The 8th Annual Breaking Barriers, Life Beyond Labels Conference will take place on Tuesday, April 22nd at the Deschutes County Expo Center in Redmond. Guided by a vision for an inclusive community where barriers don’t exist and labels such as disability have no meaning, this conference brings together over 500 participants to learn, connect, and inspire change.

This year’s keynote speaker is Alva Gardner, a nationally recognized speaker, trainer, and disability inclusion consultant. Through her company, The 43 Perspective LLC*, Alva helps organizations create systemic change, bringing disability into spaces where it is too often excluded. Known for her bold, honest voice, she shares her lived experience as a woman with a disability to challenge assumptions and reframe what inclusion truly means.

The conference will feature 36 dynamic breakout sessions on topics such as positive behavior support, future career exploration, ableism 101, assistive technology, and self-care strategies for caregivers. Attendees will also have access to the largest disability resource fair ever held in the region, with 70 exhibitors providing tools, programs, and services to support people with disabilities and their families.

In addition to a full day of learning and connection, participants will have the chance to win from over 20 amazing raffle baskets, generously donated by community partners and supporters.

Made possible by over 20 local and state partners, including Full Access High Desert, Central Oregon Disability Support Network (CODSN), Office of Developmental Disability Services, Best Care, High Desert ESD, Connections NW, Joieful Connections, Premier Community Supports, Essential Services, Cody’s Country Catering, and Deschutes County, the conference is open to the public and welcomes people with disabilities, families, educators, and service providers.

Registration is required. For more information or to register, visit: https://www.codsn.org/breaking-barriers/