2026 Summer Conference

Click here to view the latest agenda as of July 13, 2026.

It all begins on Sunday, July 19, with our semi-annual State Issues Forum led by Mohsen Badran, President & Chief Executive Officer of ACCSES New Jersey.  This always lively three-hour discussion will illuminate the concerns and opportunities that providers are experiencing in their states.  A welcome reception will follow the State Issues Forum.

Monday morning, July 20, will begin with a full breakfast followed by morning sessions, a robust lunch, afternoon sessions, and an evening reception and awards presentation.  Breakfast and lunch will be offered on Tuesday before our morning and afternoon sessions.  A mid-afternoon dessert break on Monday and Tuesday will keep energy up and provide additional networking opportunities.

The ACCSES Conference brings together an outstanding lineup of thought leaders, advocates, innovators, and industry experts dedicated to advancing the disability employment and workforce development community. Through engaging sessions, practical insights, and meaningful conversations, our speakers will challenge perspectives, share best practices, and inspire new ideas that strengthen organizations and the individuals they serve.

We are excited to welcome the following speakers to this year’s conference:

• Zach Anner, Screenwriter, Author, Comedian, Self-Advocate
• Richard Belden, President & Chief Executive Officer, SourceAmerica
• Billy Blanks Jr., President and Creative Director, Kibu
• Dr. Thomas Buckley, Ed.D., Executive Director, The Roland Center
• Cody Clark, Self-Advocate, Magician, Comedian, Public Speaker
• Allen Connely, President & Chief Executive Officer, Mozaic; Chair, National Council of SourceAmerica Employers
• Andrea Cook, Vice President of Communications and Community Relations, WORK Inc.
• C. Thomas Cook, S.Psy.S., Board President and Lead Solutions Specialist, Potentia Public Policy Institute; Chair, ACCSES Advisory Council
• Soraya Correa, President and Chief Executive Officer, National Industries for the Blind
• Barbara Curd, Vice President of Safety and Risk Mitigation, PCSI
• Richard Davis, Senior Policy Advisor, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy
• Bridget Doane, Director of Business Development, TAC Industries Inc.
• Constance Garner, PhD, Executive Director, Allies for Independence, Inc.
• J.W. Gibbs, Apprenticeship Development & Alignment Coordinator, Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI), UMass Boston; Lead Subject Matter Expert, NEON
• Franklin Gomez, Self-Advocate; Board of Trustees, OTC Services
• Melissa Harris, Deputy Director, Disabled and Elderly Health Programs Group, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS); Acting Director, Medicaid Benefits & Health Programs Group, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
• James Helm, MPA, Marketing & Communications Director, Dale Rogers Training Center
• Heather Janci, Vice President of Compliance & Best Practices, Kibu
• James (JJ) Janis, Poet Extraordinaire
• Amy Jensen, Deputy Executive Director, AbilityOne Commission
• Seth Keller, M.D., Co-Chair, National Task Group on Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia Practices; Past President, American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry
• John Kelly, Vice President of Government Affairs and Strategic Engagement, PCSI
• Trent Kocurek, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Equip
• Hannah Liedkie, President and Chief Executive Officer, Opportunities Unlimited, Inc.; Member, ACCSES Board of Directors
• Kate McSweeny, President & Chief Executive Officer, ACCSES
• Andrew O’Grady, LCSW-R, Chief Executive Officer, Mental Health America of Dutchess County
• Kohi Okamoto, Self-Advocate
• Michael Petrick, Senior Program Manager, EconSys
• Heather Pickering, Artistic Director, Flutter Productions
• Chris Porter, President and Chief Marketing Officer, FCE Benefits
• The Honorable Jon Porter, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, The Porter Group
• Jack Rollins, Director of Federal Policy, National Association of Medicaid Directors
• Brad Saathoff, Chief Executive Officer, Black Hills Works; Chair, ACCSES Board of Directors
• Jennifer Sheehy, Deputy Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy
• Sharon Smith, Chief Executive Officer, WORK, Inc.
• Antony Talia, Director of Communications and Advancement, The Roland Center
• Rick Terrazas, Vice President, Government Affairs, SourceAmerica
• Cyndy Walsh-Rintzler, Chief Executive Officer, Employment Horizons
• Kelly Wilson, Director of Human Resources, Fairmont Washington, D.C., Georgetown
• Kim Zeich, Executive Director, AbilityOne Commission