SOAR 2025 Schedule
Use the list below to navigate this page.
Friday Schedule | Saturday Schedule | Sunday Schedule | Breakout Sessions
Detailed Schedule
Download the PDF of the program
Friday, Oct. 3
- 4:00 - 7:00 PM: Conference Check-in
- 5:00 - 6:00 PM: People First of Nebraska Board Meeting; Big Blue A
- As co-hosts of the conference, People First of Nebraska will be holding their Fall Board Meeting. This meeting is not required for attendees who are not board members, but any People First of Nebraska member is welcome.
- 5:00 - 8:00 PM: Conference Kickoff Event; Courtyard/Big Blue A
- Join us for a fun and relaxed kickoff to the conference. Light snacks will be available in the courtyard starting at 5:00, and Karaoke will be held in room Big Blue A from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. This is a great opportunity to meet and get to know other conference attendees. Please note: dinner is not provided by the conference on Friday night.
(Complimentary beverages are offered by Embassy Suites to hotel guests from 5:30 to 7:00 PM. If you are not a hotel guest, you can purchase vouchers at the hotel front desk.)
Saturday, Oct. 4
(Hotel Breakfast is available to hotel guests from 7:30 to 10:30 AM. If you are not a hotel guest, you can purchase breakfast vouchers at the hotel front desk.)- 9:30 - 10:00 AM: Opening Ceremony; Missouri/Platte Ballroom
- 10:00 - 11:00 AM: Saturday Keynote - "Life's Lemonade."
- Presented by: Kendra Gottsleben
- Location: Missouri/Platte Ballroom
- View presentation.
- 11:00 - 11:15 AM: Break
- 11:15 AM - 12:00 PM: Breakout Session 1
- 12:15 - 1:15 PM: Lunch Break
- 1:30 - 2:15 PM: Breakout Session 2
- 215 - 2:30 PM: Break
- 2:30 - 3:15 PM: Breakout Session 3
- 3:15 - 3:30 PM: Break
- 3:30 - 4:15 PM: Breakout Session 4
- 4:15 - 4:30 PM: Break
- 4:30 - 5:15 PM: Art and Advocacy; Missouri/Platte Ballroom
- Return to the main ballroom to listen to a panel of advocates and artists discuss the impact art can have on advocacy. Hear more on how you can use art to express yourself. This presentation is supported by the Arts and Advocacy program at the Munroe-Meyer Institute.
- 5:15 - 6:30 PM: Break
- 6:30 - 7:30 PM: Dinner
- 7:30 - 10:00 PM: Dance and Bingo
Sunday, Oct. 5
(Hotel Breakfast is available to hotel guests from 7:30 to 10:30 AM. If you are not a hotel guest, you can purchase breakfast vouchers at the hotel front desk.)- 9:30 - 10:30 AM: Sunday Keynote - "The Development of the Story of Self and the Beautiful Risks Involved."
- Presented by: Chris Worth
- Location: Missouri/Platte Ballroom
- View presentation.
- 10:30 - 11:00 AM: Closing Comments and Wrap-up
Breakout Sessions
Being Twice Exceptional: How to develop and share your giftedness with your community.
- Presented by: Aimée Folker, Mary Angus.
- Location: Elkhorn A.
- Description: Einstein is often quoted as saying, “Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing it is stupid”. This interactive workshop we will discuss the group’s gifts, how to develop them and how they can benefit our communities.
- View presentation.
Charting the Life Course: One Page Description Workshop.
- Presented by: Kathy Rowhedder, Sarah Jennings, Joshua Whitfield, Joshua Swanson.
- Location: Elkhorn B/C.
- Description: This presentation will introduce attendees to the Charting the Life Course: One Page Description, discuss how it can support people to increase self-advocacy, and show how it can emphasize you, your life, and your choices and needs. Presenters will show an example of a completed template and work with attendees in a guided participation of completing a one-page of their own.
- View presentation.
Self-Advocacy Focus Group Stories. (ASL Interpretation Provided)
- Presented by: Ryan Henley, Austin Myers.
- Location: Big Blue A.
- Description: At the 2024 Self-Advocate Coalition of Kansas (SACK) conference, the presenters led focus groups with conference attendees. This focus group discussed topics such as barriers to self-advocacy, employment, accessibility, healthcare, and independent living. Results showed that people with disabilities are more likely to self-advocate when issues related to personal/health needs, educational supports, and the unwanted actions of others arise. The presenters will share the results of the focus groups. Attendees will be given time to share their own stories and advice.
- View presentation.
Self-Advocates as Sexual Health Educators: Benefits and Challenges.
- Presented by: Emma Christian, Carly DeBruin, Leanne Gonzalez, Samantha Montemarano, Anne Woodruff Jameson.
- Location: Council Bluffs.
- Description: As a part of a grant project to deliver the Elevatus Sexual Education curriculum to people with I/DD and educators throughout the Omaha metro area, two self-advocates were hired and trained as educators to teach alongside the therapist educators. Presenters will share the benefits and challenges the team found while developing this project. Sharing these experiences could help other projects successfully incorporate the use of self-advocates to disseminate information.
Learning More About Yourself as an Advocate and a Leader. (ASL Interpretation Provided)
- Presented by: Ida Woodden, Mary Angus.
- Location: Elkhorn A.
- Description: In this presentation you will learn what self-advocacy and leadership looks like for people with disabilities and how to develop a leadership timeline that helps you explore your self-advocacy focus. Overall, this presentation aims to see how advocacy and leadership grow to meet the needs of your world.
- View presentation.
