Recap: African American Conference on Disabilities Virtual Preview Sessions

Feb. 28, 2023
African American Conference on Disabilities Header Image

The Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities is a proud partner of the Annual African American Conference on Disabilities (AACD) and has been a formal and informal sponsor since its inception more than a decade ago by co-founders Renaldo Fowler and David Carey.

AACD 2023 is hosted by the Arizona Center for Disability Law (ACDL), Arizona's protection and advocacy organization with sponsorship from disability, government, and community organizations. The annual conference offers sessions and workshops that address disability rights issues at the intersection of race and disability.

In celebration of Black History Month, AACD held a virtual preview of four sessions to more than 175 people on February 8 and 9. Sessions featured self, family and community advocates:

  1. Crossroads - The Intersectional Approach to Disability Justice Framework
  2. Sankofa: Expanding A Black Family Support Group into the Midwest
  3. Meeting the Educational Needs of Arizona’s Foster Youth – A Panel Discussion
  4. Tracing the Trauma Thread from our Ancestors to Present Healing

With attendees from across the globe including 23 US states, the District of Columbia, US Virgin Islands, Germany and Uganda – the virtual preview offered a taste of what people can expect at the in-person conference on June 16, 2023. The registration fees for the virtual preview will go directly to scholarships for families and individuals with disabilities to attend the June conference.

Screenshot of zoom session, “Sankofa: Expanding A Black Family Support Group into the Midwest,” as Sonoran Center assistant director and AACD planning committee member, Jacy Farkas, introduces speakers. From bottom left corner clockwise, Jacy Farkas, ASL interpreter, Ida Winters.

Screenshot of zoom session, “Sankofa: Expanding A Black Family Support Group into the Midwest,” as Sonoran Center assistant director and AACD planning committee member, Jacy Farkas, introduces speakers. From bottom left corner clockwise, Jacy Farkas, ASL interpreter, Ida Winters.

Save the Date!

The 12th Annual African American Conference on Disabilities will return in-person on June 16, 2023 at the Hyatt Regency Downtown in Phoenix, AZ. This year’s conference will cover topics related to disability justice, voting, employment, mental health, air travel, financial security, fatherhood, early intervention, and more.

Registration will open in March, and we are still accepting donations for scholarships to support families to attend.

For conference updates and archived sessions, visit the AACD Facebook page and ACDL's website.