Speak Up and Speak OUt Summit

August 31 - September 2, 2026
Hybrid

Speak Up and Speak Out Summit (SUSO)

is a 3-day conference of speakers that will show people with disabilities that they have a voice and that they have choices in what they do with their lives. We are committed to empowering persons with disabilities to reach their highest potential in education, employment, and community living.

Stronger Together: Protecting Our Community

AGENDA

2026 Agenda

4:00 - 6:00 PM

6:00 - 7:00 PM

Monday, August 31, 2026

IN PERSON ONLY:
Check in at registration table; dinner is on your own

IN PERSON ONLY:
The ICDD Community Engagement and Trivia Hour

Tuesday, September 1, 2026

8:00 AM

IN PERSON ONLY:
Check in at registration table; Continental Breakfast

9:15 - 10:30 AM

9:00 - 9:15 AM

ALL:
Welcome and Housekeeping
Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities

Keynote: “Building Bridges. Breaking Barriers. The Ripple Effect,” presented by Michael Wayne O’Neill

Break

ALL: Breakout Session #1
Alexandra Baig
"Work More and Keep Your Social Security and Medicaid”

IN PERSON ONLY: Breakout Session #2
Timotheus “T.J.” Gordon, Jr.
“Lead On: Getting Involved in Civic Engagement... Besides Voting”

IN PERSON ONLY: Breakout Session #3
Sheila Cull
“More than Words: Dysarthria, Education, and Being Heard”

Lunch Break and Open Mic

ALL: Breakout Session #4
Kaela Denny, April McClees, Karthik Ramalingam, Jennifer Thibodeaux Sands
“Stronger Together: Developing Effective Advocacy Skills and a Powerful Community Network”

IN PERSON ONLY: Breakout Session #5
Stephanie Kanter
"Building My Financial Strength with My IL ABLE Account”

IN PERSON ONLY: Breakout Session #6
Tavarus Wesley
"My SABE SARTAC Fellowship Journey”

Break

ALL:
Severe Weather Safety presented by Adam Cooper, Alex Tabor, and Carla Crawford

IN PERSON ONLY: Dinner

IN PERSON ONLY: Costume Ball

10:30 - 11:00 AM

11:00 - 11:45 AM

2:00 - 2:45 PM

5:00 - 7:00 PM

7:00 - 10:00 PM

12:00 - 1:45 PM

2:45 - 3:00 PM

3:00 - 4:00 PM

8:00 - 9:00 AM

9:00 - 10:00 AM

10:00 - 10:30 AM

10:30 - 11:15 AM

11:15 - 11:30 AM

11:30 - 12:30 PM

12:30 PM

Wednesday, September 2, 2026

IN PERSON ONLY:
Continental Breakfast

ALL: Legislative Panel

Break - Check-out of rooms - hold luggage with registration

ALL: “Nothing About Us Without Us. Inclusion of Immigrants with Disabilities” presented by Claudia
Castillo Ayala and Jae Jin Pak, University of Illinois Chicago, Department of Disability & Human
Development

Break

ALL: Keynote presented by Mia Ives-Rublee

Boxed Lunch - Hang out a little longer or take it to go

Keynote Speakers

Michael Wayne O’Neill

“Building Bridges. Breaking Barriers. The Ripple Effect"

SPEAKERS