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"What saves humanity is not enhanced self-sufficiency, but a relationship that liberates, a communion that transforms."

Pope Leo XIV

2027 Conference

Creating Community Connections

Saturday, March 6
8:30- 4:30 pm
St. Paul VI Catholic High School, Chantilly, Virginia

Join us for Creating Community Connections, a conference focused on building authentic belonging in our communities. Grounded in the truth that every child is made in the image and likeness of God, we are called to create supportive environments where children with disabilities can thrive in faith and fellowship. Equally critical is surrounding their caregivers with a strong network of support, ensuring no family walks this journey alone.

Conference Highlights

Breakout Sessions

This conference has sessions for everyone: Experts will present engaging sessions in dedicated tracks for parents, educators, clergy/religious, and teens and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. A Spanish track will be available virtually. The speaker lineup is forthcoming.

Vendor Fair

Our Vendor Fair connects participants with more than 30 local businesses and organizations offering services, resources and goods for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. The schedule will provide you with many opportunities to speak with exhibitors.

Author's Corner

New this year: The Author’s Corner, featuring local and national authors who write about the lived experience of disability and caregiving and can offer spiritual and mental health support. Meet the authors and get your books signed. The author lineup is forthcoming. 

Registration

Early Bird Pricing through January 31

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Tickets

Tickets include access to keynote presentation, breakout sessions, vendor area, networking, hot buffett lunch, and Author's Corner.
Childcare is available.

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Sponsorships

Promote your business or organization while supporting a great cause in our community.

Multiple levels available. 

Click here for benefits

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Vendors

 We connect participants with local businesses and nonprofits offering services and goods for individuals with disabilities. Connect with families who need you!

Lodging: We welcome attendees traveling from outside the Diocese of Arlington! A room block and special group rate are available at Home2 Suites by Hilton in Chantilly for Friday, March 5, 2027. Click here to book your stay at the special Conference rate.

Keynote Presentation

A Good Future for Your Family: Reimagining Disability

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Presenter: Amy Julia Becker

Amy Julia Becker invites people to reimagine the good life through her writing and speaking on disability, faith, and culture. She is the author of To Be Made Well, White Picket Fences, Small Talk, and A Good and Perfect Gift. She is a guest opinion writer for national publications and hosts two podcasts: Take the Next Step and Reimagining the Good Life.

 What if a good future for your family doesn’t require changing your child but changing the way we imagine disability? A Good Future for Your Family: Reimagining Disability invites us to imagine what becomes possible when we see every human being as a beloved gift and when we delight in every family. This keynote will combine stories from real families affected by disability with research and practical next steps, offering a new way to think about disability. Instead of believing our families are deficient, we can delight in who they are. Instead of existing in isolation, we can connect to community. And instead of only feeling fear over what lies ahead, we can learn to take the next step toward a good future. Attendees will leave with practical ways to take delight in our families and help create communities where every person can belong and contribute.

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“Humanity is a community of persons. The perfection of the human person and the development of society must be regarded as closely interdependent: to set them against one another or separate them would be to render them meaningless."

Pope Leo XIV

Presented by:

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In Partnership with:

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