The Cliff is Real: Late Diagnosed Autistic Adults Speak Out.
- Presented by: Janet Schwartz-Micheaux, Marcia Prideaux.
- Location: Elkhorn B/C
- Description: A panel discussion led by members of Autism Action Partnership’s self-advocate council and adult services programs explores the experiences, challenges and perspectives of individuals diagnosed with autism as an adult. Learn about panelists’ experiences missing out on early interventions and transition planning, and how they navigate services as an adult. Hear what it was like to experience a shift in “identity” and learn self-acceptance, and work through trauma and find belonging after diagnosis.
- View presentation.
- View questions.
Learn about the WeSaid at the UCEDD.
- Presented by: Candace Cunningham, Skye Van Landuyt.
- Location: Big Blue A.
- Description: Learn about the WeSaid at the UCEDD at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Institute for Human Development. WeSaid is a Speaker Bureau, Training and Technical Assistance Center for people with lived experience in developmental disabilities. You will hear about “Candace’s Corner” a vodcast series, ‘Take Five with Skye’ vodcast shorts about the human journey, and the WeSaid Academy.
- View presentation.
"You Don't Have to Like Me": Lessons Learned in Effective Self-Advocacy.
- Presented by: CJ Zimmer, Brad Meurrens.
- Location: Council Bluffs.
- Description: Emerging from CJ Zimmer’s experience advocating for herself as a woman with multiple disabilities and as a mom navigating the public school’s special education system are useful lessons for current advocates – the issues, problems, and pitfalls have not changed. This presentation will give attendees principles and strategies that CJ and Brad have developed to be more effective advocates with special educators, school administrators, and policymakers.
- View presentation.
Helping Others Achieve their Dreams was the Secret to Achieving my Own.
- Presented by: Katie Selby.
- Location: Elkhorn A.
- Description: In this presentation, Katie will take you on a journey through her education and career – a journey that helped her achieve her dreams. Helping others achieve their independence and their dreams is an important part of life’s journey.
- View presentation.
Advocating for Myself and Others: World Down Syndrome Day.
- Presented by: Michelle Broady, Lori Broady.
- Location: Elkhorn B/C.
- Description: This session will show how to educate students and adults about disability. Michelle has Down Syndrome and has taken advantage of World Down Syndrome Day on March 21st each year to go into school, churches and other establishments to teach others. She provides each person who attends her presentation with a pair of “crazy socks” thanks to a grant from Thrivent Financial.
- View presentation.
Supported Decision Making.
- Presented by: Phillip McGruder, Shane Lewis, Colin Olenick, Brad Linnenkamp, Aaron Alspach.
- Location: Big Blue A.
- Description: Supported Decision Making is a way for people to make their own choices with support from people they choose. All people use supported decision making to make decisions. The Self Advocate Coalition of Kansas and the Kansas University Center on Disabilities have been working to increase awareness and talk about the plans of proposing a bill in the future.
- View presentation.
Building Community Connections: Lessons Learned and Benefits Gained. (ASL Interpretation Provided)
- Presented by: Karen Kolb, Brad Meurrens.
- Location: Council Bluffs.
- Description: Even small community connections or conversations can have significant positive impacts for people with disabilities. This presentation will provide the audience with ideas and tools to connect with their community to help prevent or overcome social isolation, enhance or create successful self-advocacy strategies (especially asking for and accepting help), and identify and discuss the mental and physical benefits of self-advocacy and community connections.
- View presentation.
Skin: Your Best Defense.
- Presented by: The Panhandle Gering / Scottsbluff Chapter of People First.
- Location: Missouri/Platte Ballroom.
- Description: In this football themed presentation, attendees will participate in interactive activities exploring how our skin defends us. Have fun while learning what skin does for our bodies, handwashing, how to take care of a cut and defend your skin from the sun.
- View handout #1.
- View handout #2.
Advocating For Yourself in Healthcare Settings;
- Presented by: Nicole Noblet.
- Location: Elkhorn A.
- Description: Navigating the medical system can be exhausting and frustrating, especially for people with disabilities and those with medical complexities. Learn strategies that you can use to communicate effectively with providers, get your needs met, and talk about your concerns. Understand your rights as a patient, including the specific rights guaranteed by the ADA, and know what you can do if you are unsatisfied with your care.
- View presentation.
Three Exciting Ways to Get Involved in Your Community: Midwest Opportunities.
- Presented by: Christi Crosby, Melanie Davis.
- Location: Elkhorn B/C.
- Description: This presentation will highlight three lesser-known opportunities in the Midwest for people with disabilities to create connections, as well as increase their advocacy skills. Opportunities include the Midwest Cerebral Palsy group, People First, and the Self-Advocate Leadership Training program.
- View presentation.
How to Turn Negative Interactions to Positive Experiences.
- Presented by: Jennifer James.
- Location: Big Blue A.
- Description: This presentation will discuss stereotypes people with disabilities experience in the community because of a lack of information and understanding. The panel will offer possible solutions and approaches to make those “teaching moments” a positive experience for everyone involved. The audience will be asked to share their experiences and their advice on how to handle these difficult situations.
Dinner Table Syndrome. (ASL Interpretation Provided)
- Presented by: Jeremy Daffern, Sakura Yodogawa-Campbell.
- Location: Council Bluffs.
- Description: Language deprivation is one of many causes of isolation, mental health struggles, addiction, behavioral and developmental issues that have lifelong effects on individuals and families. This presentation will give participants an insight into the struggles within the family and show how to be more inclusive and provide them with resources and support available.
- View presentation.