Wednesday, April 21, 2027
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Charles J. Dougherty Ballroom, Power Center
1015 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Join educators, healthcare professionals, employers, families, advocates, community organizations, government agencies, and individuals with lived disability experience for a one-day conference focused on preparing individuals with disabilities for post-secondary success.
Centered on the theme Learning. Earning. Thriving., this conference will explore practical strategies that support individuals with disabilities as they transition from high school into adulthood. Beginning with transition planning around age 14 and continuing through adulthood, the conference recognizes that successful transition requires collaboration across education, healthcare, employment, independent living, advocacy, and community systems.
Whether preparing for higher education, entering the workforce, accessing healthcare, building independent living skills, or developing meaningful community connections, individuals with disabilities deserve coordinated supports that foster independence, opportunity, and long-term success.
2027 Conference Speakers
We are confirming speakers. Check back soon for updates!
Dr. Bridget Green
Executive Director of the Institute for Disability Empowerment and Advocacy
Walking Directions from Chatham Garage to Duquesne's Power Center
Chatham Center Garage (Washington Place entrance) is a 5 minute walk to the Duquesne University Power Center at 1015 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Take Power Center elevators to Floor 5 for Summit location.
Parking Options & Accessibility
IMPORTANT: Duquesne University on-campus garages, including Forbes and Locust, are now permit-only and unavailable for visitor parking.
Nearby Parking Options Include:
- Chatham Center Garage (Fifth Avenue entrance only) - 5-minute walk to Duquesne's Power Center. Validation tickets will be provided for this garage.
- Manor Complex Garage at 564 Forbes Ave. (West side of Liberty Tunnels); 5-minute walk to campus
- BNY Mellon Center Garage at 500 Grant Street; 5-10 minute walk to campus
- First Avenue Garage at 600 First Avenue; 10-15 minute walk to campus
- Second Avenue Parking Plaza at 1250 Second Avenue; 10-15 minute walk to campus
Accessible Parking
Guests who require accessible parking or accommodations should contact Savannah Marshall
at renners@duq.edu.
Registration Coming Soon
The 2027 Preparing for Post-Secondary Success: Bringing Health, Education, and Community Together is designed for individuals with disabilities, families, educators, healthcare professionals, employers, advocates, community organizations, and members of the broader community who are committed to supporting successful transitions into adulthood through learning, earning, and thriving.. Register by April 19, 2027 to save your spot!
| Registration Type | Fees |
|---|---|
| Medical & Health Care Professionals | coming soon |
| Community Partners | coming soon |
| Non-Duquesne Faculty and Staff | coming soon |
| Duquesne Students, Faculty and Staff | No cost (Registration Required.) |
Can’t afford the fee? Email disabilitiesconferenceFREEDUQUESNE —no questions asked.
All of the Following Professionals are Encouraged to Attend
This conference is designed for:
- Individuals with disabilities, ages 14 and older
- Parents, families, and caregivers
- K-12 educators
- Special education professionals
- Transition coordinators
- Postsecondary disability services professionals
- Vocational Rehabilitation professionals
- Healthcare providers
- Behavioral and mental health professionals
- Social workers
- Community organizations
- Employers and workforce partners
- Government agencies
- Disability advocates
Wednesday, April 21 Program
| 8:00 – 8:45 a.m. | Registration & Continental Breakfast |
Learning, Earning, Thriving
Learning: Preparing for Success After High School
This track explores educational planning, skill development, advocacy, and coordinated
supports that prepare youth with disabilities for life after graduation.
Possible session topics include transition planning beginning around age 14, understanding the transition process, postsecondary education pathways, career exploration, vocational and technical education, self-advocacy, independent living skills, family engagement, assistive technology in education, inclusive educational practices, student-centered transition planning, and the differences between school-based supports and adult services.
Earning: Workforce Readiness and Economic Independence
This track highlights strategies that prepare individuals with disabilities for meaningful
employment, financial knowledge, inclusive workplaces, and long-term economic independence.
Possible session topics include employment preparation, workplace readiness, searching for employment, inclusive hiring practices, employer partnerships, job coaching and retention, retention and advancement of employees with disabilities, benefits planning, Medicaid and billing considerations, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, internship and apprenticeship programs, and building inclusive workplaces.
