42nd Annual NJSSAN Fall Conference

Friday, October 2, 2026

Located at Pines Manor:
2085 Lincoln Hwy, Edison, NJ 08817

Deadline to Register: Sept. 18. 2026

Click Here to Register Now! Tickets are $75.

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.

Click here to add the event to your calendar!

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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.

We can't wait for this event and we hope to see you at the Fall Conference this October!

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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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 (7/10 available)
- 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
- 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

Contact Name

First Name *

Last Name *

Exhibitor Name(s) (if applicable)

Any Dietary Requests (Exhibitor only)

Agency/Organization

Address

Country

Address Line 1 *

City *

State/Province *

Postal Code *

Phone

Available Sponsorships

The Exhibitor Hall fits 10. Get your spot while they are open! Max 2 exhibitors per table.

Morning Mingle $2,500
Networking Lunch $3,000
Ad Journal (Full Page): $600
Ad Journal (Half Page): $300
Ad Journal (Quarter Page): $150
Keynote Speaker: $650
Exhibitor: $350 (7/10 remaining)
Extra Exhibitor Lunch: $50 (Max 1)
Scholarship Fund (Choose Your Amount)

Scholarship Fund (Choose Your Amount)

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Organization Logo (for ad journal and promotion)

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Your total payment will be .

Your credit balance will cover

Your credit card will be charged

Your bank account will be charged

If you prefer to pay by check, please fill out the downloadable form below and email it to NJSAP@ArcNJ.org by August 31, 2026.

Sponsorship Form 2026

Awards

Nominate Someone For an Award!

There will be four (4) awards given at the NJSSAN Fall Conference this year. Each winner will be highlighted at the event as well as in our ad journal and will receive a commemorative award.
Click here to nominate someone you feel demonstrates the criteria below. Please do not nominate yourself.

Jane Miller Memorial Leadership Award (Self-advocate)
- The Jane Miller Memorial Leadership Award is given to a self-advocate who has demonstrated quality leadership skills. Jane Miller was not just a good person, she was an active member of NJ /USA and The Warren County Go-Getters, worked on starting The Warren County Office For The Disabled, was very involved in transportation issues, and volunteered her time at our self-advocacy conference. Jane passed away in July 1992. This award is presented each year to a self-advocate who carries on the tradition of all that Jane stood for. A self-advocate deserving of this award may be seen testifying on topics related to IDD, spreading awareness of advocacy issues, serving on a committee as a voice for self-advocates, presenting trainings, or helping to lead their local Council.
Key Contributor Award (Self-advocate)
- The Key Contributor Award is given to a self-advocate who has shown outstanding dedication towards attending a variety of self-advocacy programming over the past year. Council meetings, trainings, webinars, Healthy Lifestyles Project:LIVE!, Brain Games; a key contributor shows up for everything!

"NJSAP" Hero Award (Supporter/Professional)
- The "NJSAP" Hero Award is given to a supporter of self-advocacy for their contributions to our program as well as promoting the self-advocacy movement and assisting folks with IDD. NJSAP regular programming includes our webinar series, Healthy Lifestyles Project: LIVE! on Zoom, Brain Games, Empowered D&D, Trailblazers movement club and our social media videos and tips on healthy living.
Unmatched Dedication Award (Supporter/Professional)
- The Unmatched Dedication Award is given to a professional in the field for their contributions to self-advocacy statewide. They have shown great respect for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and have used their immense skills, experience, and connections to support self-advocates and self-advocacy groups.

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.

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 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.

AB 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 Self-Advocacy". The mug was designed by members of the Advisory Board. You can purchase your mug here. All proceeds go to the Advisory Board and the advocates of The New Jersey Statewide Self-Advocacy Network. Mugs are $17 each and will be shipped directly to you!

PLEASE NOTE: Mugs are only available for purchase online but we can assist you in doing so at the event.

Support the NJSSAN by purchasing a mug here!

Contact

If you have any questions or encounter issues during registration, please contact Frankie Bayak.

Email: fbayak@arcnj.org

Phone/Fax: (732) 749-8514

Crafted by Firespring

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Annual Self-Advocacy Fall Conference