SOAR conference to host individuals with disabilities to promote self-advocacy

“Nothing about us without us” has been a slogan for disability rights advocates for more than 30 years. The phrase highlights the need for people with disabilities to be at the table when decisions about disability policy are being made. 

Toward this goal, the Kansas University Center on Developmental Disabilities and the Self-Advocacy Coalition of Kansas are helping to host the SOAR Conference at the Marriott Kansas City in Overland Park, Kan., starting Oct. 27. 

SOAR stands for Seeking Opportunities for an Advocacy Revolution. This three-day conference will bring together individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities from states throughout the Midwest. Attendees will learn self-advocacy skills through mentoring, training and leadership development during breakout sessions and speaker presentations. 

The conference will be as fully accessible as possible, with ASL interpreters, captioners, personal care attendants on site and volunteers available to support attendees. A full schedule of conference events is available online. 

Registration is open now for the SOAR Conference at $100 per person. Information on accommodations at the Marriott Kansas City and how to book rooms at the special conference rate of $149 a night is available on the Hotel and Travel page of the SOAR Conference website.

To sign up to volunteer, visit the SOAR conference website and fill out an application.