The Innovations Collaborative State Conference is a hybrid professional development event dedicated to building learning environments where all children and young adults can thrive. This conference brings together teachers, administrators, family childcare providers, paraeducators, higher education faculty, and educational coordinators. Together, we explore approaches that support the growth, participation, and success of individuals from birth to age 24–across all abilities and learning needs.

 

Keynote Presenters

Keith Jones | Lifelong Disability Activist

Keith is the President and CEO of SoulTouchin Experiences, an organization aimed at bringing a perspective to the issues of access inclusion and empowerment, which affect him as well as others who are persons with a disability. To achieve this multicultural, cross-disability education and outreach efforts he collaborates and conducts trainings with the purpose of strengthening efforts to provide services and information for people with disabilities. The issues he tackles are wide ranging from immigration, criminal justice reform, health care and environmental justice just to name a few.

Haben Girma | Disability Justice Leader

The first Deafblind person to graduate from Harvard Law School, Haben Girma is an award-winning advocate, author, and keynote speaker. She earned the Helen Keller Achievement Award, reached Forbes 30 under 30, and President Obama named her a White House Champion of Change. She believes disability challenges are opportunities for innovation, sparking new technologies that move society forward. Haben travels the globe teaching organizations how to build stronger, resilient, and more connected communities.  

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