African American

Conference on Disabilities

The African American Conference on Disabilities (AACD), co-founded by Renaldo Fowler and David Carey, is the only comprehensive conference that addresses disability rights issues at the intersection of race and disability.

The AACD is the premier comprehensive disability conference in the United States that addresses the intersection between race and disability. The conference examines avenues for self-advocacy to ensure the effective provision of services, resources, and enforcement of civil rights in the African American and disability communities. In the past several years, over 15,000 virtual attendees have come from all across Arizona, almost every state in the U.S., U.S. Virgin Islands, Canada, Africa, and Europe to learn and ask questions on a wide range of disability issues.

The AACD is designed to provide education and knowledge to be proactive, not reactive and for the African-American community to obtain information so it will empower them and the community on how to better serve the community and themselves. Additionally, it is a platform for policymakers and providers to come and hear directly from the African American community.

The African American Conference on Disabilities (AACD) was founded in 2012 by Renaldo Fowler and David Carey. The first AACD was funded with a donation from notable civil rights icon Jean Fairfax, an unwavering champion for justice who gained prominence through her work with both the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the American Friends Service Committee. With Ms. Fairfax’s initial funding, the AACD was born, extending her spirit of justice by providing a forum where community allies from all walks of life can convene, exchange information, and offer available resources for the protection and advocacy of people with disabilities.

Over the years, through the unwavering advocacy, outreach and mobilization of David and Renaldo, the AACD has evolved and grown exponentially to what it is today – an innovative platform where participants are encouraged to take what they have learned to better advocate for themselves, better represent their clients, explore approaches to engage and inform the community in more meaningful ways, continue the work to promote and protect the legal rights of all people with disabilities.

University of Arizona Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities

To accomplish this goal, the Sonoran Center has focused on capacity building, infrastructure development, and fostering leadership to establish itself as a recognized leader in disability within Arizona and across the nation.

We are working to ensure full community inclusion for people with disabilities by providing:

Interdisciplinary training of students and service professionals on developmental disabilities
Research and analysis aimed at developing new knowledge on disability which can be translated into model programs and public policy initiatives
Technical assistance and information sharing for the community at large on disability best practices and new information
Exemplary services and model program development to enhance and expand the systems of support for people with developmental disabilities

Disability Rights Arizona

Disability Rights Arizona (DRAZ) is a non-profit public interest law firm and the federally mandated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) agency for the State of Arizona. Our mission is to protect the legal rights of children and adults with a wide range of disabilities. We envision a society where people with disabilities enjoy full acceptance without barriers. To that end, we provide free legal services, advocacy, and resources to adults and children with disabilities in Arizona who face legal problems related to their disability

We offer critical legal and advocacy services across a broad spectrum of needs, with areas of focus developed annually based on input from people with disabilities, their family members within Arizona. These areas of focus Include:

Abuse and Neglect
Discrimination in Employment, Fair Housing, and Public Access
Disputes related to Special Education, Access to Health Care, and Access to Mental Health Care
Securing services to Assistive Technology, Vocational Rehabilitation, and Transportation
Protecting Voting Right

Arizona Statewide Independent Living Council (AZSILC)

The mission of Arizona Statewide Independent Living Council (AZSILC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, is to foster opportunity, engagement, and choice for people who have disabilities. This is done strategically and collaboratively by intentionally working to strengthen and enhance the delivery of Independent Living programs, services, and concepts across Arizona, through gathering public input, and by cultivating relationships and partnerships to maximize outcomes. AZSILC works statewide to reduce barriers, improve systems, and create pathways for people who have disabilities to thrive in their communities, and does not provide services to individuals.

About

Purpose

History

Host Partners

University of Arizona Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities

Since 2006, the University of Arizona Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities, part of the Department of Family and Community Medicine in the College of Medicine – Tucson, has been hard at work to make its vision a reality – to ensure individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities have the supports they need to fully participate in the vibrant life of our community.

To accomplish this goal, the Sonoran Center has focused on capacity building, infrastructure development, and fostering leadership to establish itself as a recognized leader in disability within Arizona and across the nation.

We are working to ensure full community inclusion for people with disabilities by providing:

Interdisciplinary training of students and service professionals on developmental disabilities
Research and analysis aimed at developing new knowledge on disability which can be translated into model programs and public policy initiatives
Technical assistance and information sharing for the community at large on disability best practices and new information
Exemplary services and model program development to enhance and expand the systems of support for people with developmental disabilities

Disability Rights Arizona

Abuse and Neglect
Discrimination in Employment, Fair Housing, and Public Access
Disputes related to Special Education, Access to Health Care, and Access to Mental Health Care
Securing services to Assistive Technology, Vocational Rehabilitation, and Transportation
Protecting Voting Right

Arizona Statewide Independent Living Council (AZSILC)

Come learn, grow, and connect

Topics

Explore important issues at the intersection of race and disability, from civil rights and accessible services to inclusion, community resources, and self-advocacy. Discover new perspectives and practical knowledge to help create more equitable and inclusive communities.

Speakers

Learn from advocates, professionals, community leaders, and individuals with lived experience who are working to advance disability rights and inclusion. Hear diverse perspectives, exchange ideas, and gain inspiration to make a difference in your community.

Sessions

Participate in engaging workshops, interactive discussions, and learning opportunities designed to turn knowledge into action. Connect with fellow attendees, vendors, and sponsor organizations while discovering resources, building relationships, and exploring new ways to strengthen advocacy.

Who Should Attend

A Conference for everyone

This conference is truly for everyone, whether you are a member of the disability community, a family member of a person with a disability, or simply someone who wants to expand their knowledge on the intersection of race and disability.

Our Audience

In the past our audience has included people with disabilities and their family members, federal, state and local government officials, attorneys, social services professionals, healthcare professionals, educators, staff from disability-serving organizations and students and self-advocates of all ages.

Messages from Our Supporters

Ability360 – Gold Supporter

City of Phoenix Equal Opportunity Department – Silver Supporter

Arizona Clean Election Commission – Silver Supporter

Featured Sessions

2026 Session #1: Protecting Disability Rights in an Ever-Changing Landscape

2026 Session #2: Ensuring Safety Among the Disability Rights Community in Police Interactions – A Collaborative Discussion with Stakeholders

2026 Session #3: Preparing for the 2026 General Election-Access to the Electoral Process in an Ever-Changing Landscape

2026 Session #4: Global Perspectives of Disability Inclusion