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Independent Living News & Policy from the National Council on Independent Living

2022 Annual Conference on Independent Living: Call for Workshop Proposals

2022 Annual Conference on Independent Living Logo: Forging Justice

July 25-28 (Grand Hyatt, Washington, DC); August 1-3 (Virtual Workshops)

Submit a workshop proposal

Note: The deadline to submit a workshop proposal has been extended to March 18, 2022.

NCIL is excited to announce our 2022 Annual Conference on Independent Living! The theme of NCIL’s 2022 Annual Conference is Forging Justice. This year’s conference will be NCIL’s first-ever hybrid conference, with options for in-person and virtual participation.

2022 is NCIL’s 40th Anniversary! We have grown so much over these past 40 years. We certainly have much to celebrate. But we must also reflect on our movement, our priorities, and what we can offer each other. The NCIL Conference is designed to provide peer support, organizing, advocacy, and learning opportunities. We will come together this summer not only to gather and learn, but to strategize and plan the future of Independent Living.

NCIL’s Annual Conference is the largest Independent Living event of the year. NCIL regularly hosts over 1,000 people, including grassroots advocates, CIL and SILC leadership, members of Congress, government officials, and representatives from other organizations that work for justice and equity for people with disabilities.

Forging Justice represents the advocacy and work that NCIL has done in pursuit of liberation for people with disabilities. But Forging Justice also represents the work that NCIL must do, that our members, and all disability advocates must do in pursuit of disability justice work that fights racism and colonialism with the same passion and dedication as we fight ableism.

With this aim, NCIL seeks workshops for our 2022 Annual Conference in the following tracks. Priority will be given to workshops that address these topics through the lens of intersectionality and disability justice:

  • Advocacy & Policy Work: Workshops addressing disability policy and systems advocacy, including healthcare, housing, transportation, intersectional justice and organizing, and other related topics.
  • Independent Living 101 Track: Workshops oriented towards youth and young adults, new attendees, and other individuals new to the Independent Living Movement.
  • Core Services Track: Workshops addressing innovation and best practices in the core services of Centers for Independent Living. 
  • Independent Living 2050: Workshops that explore the future of our movement. This track offers space to explore strategies to sustain CILs, SILCs, and the Independent Living Movement.
  • SILC Track: Workshops covering best practices and innovation in operations, programs, autonomy, and authorities of Statewide Independent Living Councils.

In addition to these priorities, NCIL’s Annual Conference Subcommittee encourages workshops that seek to improve the skills and resources of IL staff to carry out the core services of CILs and operate strong SILCs. NCIL also welcomes applications for virtual Poster Sessions, virtual Film Screenings, and other media that address our priority topics and Independent Living.

  • Please see NCIL’s Important Information for Presenters for further details before planning your proposal. Presenters and facilitators are not exempt from registration fees. Presenters must register and pay for all days they plan to attend; presenters that attend only their session and no other events do not need to register nor pay.
  • Deadline for Submission is March 18, 2022. No proposals will be accepted after 11:59 p.m. Eastern time.

Word and plain text proposal forms are available for those who are unable to complete the online form.