Thriving: Health, Wellness, and Community Participation
This track focuses on the supports that help individuals with disabilities lead healthy,
connected, and fulfilling lives within their communities.
Possible session topics include transition from pediatric to adult healthcare, mental and behavioral health supports, secondary mental health needs during transition, medication education and adult health conversations, caregiver wellness and mindfulness, community inclusion, recreation and social engagement, healthcare navigation, independent living supports, housing resources, transportation, building natural supports, social connections, and belonging.
Hotel Accommodations
Accommodations available at various area hotels. Please make your reservations soon since there are several Pittsburgh events that may reduce availability.
Edith L. Trees Charitable Trust Gift Supports Disability Education
Duquesne University has received a $1.5 million gift from the Edith L. Trees Charitable Trust to expand disability and special needs education at the Nasuti College of Osteopathic Medicine, strengthening inclusive training and care for future physicians.
Call for Presentation Proposals
We invite educators, healthcare professionals, employers, families, advocates, community organizations, government agencies, and individuals with lived disability experience to submit proposals for 60-minute breakout sessions. Presentations should share practical strategies, evidence-informed practices, innovative programs, or lived experiences that help individuals with disabilities learn, earn, and thrive as they transition into adulthood. Collaborative and interactive presentations are strongly encouraged.
We invite presentation proposals for 60-minute breakout sessions, including Q&A, that share evidence-informed research, promising practices, practical experience, or lived experience related to transition planning and post-secondary success.
Presentations should be interactive and participant-centered whenever possible. Sessions should provide practical strategies, resources, tools, or clear next steps that attendees can apply within their schools, organizations, workplaces, healthcare settings, and communities.
Proposals should align with one of the conference tracks:
Learning: Preparing for Success After High School
Earning: Workforce Readiness and Economic Independence
Thriving: Health, Wellness, and Community Participation
Collaborative presentations featuring multiple perspectives, including individuals with lived disability experience, families, professionals, employers, advocates, and community partners, are strongly encouraged.
Presentations should be informative and practical and should not be promotional, sales-oriented, or designed primarily to market a product, service, or organization.
Include the complete submission checklist:
- Primary presenter name, title, organization, email address, and phone number
- Co-presenter names, titles, organizations, and email addresses, if applicable
- Primary contact person
- Presentation title
- Conference track: Learning, Earning, or Thriving
- 50–100 word session abstract
- Three measurable learning objectives
- Intended audience
- Presenter biography, maximum 100 words
- Co-presenter biographies, maximum 100 words each
- Session rationale, maximum 500 words
- The need for the presentation
- Its connection to the conference theme
- The benefit to the intended audience
- Planned interactive elements or participant engagement activities
- Key takeaways
- Audiovisual or technology needs
- Presenter accessibility or accommodation requests
Submit the proposal as a Word document or PDF attachment to disabilitiesconference@duq.edu. Use the email subject line “Disabilities Conference 2027 Call for Proposal Submission.”
Proposals will be reviewed by the conference planning committee based on:
- Relevance to the conference title, theme, and tracks
- Practical application for attendees
- Innovation and creativity
- Evidence-informed, practice-based, or lived-experience-based content
- Inclusion of lived experience and diverse perspectives
- Audience engagement and interactive learning opportunities
- Clear takeaways, tools, resources, or next steps for attendees
Preference will be given to presentations that provide practical tools, demonstrate successful collaborations, promote inclusive practices, and improve transition outcomes for individuals with disabilities.
- Individuals with lived disability experience
- Parents and caregivers
- K–12 and postsecondary educators
- Healthcare professionals
- Behavioral and mental health professionals
- Transition coordinators
- Vocational Rehabilitation professionals
- Postsecondary disability services professionals
- Employers and workforce development organizations
- Community-based organizations
- State and local agencies
- Disability advocates
- Researchers and practitioners
Collaborative presentations featuring professionals, families, employers, advocates, and individuals with lived experience are strongly encouraged.
Notification of Acceptance: January 30, 2027
Presenter Acceptance Confirmation: February 5, 2027
Presenter Registration Deadline: February 12, 2027
Final Presentation Materials Deadline: April 7,2027
Conference Date: April 21, 2027
Download Call for Proposal Guidelines
Download Accepted Presenter Guidelines
Questions?
Please feel free to contact us directly if you have any questions about the Conference. Additional information will be added to this page when available.