Testimonials

George Farrington,
2025 Participant

"The Summit helped me make connection I never would have otherwide made, allowing me to ask questions and get several different viewpoints. It reminded me that true leadership is constantly evolving."

Sophie Korpics,
2024 Participant

"The director of the Northeast Independent Living Program (NILP) noticed that my name was on the list of attendees for the Summit. This led me to eventually getting my first job; I'm now a Community Advocate at NILP!"

Benji Kemper,
2023 Participant

"The Summit was full of disability pride. It was amazing to meet new people and learn from each other. The Summit helped me develop my skills as a community organizer and gave me ideas for future campaigns. One of the highlights was the panel talking about the intersectionality within the disability community. I also learned about great work happening in the community, like the #teachdisabilityhistory campaign being run by Easterseals."

Destiny Maxam,
2024 Participant

"As someone on the Waiver, I've often felt disconnected from the broader disability community. The Summit was one of the first places where I felt seen as a disabled person with a voice that mattered. It wasn't just about learning policy - it was about realizing that I had a place in this movement."

Erin Ryan Heyneman,
2023 Participant

"The Summit showed me that there is a huge and varied community of advocated right here in Massachusetts. I loved learning about the life and work of Paul Spooner himself, and his legacy continued when those of us with all types of disabilities come together at this conference, I made friends that I still connect with, and I met Brian Kremer from Mass Advocates Standing Strong (MASS), who happens to be my new boss!"

Maya Evohr,
2025 Participant

"Most importantly to me, the Summit gave me ENERGY and motivation to really get back into disability advocacy."

Austin Carr,
2023 Participant

"The Summit was a great way to network and build communities. During the Summit, I met new friends, engaged with leaders, and attended informative and empowering workshops. We had the chance to work on our social engagement skills that are useful to integrate into our professional careers and everyday lives. Because of this Summit, I was able to embark on new leadership initiatives."

Cody Rooney,
2023 Participant

"I did not know what to expect going to the Summit. All I knew was that it was a conference with workshops offered. It was a powerful experience. We talked about what it takes to be a leader and the hardships it comes with, then ended with the next steps and how to overcome these obstacles. Just by networking during the Summit, more doors have opened for me."