Living with a disability or being a caregiver for a loved one with disabilities can be lonely, frustrating, and confusing. An upcoming first-of-a-kind conference is designed to bring parents, caregivers and individuals together to share and expand their hard-won knowledge about finding appropriate services and resources.
The daylong Self-direction Connection Conference is scheduled on Friday, October 27 from 8am to 3pm at the Mankato Civic Center, 1 Civic Center Plaza, in Mankato, Minnesota.
“We’ve needed something like this for a long time. Our main goal is to connect people who use the services with one another; sharing lived experiences is the best way to learn,” said Jen Drganc, Director of Operations at Harry Meyering Center in Mankato, one of the organizations that is sponsoring the conference.
Drganc noted that the disability rights movement has a long history of peer-to-peer advocacy, with people consistently learning from others who use services about how to cut red tape and partner with care providers.
“No matter who they are or what their disabilities, people have a right to direct their own care and parents who support their children do, too,” added Drganc. “In person-centered care, they get to choose services—who works with them, how they are going to work, what they need. But a lot of times people have trouble navigating the system and self advocating.”
The Self-direction Connection Conference will offer attendees a slate of workshops, panels and seminars. In addition to knowledgeable parents and others who use self-directed services, they will present experts from state and county service providers, case managers and service providers.
Topics to be covered include Futures and Estate Planning, Self-advocacy and your Community Support Plan, Staff Retention and Creative Solutions and a legislative update.
“People will share how they interacted with their community support planner and how they write self-advocating into their plan,” Drganc said.
The day will also feature an extended lunch hour to allow attendees to meet as peers and begin to connect and collaborate with one another. Award-winning podcaster, WCCO broadcaster and small business owner Sheletta Brundidge, founder of ShelettaMakesMeLaugh.com, is the keynote speaker of the event. Brundidge supports her three children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
The cost to attend the conference is $40. Scholarships are available to anyone who needs it to cover the cost. For more information or to register for the conference, go here or call 507-387-8281.