06/09/2026
Shared: National Council on Independent Living
Washington Leaders Selected to Present at National Independence Conference
The National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) has updated the agenda and released the full workshop schedule for its 2026 Annual Conference on Independent Living, taking place this July in Washington, D.C.
Among the national line-up, Washington State will be prominently represented. WASILC Executive Director Courtney Williams and Jim House, Program Manager for the Coalition on Inclusive Emergency Planning (CIEP), have been selected to present their workshop, "Architects of Resilience: A New Model for SILC-Led Systems Advocacy in Emergency Management."
Workshop Spotlight: Architects of Resilience
Housed under the conference tracks designed to share actionable, real-world impact strategies, this presentation will highlight Washington's innovative framework for embedding disability equity directly into emergency management. Williams and House will detail how systemic, state-level advocacy can ensure that access and functional needs are integrated into disaster preparedness, response, and recovery before a crisis hits.
Why This Matters for Washington—Now and in the Future
People with disabilities face disproportionately higher risks during disasters, making inclusive planning a matter of fundamental civil rights. This national selection underscores Washington's position as a blueprint leader in emergency equity:
Elevating the "Whole Community" Approach: This presentation shares Washington’s concrete successes in moving emergency management away from reactive planning and toward proactive, community-led resilience models.
Sustaining a Permanent Seat at the Table: Securing a national platform reinforces the necessity of maintaining permanent, structural partnerships between state emergency planners and disability advocates.
Disaster landscapes will continue to shift with climate realities and infrastructure changes. By solidifying these advocacy frameworks today, Washington ensures that the core principle—Nothing About Us Without Us—remains standard operational policy for safeguarding the entire community permanently.
Conference Details at a Glance
The updated schedule features interactive sessions, peer collaboration, and targeted tracks, including Advocacy in Action, Empowered to Lead, Building Resilient Organizations, and Strengthening Connections.
Full Workshop Schedule: https://bit.ly/49LbS2F
Complete Conference Agenda: https://bit.ly/4fuIZvn
The National Council on Independent Living looks forward to welcoming advocates, presenters, and leaders to the capital this July!
The agenda for NCIL’s 2026 Annual Conference on Independent Living has been updated with new details, and the full workshop schedule is now available on our website.
- Workshops: https://bit.ly/49LbS2F
- Agenda: https://bit.ly/4fuIZvn
Workshops are organized into tracks such as Advocacy in Action, Empowered to Lead, Building Resilient Organizations, and Strengthening Connections. Tracks help attendees find sessions that match their interests. Each listing includes a description, presenter bios, target audience, and experience level to support planning.
Sessions will cover timely topics like funding strategies for the disability rights movement, protecting independence in the age of surveillance technology, strengthening services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and so much more.
These interactive workshops emphasize practical strategies, collaboration, and real-world impact. Visit the conference website to explore the agenda.
We can’t wait to welcome you this July!
Image: National Council on Independent Living logo features a multi-colored fingerprint.
