Summit Program—Panel, sessions and presenter details
March 23, 2026: Two Pre-Summit Social Events on Monday
2:30-4:30 P.M. Campus film screening and discussion by filmmaker, Jim Warne
- Film Title:
- Location: University Theater, University Center 3rd
- Details: FREE and open to the public.
- Film is captioned.
7 – 9 P.M. Comedians with Disabilities Act: Comedy, advocacy, and health.
- Location: University Theater, University Center 3rd
- Details: FREE and open to the public. This is an added performance for the Comedians with Disabilities Act 51³Ô¹ÏÍø tour to launch the Summit.
- Sponsored by the 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Rural Institute on Inclusive Communities Program Development Funds.
- ASL and CART provided.
March 24, 2026: Day 1
Theme: Driving the health of adults with disability in 51³Ô¹ÏÍø through partnerships, community accessibility, and innovative solutions that address healthcare access, chronic disease prevention, and nutrition.
Emcee: Joel Iverson, PhD, Professor, Department of Communication Studies, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø
ASL and CART: Provided for all presentations and group discussions (9 A.M. – 5 P.M.)
Agenda for Day 1:
7:00 A.M. Vendors may check-in and start setting up their tables
8:00 A.M. Sign in opens, coffee and tea provided
9:00 A.M. Welcome, housekeeping, and dignitaries
- Welcome and song
Led by Zachariah Rides at the Door, Payne Family Native American Center Program and Building Manager - Overview of ASL and CART
Led by Faith Dawson, Disability Advisor, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Disability and Health Program and Cecily Whitworth, PhD, Disability Advisor, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Disability and Health Program - Housekeeping and overview of the UC emergency plans
Led by Shannon Brilz, Director of Conference and Events Services, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø - Student introduction
Delivered by Skylar Tibbs, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Equity in Action, and Opal Besaw, Campus-based Community Living Supports and Student Success - Dean Matthew Fete of the College of Health and Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences Professor, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø
9:15 A.M. Keynote
Presented by Jim E. Warne, MS, Warrior Society Development, LLC and Gen7 Productions; Community Engagement Director University of South Dakota, Center for Disabilities Oyáte Circle; and Affiliate Arizona School of Medicine; introduced by Mike Beers, Comedians with Disabilities Act, Youth Advocacy Coordinator, Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living
9:45 A.M. Panel: State of the Health of 51³Ô¹ÏÍøns with Disabilities
Moderated by Noelle Kurth, MS, University of Kansas Institute for Health and Disability Policy Studies, Life Span Institute
- The Social Determinants of Health Model and data for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD)
Presented by Hana Meshesha, PhD, Department of Counseling, Idaho State University – Meridian; Meg Ann Traci, PhD, Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities and School of Public and Community Health Sciences, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø; and Connie Lewis, Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø - Disability and data: Identifying quality data sources that capture the health of people with disabilities
Presented by Mackenzie Jones, MPH, CHES, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Disability and Health Program, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Department of Public Health and Human Services - Data in Action: Using data to improve services for people with IDD
Presented by Shannon Cole-Merchen, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Developmental Disabilities Program, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Department of Public Health and Human Services - The power of community living: Using data to inform Centers for Independent Living
Presented by Tami Hoar, MHRM, Executive Director, Summit Independent Living - Fit for life: The impact of Special Olympics Health on athlete healthy lifestyles Presented by Mallory Frank, Special Olympics 51³Ô¹ÏÍø
10:30 A.M. Group discussion on State of the Health panel
Moderated by Noelle Kurth, MS, University of Kansas Institute for Health and Disability Policy Studies, Life Span Institute
10:45 A.M. Break
11:00 A.M. Panel 1: State of Accessibility in 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Communities
Changing the landscape through technology and training: Digital accessibility and accessible communications
Moderated by Ray Petty, PhD, Kansas Accessible Sports- Presented by: Jessica Weltman, Jennifer Sauer, Amy Ratto-Parks, Teressa M. Keenan, Mark Lannen, Lauren Fern, Kate Duran, Damian Chase-Begay, Jeanie Castillo, and Charity Atteberry.
