The Success for Today & Tomorrow Conference will feature local and state-wide vendors, a parent/student panel, and a world-renowned motivational keynote speaker Anthony Ianni, who was the first Division One college basketball player with Autism.

The Disability Policy Seminar is the premier opportunity to cultivate champions on Capitol Hill and advance the grassroots movement for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Join AUCD, the Arc, AAIDD, NACDD, SABE, and UCP as we learn about and advocate for access to health care and community living supports, and bedrock civil rights protections. The first 100 days of any new Administration and Congress are key to setting the agenda, and this year, more than ever, we need you in Washington, DC.

The LEAD Center, in collaboration with the ABLE National Resource Center, will be holding a webinar focused on how individuals with disabilities, and their families, can use ABLE Accounts to increase their financial stability and produce more positive employment outcomes. The webinar will take place on April 27th at 3:00-4:30 pm EST and aims to demonstrate how provisions in the ABLE Act can enable people with disabilities to achieve competitive integrated employment, begin to save more than $2,000 without fear of loss of SSI and Medicaid eligibility and set longer term goals for financial stability and self-determined and self-directed lives. The presentation will review the basic elements of these new ABLE account programs, now open in 19 states, and will include the perspective of a current ABLE account owner.

The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) in partnership with the Center for Leadership in Disability at Georgia State University (GSU) is pleased to announce that it is accepting applications for the inaugural AUCD LEADERSHIP ACADEMY. The academy will be held on the downtown GSU campus in Atlanta, Georgia on June 25-30, 2017.

People with intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) experience the full range of mental health conditions as the general population. Yet, they are often underdiagnosed and misdiagnosed due to lack of understanding of the factors that influence effective assessment and treatment. The underlying deficits in IDD can create misunderstanding of signs and symptoms. This presentation will focus on some of the most common challenges associated with assessing and diagnosing mental health conditions for individuals with ID including the role of biopsychosocial factors.

The theme for the conference, Take Off with Respite, is not only a nod to the incredible history of the space industry in Huntsville, AL, also known as Rocket City USA, but also reflects the mission of respite care services. To take off is to move forward quickly, rise to meet challenges, heighten awareness, and push innovation. This phrase can also mean to take a break, relax and rejuvenate. The conference will create the "space", inspiration and momentum needed in order to prepare our organizations to take flight in the mission to support the nation's family caregivers.

The self-advocates on the conference committee chose the artwork picturing Lady Justice to represent the theme of the 2018 National Self Advocacy Conference: "Let's Make It Happen! Disability Rights are Civil Rights." The logo and theme emphasizes that People with Disabilities want to pursue freedom just like everyone else. It is a right that belongs to all Americans with a disability. The National Self-Advocacy Conference has always been a great place for people to learn, grow and advocate with their peers and allies who truly support civil rights.

The AUCD Leadership Academy is a week-long program designed to enhance the skills of current and emerging leaders from the disability network in building coalitions that will improve systems of supports and services. Participation is open to individuals from Self Advocacy Organizations, UCEDDs, LENDs, IDDRCs, CILs, DD Councils, Disability Rights, community based disability organizations, and other disability partners to come together to immerse themselves for a week of study, shared experiences, self-evaluation, and skill development. Participants will continue to engage with their cohort, academy staff, local coaches, and national allies in the year following the experience. The academy will focus on the exploration of shared values and commitments to civil and human rights, assessments of personal and leadership strengths, skills in building partnerships to achieve collective impact, and establishing personal and professional leadership goals.

This webinar will offer practical suggestions for addressing CEDC's priority of delivering accessible presentations. Presenters will outline considerations for preparing and presenting material designed to accommodate individuals experiencing a wide range of disabilities.

This webinar will inform self-advocates, family members, and other interested individuals about the basics of ABLE accounts.

This webinar will use the ABLE Act as an ongoing case study in disability policy, from legislation development and passage to implementation, evaluation, and revision. It will also help trainees and practicing professionals feel more confident in their abilities to advocate for ABLE accounts and other structural solutions that support positive outcomes for their patients/clients across the lifespan.

Join us for Sex Talk for Self-Advocates Webinar #3, Safe Sex Practices - Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). This webinar series addresses self-advocate questions about relationships and sexuality. Webinar #3 will focus on safe sex practices related to sexually transmitted infections.

Please join us to hear about national work and discuss issues pertinent to the topic of supporting autistic individuals as they transition to adulthood. Dr. Eric Moody from Wyoming Institute for Disabilities will moderate a three expert panel presentation and facilitate questions and comments from webinar participants.

It is well documented meaningful relationships are connected to better health, social, and quality of life outcomes for all people, including people with disabilities. Relationships can help to create a greater sense of identity, self-worth, and belonging. Relationships are important, but they can look different for all of us. Join us to hear from self-advocates as they talk about their experiences being married, dating, partnered, and single. Sex Talk #4, Relationship Experiences, will focus on the personal relationship experiences of self-advocates as they join our panel of sexual health educators.

Please join us to hear about national work and discuss issues pertinent to diversity issues in autism spectrum disorder. Brian Be, an artist, self-advocate, peer mentor and LEND fellow with The University of Colorado will moderate a three expert panel presentation and facilitate questions and comments from webinar participants.