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Speak Up and Speak OUt Summit

September 1 - 3, 2025
Hybrid

Speak Up and Speak Out Summit (SUSO)

is a 3 day conference of speakers that will show people with disabilities that they have a voice, they have choices in what they do with their life. We are committed to empowering persons with disabilities to reach their highest potential in education, employment and community living. 

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SUSO 2025: 20 Years of Speaking Up and Speaking Out!

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AGENDA

2025 Agenda 

4:00 - 6:00 PM

4:00 - 7:00 PM

Monday, September 1, 2025

IN PERSON ONLY:
Check in at registration table; dinner is on your own

IN PERSON ONLY:
Reception

Enjoy some light snacks and meet with other SUSO attendees.

Tuesday, September 2, 2025

8:00 AM

IN PERSON ONLY:
Check in at registration table; Continental Breakfast

9:15 - 9:20 AM

9:00 - 9:15 AM

ALL:
Welcome 
Kimberly Mercer-Schleider, ICDD


Welcome - Samantha Alloway, The Arc of Illinois

General Session
Shirley Paceley and Barbara Pritchard
"20 Years of Speaking Up and Speaking Out"

Break

Keynote Speaker: Zach Anner
"Joyful Grit: Turning Setbacks into Setups"

Break

ALL:
Breakout Session #1
Mary Mathis, Tia Nelis, Linda Sandman
"Self-Advocates and Sexuality: We Have Rights!"


IN PERSON ONLY:
Breakout Session #2
Rachel Costabile, Erika Kissel, Ashley McLeod, Ruth Pligge, Emily Ramming - Just a Dollop
"Dream. Design. Do. Turning talents into opportunities through customized work and self employment"

IN PERSON ONLY:
Breakout Session #3
Speak Out and Open Mic Prep

Lunch Break and Open Mic

ALL:
Breakout Session #4
Blue Tower Solutions
"Say What?! How to Check is Something You Hear is True"


IN PERSON ONLY:
Breakout Session #5
Erin Compton, Cheryl Jansen, Ashley McLeod, Da Wen Mei, Carole Rosen
"Register. Educate. Vote. User Your Power!"

IN PERSON ONLY:
Breakout Session #6
Jae Jin Pak and Timotheus "T.J." Gordon
"Advocacy Across Cultures and Races: The Story of Chicagoland DPOCC"

Break

ALL:
Regional Meetings

​Closing for Day Two

IN PERSON ONLY:
Dinner
 

10:00 - 10:15 AM

9:20 - 10:00 AM

11:30 AM - 12:15 PM

10:15 - 11:15 AM

11:15 - 11:30 AM

12:15 - 2:00 PM

2:15 - 3:00 PM

3:00 - 3:30 PM

3:30 - 4:30 PM

5:00 PM

8:00 AM

9:00 - 10:00 AM

10:00 - 10:30 AM

10:30 - 11:30 AM

11:30 - 11:45 AM

11:45 AM - 12:15 PM

12:15 PM

Wednesday, September 3, 2025

IN PERSON ONLY:
Continental Breakfast

ALL:
Legislative Panel

Break

Keynote Speakers - Cindy Benton, Ashley Mathey, Tia Nelis 
Self-Advocate Panel

Break

General Session
Advocate for Respect and Inclusion: The Impact of "Spread the Word" with Special Olympics Illinois

Wrap Up SUSO 2025

IN PERSON ONLY:
Boxed Lunch

Keynote Speakers

Zach Anner

"Joyful Grit: Turning Setbacks into Setups"

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Self-Advocate Panel - Cindy Benton, Ashley Mathey, Tia Nelis

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SPEAKERS

Questions? Give Us a Call!

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Kim Swanson

Becca Schroeder

The Arc of Illinois 

1-815-464-1832

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Funded by The Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities

Organized by The Arc of Illinois

“In partnership with the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities. This communication is supported in part by grant number CFDA 93.630 from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects with government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy.”

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