March 4th, 2026
Extend-A-Family Waterloo Region’s 2026 DSP & Self-Advocacy Conference
Join us on June 5, 2026 for Voices at the Table: Advocacy in Everyday Spaces, a conference for self-advocates and direct support people, presented by Extend-A-Family Waterloo Region.
Event Overview:
Advocacy happens in everyday moments — navigating healthcare, speaking up for your needs, or supporting others. It can be challenging to use your voice when lived
experience isn’t fully understood.
Join us to build practical advocacy skills, strengthen communication, and turn ideas into shared action. Through interactive, real‑world sessions, you’ll gain tools to lead confidently and help create more inclusive communities.
This conference is for people with lived experience and the support people, family members, and others who walk alongside them. Together, we’ll explore ways to strengthen self‑advocacy, share power, and build confidence across different settings.
IMPORTANT: Registration is required to attend and is on a first come, first served basis. Spots are limited.
Workshops Led By:
Sasha Elford (She/Her)
Sasha Elford is the Senior Manager, Advocacy and Community Engagement at March of Dimes Canada (MODC), where she leads initiatives to harness, amplify, and elevate the advocacy efforts and living experiences of people with disabilities in Canada. In this role, she manages the Disability Advocacy Network, a national community of people with disabilities and allies who advocate for an inclusive, barrier-free society.
Sasha has been working in the non-profit sector for over a decade, in roles spanning advocacy, communications, and volunteer management. Prior to joining MODC, Sasha worked on issues of gender equity and gender-based violence, at Girl Guides of Canada, Interval House, and femifesto.
Theresa Somerton (She/Her)
Theresa Somerton is a dynamic speaker and leader with lived experience navigating healthcare, family, and community systems. She is passionate about ensuring that people are seen as whole individuals rather than defined by labels or assumptions. Theresa brings powerful insight into the importance of communication, dignity, and collaborative decision-making. Through storytelling and interactive engagement, she challenges professionals to slow down, listen, and build systems that work with people rather than around them.
Yvonne Spicer (She/Her)
Yvonne Spicer is a visionary leader, speaker, and co-founder of Lifetime Abilities. She is committed to strengthening systems so that people are trusted to lead their own lives and make their own decisions. Drawing from personal experience navigating complex healthcare and service systems, Yvonne brings depth, authenticity, and a strong intersectional lens to her work. She is known for challenging assumptions while creating space for meaningful dialogue and practical change centered on dignity and autonomy.
Event Details:
Coffee, tea, baked goods and lunch will be provided.
When: Friday June 5, 2026, 9am – 4pm
Where: DoubleTree by Hilton – Ontario Room (30 Fairway Rd S, Kitchener, ON N2A 2N2)
Registration Fees and Details:
IMPORTANT: Registration is required to attend and is on a first come, first served basis. Spots are limited.
Self-Advocates (using Passport, Special Services at Home (SSAH) or Enhanced Respite (MFTD) Funding): $50
Family Members and Caregivers, Community Organization Employees (Excluding DSPs) and Community Members: $150
EXTERNAL – Direct Support Person: $150
Extend-A-Family Waterloo Region ONLY Staff and Direct Support People: FREE
If you are an Extend-A-Family Waterloo Region Staff Member or Direct Support Person, coupon codes have been emailed to you that you can use when you register.
To register, please complete the form below. The deadline to register is Wednesday May 13 at 11:59PM.
Questions?
Please contact Cheryl Fuller at cheryl.fuller@eafwr.on.ca
- Filed under Adult, Advocacy, Blog, Community, Direct Support People