Disability Conferences for California Parents

Club 21 has a conference in Pasadena every January called “Tools For the Journey.” The Eaton fire caused the January conference to be canceled, so it has been rescheduled for May 3, 2025. Club 21 is an organization promoting inclusion and acceptance for people with Down syndrome, but their conference is focused on inclusive education and transition for any disability and is vendored with Regional Center.

CSUN Assistive Technology Conference is focused on “exploring the latest in technology and accessibility for persons with disabilities.” Its 40th annual conference was held in Anaheim in March 2025.

Cal-TASH is the California chapter of TASH. TASH’s mission is to “advance inclusive communities through advocacy, research, professional development, policy, information and resources.” They tend to focus on those with extensive support needs (ESN). Their annual conference is usually the last weekend of March; the 2025 conference was held in Burbank.

Dear Mom is an annual conference for women only to build community and connection between mothers of individuals with disabilities in California. Dear Mom is a Regional Center vendor and works to provide free admission to mothers of Regional Center clients, so ask your Regional Center coordinator for details (Self-Determination funds can also be used). Undivided usually has a table at this event, so stop by and say hi if you attend!

Disability Voices United (DVU) is a California advocacy organization directed by and for people with disabilities and their families. DVU has a conference each year, but it is not always the same month. Recordings from their November 2024 Conference on Equity are available on Youtube.

Language and Learning is hosted each year by the Los Angeles branch of the International Dyslexia Association to “bring together researchers, educators, clinicians, and advocates in the field of dyslexia to exchange knowledge, share best practices, and explore the latest advancements in the field.”

Supporting Innovative Practices (SIP), in partnership with the California Department of Education, hosts an annual conference focused on ”centering the voices and experiences of the disability community, ensuring decisions are being made with—and not for—individuals with disabilities.” The conference is held virtually and is free to attend.

Stanford Autism Center hosts the Annual Autism Update conference each spring, which “focuses on new research and services for autistic individuals and those with developmental disorders.” Stanford University also hosts the annual Bay Area Adult Autism Conference and Stanford Down Syndrome Conference.

Summit on Disability and Inclusion is an annual conference hosted at Chapman University’s Thompson Policy Institute. The summit “brings together current research and community partners to highlight best practices that improve the lives of people with disabilities by supporting inclusivity for all.” In the past, Chapman University has also hosted the Thompson Autism and Neurodevelopmental Center Conference.

Supported Life Institute hosts two conferences in Sacramento each year: the Annual Supported Life Conference and the California Statewide Self-Advocacy Conference. Both conferences focus on “improving the quality of life for people with disabilities,” especially individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, by advocating for more inclusive communities.

The Arc California hosts conferences with different focuses and in different locations around the state each year. In April 2025, “DisCo at the Capitol: California Disability Community Advocacy Conference” was held in Sacramento in partnership with Easterseals and United Cerebral Palsy. The Arc National Convention will be held in North Carolina in November 2025 to “connect and learn with advocates, professionals, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and their families.”

Autism in Black offers a virtual version of their annual conference so that more families across the country can participate. The conference welcomes parents of Black autistic children, Black autistic adults, and professionals who work with Black autistic individuals to this event that aims to “promote understanding, acceptance, and inclusion for Black autistic individuals.”

Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) hosts the annual International Conference on ADHD. 2025’s conference will be held in November in Kansas City. The conference invites “adults and partners, parents of children in all stages of life, clinicians of all kinds, coaches, organizers, educators, and advocates.”

Council of Parents Advocate and Attorneys (COPAA) holds their annual conference in March, and its focus is on education for those with disabilities. Their conference is held in a different city each year. In 2026, it will be held in Virginia. Many parents have been able to get the conference fees funded through Regional Center and Self-Determination.

National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC) provides “information, advocacy, and support concerning all aspects of life for individuals with Down syndrome.” Their annual July conference is disability-specific if you have a loved one with Down syndrome. Undivided non-attorney education advocate Lisa Carey says, “It is the highlight of my family’s summer vacation every year.” This event is for the entire family. They have the regular conference, sibling conference, youth and adult conference for those with Down syndrome, and Kids Camp for the children. Their conference is held in a different city each year; in 2025, it will be held in Dallas. Many families have been able to get the conference fees funded through Regional Center and SDP.

TASH’s national conference is usually in December and held in a different city each year. In 2025, it will be held in Denver. Many parents have been able to get the conference fees funded through Regional Center and SDP.

United Cerebral Palsy hosts the annual UCP Conference on Latinos with Disabilities “spotlighting the role, impact and influence of Latinos in the disability community.” In 2024, the conference was held entirely virtually and free.

Regional Centers can provide funding for parent education and training that helps them care for their child. This might include fees for attending a conference or classes to help support their child. Funding for parent education and training will usually have an annual cap and will not cover travel and lodging expenses.

Every Regional Center has different policies for what kind of parent education it will fund and the annual limitations, so talk to your service coordinator and check the purchase of service standards for your Regional Center, which should be posted on their website.