Our 27th annual Evidence for Success Disability Conference took place June 22-24, 2026, at the Wild Horse Pass Resort in Chandler, Arizona.
This year’s conference welcomed more than 550 attendees, featured 50+ exhibitors, and offered 65 educational and professional development sessions.
The goal of the Evidence for Success Disability Conference is to provide a platform for sharing current information, innovative ideas, and best practices that promote greater inclusion and expanded opportunities for people with disabilities. The conference also serves as a valuable opportunity for networking, collaboration, and community-building, particularly within Arizona’s disability community.
Since its inception, the conference has been a collaborative effort between the Institute for Human Development (IHD), the Arizona Department of Education’s Exceptional Student Services (ADE-ESS), and the state’s Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA). Additional hallmarks of the conference include educational sessions organized into three content tracks: Assistive Technology, American Indian/Alaska Native Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment, and Innovative Practices in Disability Disciplines. The conference also offers free exhibit hall access on the afternoon of the first day and a networking reception hosted by IHD’s Disability Minor Program.
This year’s event featured keynote presentations from Daniel Wendler, PsyD, a clinical psychologist and proudly autistic advocate for neurodiversity, and Pamela Rae Schuller, a disability advocate and professional stand-up comedian. Breakout sessions explored a 
wide range of timely topics, including Generative AI, Neuralink Brain-Computer Interface, Smart Home Technology, Exoskeleton Use, and Disability Advocacy and Policy.
Additional highlights from this year’s conference included:
- A two-day, eight-session strand designed specifically for K-12 education professionals, developed and curated in partnership with the Arizona Department of Education’s Exceptional Student Services team.
- A collaboration with the Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities, resulting in a full-day, four-session strand discussing several of the center’s statewide initiatives.
- Breakout sessions presented by staff from LSUHSC Human Development Center, Louisiana’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, and the West Virginia Assistive Technology System (WVATS), the state’s AT Act program.
In addition to keynote presentations and breakout sessions, the conference featured roundtable discussions, poster presentations, and optional preconference workshops. Participants also had the opportunity to earn continuing education (CE) credits while connecting with others committed to advancing inclusion and opportunity for people with disabilities.
We are pleased to report that 100% of survey respondents expressed overall satisfaction with the conference. Many attendees shared positive feedback, including:
- “I learned so much and I made so many new connections, in addition to catching up with so many brilliant minds!”
- “It was obvious throughout the conference how much time, planning, and expertise went into making the event such a success. Everything, from the organization and logistics to the welcoming atmosphere and quality of the sessions, was exceptionally well done.”
- “The variety was very good from presenters, posters, and vendors.”
Our IHD team would like to thank everyone who attended and helped make this year’s conference such a success. We are already looking forward to next year as we celebrate IHD’s 60th anniversary. Stay tuned for more information about the 2027 Evidence for Success Disability Conference in the coming months!
