Reminder to Register for The Everyday Lives 2026 Virtual Conference and Dual Diagnosis Conference
May 6 – 16, 2026
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) invites you to register for its Everyday Lives 2026 Virtual Conference which will also feature the 2026 Dual Diagnosis Conference!
The 2026 Everyday Lives Conference will include ODP’s annual Dual Diagnosis Conference as a pre-conference event jointly hosted with the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS).
The biannual Everyday Lives Conference, hosted by the Pennsylvania Office of Developmental Programs (ODP), invites individuals with a disability and/or autism (ID/A), family members, caregivers, and support professionals to engage in presentations and panels focused on sharing information that empowers the everyday lives of individuals with disabilities throughout Pennsylvania.
The full event will feature twenty-one presentations from over thirty experts over the course of six days. Attendees are encouraged to join for as much of the conference as their schedule allows.
The Dual Diagnosis Pre-conference, May 6-7, will feature presentations about the intersection of ID/A and mental health for individuals and professionals. This year’s theme for the Dual Diagnosis Pre-conference event is Brain and Body Connection Understanding the Vagus Nerve.
To build community, a series of official Everyday Lives watch parties will be hosted throughout the state! Join the party at the link below.
Presenters Include:
Michelle Maikoetter, MA, NCC, LPC-S
Director of Special Projects for the Neurosequential Network
Healing with the Brain in Mind – An Introduction to the Neurosequential Model
Our first connections or disconnections set the stage for all future relationships. Sometimes the very interventions which are the most needed will cause the most distress in our clients – close relationships. This experiential, multi-sensory training will provide takeaway information which will be helpful in every area of your life -personal as well as professional. Case examples will be used to show how looking at past history of relationships and adversity along with presenting challenges can create a NMT Metric – a clinical problem-solving tool which helps individualize the sequencing of interventions for each client. Traditional types of interventions will be discussed including their limitations and possibilities.
Dr. Josie Badger DHCE, CRC
President of J Badger Consulting Inc
From Lived Experience to Collective Leadership: Building Everyday Lives for Everyone
People with disabilities and families change systems every day by sharing their stories. In this keynote, Dr. Josie Badger will explore how lived experience, self-determination, and storytelling can turn challenges into action and hope, with practical tips for framing stories for providers, policymakers, and community partners. A panel of self-advocates will then share real examples of how using their voices has influenced services, policy, and community life.
Robin Christopherson, MBE
Head of Digital Inclusion, AbilityNet
Artificial Intelligence (AI) in our Everyday Lives
Robin’s own experience of sight-loss gives him a first-hand experience of the power of digital tech to transform people’s lives – and he loves nothing more than showing people how he uses computers, the internet, his phone, Amazon Alexa and many other technologies as part of his daily life.
It has also made him a passionate and powerful advocate for accessibility, inclusive design and digital inclusion, making the case for social and technical changes to business, government, third sector, universities and many other organizations.
And many, many more!
Schedule & Conference Tracks
| Dual Diagnosis The Brain Body and Body Connection: Understanding the Vagus Nerve May 6 – May 7, 2026 The annual Dual Diagnosis conference takes an everyday lives spin! The Dual Diagnosis track, hosted by the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) and the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS), will feature presentations about the cross section of mental health and intellectual/developmental disabilities and/or autism. Day one will feature presentations for professionals, and day two will focus on material for individuals and families. |
| Accessibility in the Digital Age Tuesday, May 12, 2026 A clear-eyed look at how technology affects our everyday lives and how we may harness it for good |
| Person-Centered Approaches Wednesday, May 13, 2026 Presentations highlighting the importance of person-centered planning throughout every step of the journey – from systems changes to individual support plans |
| Everyday Lives for Everyone Thursday, May 14, 2026 Discussions of advocacy, resilience, and building networks of natural supports in your community |
| Post-Conference Workshop for Individuals and Families Saturday, May 16, 2026 An opportunity for individuals and family members to discuss EDL presentation materials and form connections |
Visit www.everydaylives.org to view the full conference schedule and register.
