks like) Practice your Self-Advocacy skills Engage in Self-Advocacy opportunities and get involved | ||
| Arizona Self advocacy group presentations | 2:05 PM to 2:30 PM | |
| Self advocacy groups from around Arizona will give a presentation about who they are, what they do, and how people can get involved with their organization. | ||
| Closing remarks 2:30 to 2:45 | ||