Registration is now open.

Join us for the second annual UCP 2023 Conference on Latinos with Disabilities

A national online conference spotlighting the role, impact and influence of Latinos in the disability community. Open to the public.

The three-day online event happens Oct. 17-19, 11 a.m to 3:30 p.m. Eastern each day.

The goal of the conference is to provide a platform for discussions and presentations on issues impacting Latinos in the disability community. While many of the topics addressed will be of interest to the general disability community, the conference highlights the distinct ways (culturally, socially, economically and historically) that Latinos with disabilities, their families and service providers shape our society and communities at large.

Among the key outcomes of the conference will be the “2023 State of Latinos with Disabilities” report.

General Admission, $19; Seniors or Students, $12.

Admission is free to all United Cerebral Palsy staff, board members, volunteers.

Email jgarcia@ucp.org for special promo code.

(Financial need scholarships also available. Email jgarcia@ucp.org)

CONFERENCE AGENDA

(Details subject to change.)

Oct. 17-19, 2023 

Day 1 – Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023

(All times are Eastern)

11 a.m. to 11:10 a.m. — Opening remarks by UCP Board Chair Keith Graham and premier sponsor introduction.

11:10 a.m. to 11:55 a.m. — “The State of Latinos with Disabilities Report” An overview of the state of Latinos with disabilities in the U.S., presented by Conference Coordinator James Garcia.

11:55 a.m. to 12:05 p.m. — Break

12:05 to 1:05 p.m. — “The Fallout of the ‘Great’ Medicaid Unwinding” With the end of the Covid-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) millions of Americans, and especially people in communities of color, are losing access to Medicaid, the federal program that provides health care coverage to nearly 90 million Americans, including low-income children, adults, and people with disabilities. The situation is wreaking havoc in Latino communities nationwide, according to a recent report by UnidosUS. Moderated by UnidosUS Health Policy Director Stan Dorn. Panelists TBA

1:05 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. — Break

1:15 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. “Podcasting in the Disability Community,” Moderated by Leah Ison and Carlos Gonzales, co-host of My Life Without Limits. Panelists TBA.

2:15 to 2:25 p.m. — Break

2:25 to 3:25 p.m. — “Latinos Workers with Disabilities in the Changing Economy.” Nearly 80 percent of new workers and 1 in 5 workers altogether in the U.S. will be Latino by 2030. How will Latino workers with disabilities factor in? Panelists TBA

3:25 to 3:30 p.m. — Closing remarks and preview of Wednesday and Thursday panels and speakers.

Day 2 – Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023

(All times are Eastern)

11 a.m. to 11:05 a.m. — Welcome remarks: UCP President and CEO Armando Contreras

11:05 a.m. to 11:55 a.m. — “The Power of Community Intersections,” a discussion about the goals, challenges, and experiences of diverse communities in the disability community. Moderated by Sasha Sencer, Director of Education and Intersectional Collaboration at ANCOR. Guests TBA.

11:55 a.m. to 12:05 p.m. — Break

12:05 to 1:05 p.m. —”Artificial Intelligence and the Future of the Disability Community.” Artificial Intelligence is rapidly reshaping our society. How will it impact the disability community? Moderated by Kate McSweeny, president and CEO of ACCSES. Panelists TBA.

1:05 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. — Break

1:15 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. – “The Legal Rights of People with Disabilities in Law Enforcement Encounters.” Lead presenter Asim Dietrich, Arizona Center for Disability Law, addresses the rights of people with psychological and intellectual disabilities when confronted by police and the courts. Panelists: TBA

2:15 to 2:25 p.m. — Break

2:25 to 3:25 p.m. — “Building Bridges to the Future.” Presenter Laura Gonzalez, VP of Transition and Day Services for UCP Seguin Greater Chicago, talks about the organization’s program for transitioning Latino youth and other young adults to adult services. Panelists: TBA

3:25 to 3:30 p.m. — Closing remarks, preview of Wednesday and Thursday panels and speakers.

Day 3 – Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023

(All times are Eastern)

11 a.m. to 11:05 a.m. — Welcome back

11:05 a.m. to 11:55 a.m. — “Race, Class, Gender and the Tragedy of Willowbrook State School.” Opened in 1947, the Willowbrook State School housed tens of thousands of people with psychiatric, intellectual and developmental disabilities until it was forced to close its doors in the 1980s because of its record of abuse and the nation’s trend toward deinstitutionalization. Jorge Matos Valldejuli, Assistant Professor and Reference Librarian at Hostos Community College at The City University of New York (CUNY) talks about the role that race, class and gender played when it came to deciding the fate of those living at one of Willowbrook’s so called overflow facilities, the Gouverneur State School. Panelists: TBA

11:55 a.m. to 12:05 p.m. — Break

12:05 to 1:05 p.m. — “Crossing Borders, Building Bridges.” Armando Contreras, president and CEO of UCP, presents on the need to build ties between nonprofit disability organizations in the U.S., Mexico and Canada to develop a unified approach to promoting equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility in society. Panelists: TBA

1:05 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. — Break

1:15 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. – “Voting Rights and the Intersection of Communities of Color and People with Disabilities.” Panelists: TBA.

2:15 to 2:25 p.m. — Break

2:25 to 3:25 p.m. — Keynote Speaker(s) TBA.

3:25 to 3:30 p.m. — Closing remarks by Armando Contreras.

Registrants will receive a Zoom link to attend this event 72 hours before the start of the conference.

Questions? Want to become a sponsor? Contact James Garcia at jgarcia@ucp.org or 602-460-1374.

Thank you to our conference sponsors: Waymo, UnidosUS Action Fund, ANCOR