11:45 A.M. Panel 2: State of Accessibility in 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Communities
Changing the landscape through policy, programs, and engagement: Community and physical accessibility
Moderated by Ray Petty, PhD, Kansas Accessible Sports
- Our Voice and Participatory Action Science
Presented by Maja Pedersen and Samantha Morigeau, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø School of Public and Community Health Sciences, Tribal Health of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes - Promoting access to nutrition and food security through Inclusive Interdisciplinary Walk/Move Audits in Butte, MT
Presented by Cassie Wick, Ability 51³Ô¹ÏÍø - Missoula Planning Organization Public Participation Plan
Presented by Ben Weiss, Glenn Ingram, and Travis Hoffman, City of Missoula Public Works and Mobility Department and Summit Independent Living - Promoting Physical Activity and Outdoor Recreation with Disability Led Organizations
Presented by Brenden Dalin, Summit Independent Living
12:30 P.M. Lunch break: Box lunch provided
*Feel free to network with peers, visit vendor tables or take a personal moment to refresh*
1:30 P.M. Group discussion on State of Accessibility in 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Communities panels
Facilitated by Ray Petty, Jim Warne, and Joel Iverson
2:00 P.M. Presentations: Transforming Health Access with People with Developmental Disabilities
Introduced by Joel Iverson
- IntellectAbility and Clinical Pearls (30 min)
Presented by Dr. Craig Escudé, MD, FAAFP, FAADM, FAAIDD, IntellectAbility - Station MD: The impacts and the expansion across 51³Ô¹ÏÍø (30 min)
Presented by Geoff Musti, PT, DPT, GCS Station MD - Q&A with IntellectAbility and Station MD
Facilitated by Joel Iverson
3:15 P.M. Break with snacks
3:30 P.M. Panel: Person-Centered Public Health and Health Promotion Initiatives
Moderated by Jae Kennedy, PhD, Elson. S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University
- It’s more than sports: Stories from athletes on how Special Olympics helps them live a healthier lifestyle (15 min)
Presented by Hilary Benjamin, Coley Stensgar-Maul, and Mallory Frank, Special Olympics 51³Ô¹ÏÍø - Success stories from a Linkage Program: Expanding access to health promotion and peer support through wellness workshops in group homes (15 min)
Introduced by Meg Traci, PhD., 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Disability and Health Program
Presented by Jean Morgan, Spring Meadow Resources, and Laura Kneedler, Westmont - Healthy Community Living: Person-centered workshops that empower adults with disability to live full and healthy lives (10 min)
Presented by Amy Lariviere, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø, RTC Rural, Kally Barlow, North Central Independent Living Services, and Cassie Wick, Ability 51³Ô¹ÏÍø - Overviews of the Center for Population Health Research and the 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Clinical and Translational Research Center
Presented by Tony Ward, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø School of Public and Community Health Sciences (10 min.) - Q&A with Person-Centered Public Health Panel
Facilitated by Jae Kennedy, PhD.
4:30 P.M. Summary of Day 1
Facilitated by Joel Iverson and Jim Warne
4:50 P.M. Final words for Day 1 of the Summit and reminders for Day 2
Led by Joel Iverson
5:00 P.M. Adjourn
March 24, 2026: Tuesday night social event
5:30 P.M. Accessible Drone and related technology demonstrations
Stephen Van Marter and Tyler Stosich, Accessible Skies and Jeremy Crowley, Autonomous Aerial Systems Office (AASO), 51³Ô¹ÏÍø
- Location: The Oval, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø (demonstration may relocate to the Adams Center dependent on weather).
- Details: FREE and open to Summit attendees.
- Sponsored by Summit Independent Living, Accessible Skies, and UM AASO
- ASL and CART provided.
March 25, 2026: Day 2
Theme: Planning for disability inclusive emergency management in 51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Emcee: Joel Iverson
ASL and CART: Provided for all presentations and group discussions (9 A.M. – 5 P.M.)
Agenda of Day 2:
8:00 A.M. Registration and vendor tables open, coffee and tea provided
9:00 A.M. Welcome
Led by Joel Iverson
- Housekeeping and overview of the UC emergency plans
Led by Shannon Brilz, Director of Conference and Events Services, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø
9:15 A.M. Disability Consideration and the Whole Community Approach to Emergency Management Panel
Moderated by: Mary Willard, National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (Discussion questions prepared by: Dr. Lauren McKeague, School of Public and Community Health Sciences, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø)
- An Overview of the Whole Community Approach
Presented by Adrian Beck, Julia Goar, and Travis Hoffman - Emergency department utilization among individuals with disabilities: ‘Blue sky’ week vs. the 2024 derecho
Presented by Vanessa Whattam, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Department of Public Health and Human Services; Rachel Peterson, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø; and Meg Traci, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Rural Institute on Inclusive Communities - Accessible emergency management initiatives
Presented by Lucy Galarus, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Tech; Ricky Burns, Ability 51³Ô¹ÏÍø; and Doug Galarus, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Tech - Are we prepared? Gaps and opportunities for Developmental Disabilities Providers to plan with consumers for emergencies
Facilitated by Greg Zadina, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Council on Developmental Disabilities; Patrick Maddison and Jean Morgan, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Association on Community Disability Service Providers
10:45 A.M. Break
11:00 A.M. An Overview of Public Safety Power Shut Offs
Presented by Max Rebholz, Northwestern Energy
12:00 P.M. Disability Considerations for Public Safety Power Shut Offs
Moderated by Joel Iverson and Max Rebholz
12:30 P.M. Box Lunch Provided
*Feel free to network with peers, visit vendor tables or take a personal moment to refresh*
1:30 P.M. Person Centered Emergency Preparedness with Red Cross
Introduced by Joel Iverson
- Be Red Cross Ready: Community Preparedness Presentation for People with Access and Functional Needs (60 min)
Presented by Rosemary Callahan, American Red Cross of 51³Ô¹ÏÍø
- An Introduction to Person Centered Emergency Preparedness (30 min)
Presented by Rosemary Callahan, American Red Cross of 51³Ô¹ÏÍø
3:00 P.M. Break
3:15 P.M. Discussion and Close Out Activities
- Getting from here to there: Close out activities (75 min)
Facilitated by Joel Iverson and Jim Warne - Health Communication 101 (15 min)
Heather Voorhees, Communication Studies, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø
4:45 P.M. Wrap Up and Post-Survey
Led by Joel Iverson
5:00 P.M. Adjourn
Summit Post-Survey
Thank you for taking the Summit Post-Survey (10 multiple choice questions)