42nd Annual NJSSAN Fall Conference
Friday, October 2, 2026
Located at Pines Manor:
2085 Lincoln Hwy, Edison, NJ 08817
Conference Schedule
Please note the conference will be 9AM - 2PM this year!
9:00 AM - 9:30 AM: Registration and Exhibitor hall
9:30 AM - 10:00 AM: Welcome and Opening Remarks
10:05 AM - 10:40 AM: Keynote Speech
10:45 AM - 11:15 AM: Council Updates
11:20 AM - 12:20 PM: Your Voice at Work: Crafting Persuasive Advocacy and Compelling Testimony Supporting Employment First
12:25 PM - 12:55 PM: Lunch and Awards Session
12:55 PM - 1:55 PM: Dancing, & Networking
1:55 PM - 2:00 PM: Closing Remarks
*Schedule times are tentative and may change as we get closer to the event.
About The Event
Each year, the New Jersey Self-Advocacy Program (NJSAP) and the New Jersey Statewide Self-Advocacy Network (NJSSAN) work together to host the annual Fall Conference. This event is an opportunity for Disability Advocates to network, learn about current advocacy issues, and attend professional development workshops.
The theme of our 2026, in-person, conference is "Rise Up For Advocacy". The Advisory Board members of the NJSSAN picked this topic to bring awareness that every person is a vital part of advocacy as a whole. Advocacy is stronger when we all speak up together!
Our Conference this year will be a brand new experience! Our new Advisory Board President, Shondel Greenwood, will be our emcee! Shondel has been an advocate for many decades and speaks up for advocates in Atlantic County and New Jersey!
During the conference you will be hearing updates from our Statewide Self-Advocacy Network and the 6 Councils! There will also be training and a very special keynote. You can learn more about those features below!
We will also be holding our awards during the conference and we need your nominations! Please fill out the nomination form HERE when it opens.
We can't wait for this event and we hope to see you at our Conference this October!
Keynote Speaker - Morgan Neumann, M.A., Disability Studies
Morgan Neumann is a disability studies advocate, educator, and writer dedicated to reshaping how society understands inclusion, autonomy, and representation. She earned her undergraduate degree from Ramapo College of New Jersey and her master’s in Disability Studies from the City University of New York (CUNY), where she deepened her commitment to disability justice and culturally responsive K-12 education.
Through her ongoing work Morgan explores how medical, educational, and cultural systems can evolve to recognize disabled people as experts in their own lives. Her work spans multiple formats: family-friendly guides, lesson plans, advocacy manuals, educational games, and creative teaching tools that bring disability studies into everyday spaces. Each project reflects her personal experience as someone living with a disability and her belief that real equity begins early through play, storytelling, and the presumption of competence for every child.
In her companion volume Disability, the Missing Piece, and the Universal Toy Box, Morgan continues her mission to connect advocacy and education. By exploring how toys can teach justice long before textbooks do, she invites educators, parents, and policymakers to see inclusion not as an extra but as culture.
Training: Your Voice at Work: Crafting Persuasive Advocacy and Compelling Testimony Supporting Employment First
Now more than ever, our voices need to take center stage to influence disability employment policies at every level. The professional experience, the lived experiences, the challenges, and success stories are all critical to supporting WIOA, ending 14c subminimum wage, arguing for DSP compensation, and realizing competitive, integrated employment for all in policy and practice. While it is imperative for advocates, families, and professionals to engage in persuasive, effective advocacy, many do not know where to even begin. This session will familiarize participants with public comments, written/oral testimony, and how to transform your personal/professional experience into moving messages that will move the needle for Employment First, Employment for All.
Presented by Dr. Rob Kimmel, EdD, BCBA, CESP
Dr. Rob Kimmel is a Training and Consultation Specialist for the Employment and Transition project at The Boggs Center on Disability and Human Development. Rob provides training, consultation, and technical assistance regarding best practices in Supported Employment and Transition to Adulthood.
Rob graduated from the Rutgers Graduate School of Education with a Doctorate in Education, with a focus in Special Education. He has worked in the disability field for over fifteen years in a multitude of expansive capacities. Rob is a a NJ certified K-6 and Special Education teacher, a Certified Employment Support Professional (CESP), and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), providing multidisciplinary support to families and individuals within their homes, schools, workplaces, and communities.
Rob serves on the board of directors for NJAPSE: The Association of Persons Supporting Employment First. In addition to chairing and participating in many state, regional, and national committees, he has also served on NJ Department of Education workgroups revising policies and state resources such as the Autism Program Quality Indicators (APQI) utilized by schools throughout the state which set benchmarks for program excellence.
2026 Fundraiser
The Advisory Board, with The New Jersey Statewide Self-Advocacy Network, has decided to sell a mug representing the theme of this year's conference: "Rise Up For Advocacy". The mug was designed by members of the Advisory Board.
You can purchase your mug here as soon as it is available. All proceeds go to the Advisory Board and the advocates of The New Jersey Statewide Self-Advocacy Network.
Sponsorship
As a nonprofit organization, we depend upon the generous support of sponsors to make this event a reality. Sponsors will be featured in our digital ad journal and all promotional materials for the event. Please review the information below regarding the various sponsorship opportunities, which directly support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. As a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization, all monetary donations made to The Arc of New Jersey are 100% tax deductible. Please note that any income generated from this event will be used to offset the conference costs or any future event costs.
Available Sponsorships
□ Morning Mingle: $2,500
o Conference attendees will have the opportunity to network during the registration and exhibitor hall, giving participants the time to discuss the issues they face and share common concerns and experiences in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. Morning Mingle sponsors will be recognized at the coffee station, registration table, and in conference literature. Sponsors may also have a free exhibit table, if they wish.
□ Networking Lunch: $3,000
o The hour and a half-long session for lunch will provide individuals with another networking opportunity. Lunch sponsors will be recognized at the registration table and in conference literature. A verbal mention by the DJ during lunch is also included. Sponsors may also have a free exhibit table, if they wish.
□ Ad Journal Full Page: $600 □ Half Page $300 □ Quarter Page $150
o Your logo and message will be featured in our ad journal.This will be distributed digitally to our network and a printed copy will be at each table during the event. Size: 8.5" x 11" (full) / 8.5" x 5.5" (half) / 4.25" x 5.5 " (quarter)
□ Keynote Speaker: $650
o Your logo will be featured in the ad journal, social media promotions, and promotions preceding/during the event. These funds make it possible to provide a quality keynote speaker for the event.
□ Exhibitor Hall: $350 (8/10 available)
o Attend our exhibitor hall and engage our guests with your information and resources during the scheduled Exhibitor Hall session of the event. Only one meal is included. Add an additional exhibitor and meal for $50. Each table only seats 2 vendors maximum. Please make sure to include the name of your exhibitor(s) and any dietary requests below.
□ Scholarship Fund: $ Custom Amount
o You can donate an amount of your choice to help provide free tickets ($75) to advocates who might not otherwise be able to attend the event.
Fill out the online form below to sponsor the event.
If you choose to sponsor the event, please send your logo (and ad if applicable) to NJSAP@ArcNJ.org
Exhibitor Deadline: August 31st, 2026