Multicultural Disability Conference 2025:

Keynote Speaker: Darren Parry

“The Medicine Wheel and Holistic Wellness: Reframing Disabilities in Native Culture”
This presentation will explore how the Medicine Wheel offers a holistic framework for understanding wellness and disability in Native culture. Rather than focusing only on physical limitations, Indigenous teachings view health through the interconnected balance of spiritual, emotional, physical, and mental well-being. By reframing disabilities within this holistic approach, we recognize the strengths and gifts each person carries, rather than defining them by their challenges. This cultural perspective invites us to embrace inclusion, respect, and community care in ways that honor both individual experiences and cultural.

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Presenter: Jacy Bell Farkas

“Elevating Refugee Perspectives on Accessing Disability Services”
Arizona is one of many states that accept refugees for resettlement. Refugees arrive from many global locations and are incredibly diverse in culture and languages spoken. The Elevating Refugee Perspectives project prioritized the lived experiences of disability among refugee communities in Arizona to better understand the gaps and needs for accessing services and supports. The presentation will share the findings and recommendations from this recent research study, and current efforts to support refugees with disabilities and their families.

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Presenter: Melissa Malcolm King

"Breaking Barriers: Supporting People with Disabilities in Complex Sociocultural Contexts"
This presentation will explore the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities, particularly those at the intersection of disability and LGBTQ+ identities, within complex sociocultural contexts. These individuals often experience significant barriers to accessing essential services, facing discrimination, cultural biases, and economic hardships that affect their overall well-being. The presentation will focus on how service providers can better understand and address the unique needs of this population, ensuring that they receive the support and care they deserve. By increasing awareness and adapting services to meet the diverse needs of individuals with disabilities, we can work towards creating more accessible and supportive environments for everyone, particularly those navigating multiple layers of identity.

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Presenter: Matthew Wappett

“Mental Health & Developmental Disabilities: Challenges and Opportunities”
People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) make up around 1% of the U.S. population. Among this population, prevalence estimates of mental health issues (MHI) vary widely, with the majority of estimates between 30-50%. People with co-occurring MHI and IDD face significant barriers to living in the community, including a lack of available services and supports. They are more likely than those with IDD-only or mental health issues-only to live in institutions, contributing to increased societal costs and a reduced quality of life. People with IDD/MHI are more likely to be deemed incapable of work, earn less money, and work fewer hours, than those with IDD-only or MHI-only. They also have poorer health than people with IDD-only. There are also emerging concerns about high rates of misidentification, lack of treatment models, and polypharmacy in this population. Current community-based supports and services fall short in meeting the complex needs of people with IDD/MI.  This presentation will look at the unique attributes of this population, some of the challenges in addressing their needs, and some emerging promising practices.

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Presenters: Brenda Smith & Christopher Phillips

“Digital Accessibility & Intersectionality”
This session will define accessibility, outline the importance of prioritizing digital accessibility, review legal requirements for public agencies regarding digital accessibility, and provide data for intersectionalities with digital accessibility. The session will conclude with an opportunity for attendees to discuss digital accessibility and intersectionality.

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Presenters: Jen Morgan & Libby Oseguera

“Building Bridges between Utah’s Disability & Aging Networks”
As people with disabilities age, they often face challenges navigating two service systems that do not fully intersect. This session explores efforts to bridge these gaps and discuss data, resources and service deficiencies between Utah’s Disability and Aging Networks. We will examine current initiatives and highlight available resources. Attendees will gain insight into the relationship between aging and disability services and strategies for improving coordination to better support individuals and their caregivers. Join us for a critical conversation to positively influence change.

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Presenters: Rayna Sage & Lillie Greiman

“Community, Interdependence and Place at the Intersection of Disability and Rural”
In this presentation researchers from the Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities will explore what it means to work at the intersection of disability and rurality. We will begin with an overview of what rural means and the historical and social context of rural places in the United States. Then we will explore together how disability intersects with rural communities highlighting results from across a variety of research and development projects. Finally, we will end with a group discussion on the implications this has for rural service delivery, community development, and independent living.

Sadly, the visual and audio was not recorded for this presentation, so we only have the slides available.

Slides

Panel Discussion

“Honoring Our Intersectionalities Panel Discussion”