The UMKC-Institute for Human Development’s LifeCourse Nexus is hosting the ninth annual Charting the LifeCourse Showcase April 29-May 1, 2025, in Kansas City, Missouri.

As we gather in Kansas City for the Showcase, we will share and learn how the Charting the LifeCourse (CtLC) Framework and principles work together to bring about meaningful change in people’s lives.

Our goal is to highlight how this person-centered approach helps individuals, families, programs, and systems to explore, plan, and problem solve for positive change!

During the sessions, people who use CtLC, family members, and professionals will share practical solutions and strategies for using CtLC in their daily lives and across many levels of change. Sessions will provide hands-on learning opportunities or direct application and encourage collaboration.

The CtLC Showcase is the annual event hosted by the LifeCourse Nexus – a national training and technical assistance center – which is housed at the UMKC’s Institute for Human Development.

Get Ready for the Showcase!

Step 1: Book Your Lodging

For your convenience, we have reserved a block of rooms at the Westin Kansas City at Crown Center, located in the heart of Kansas City, MO. This hotel offers a welcoming and accessible environment for all our conference attendees. Be sure to book your stay early to secure a room at our special conference rate, and enjoy the comfort and amenities that make it easy to focus on building connections and advancing inclusivity. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to stay just steps away from all the conference activities!

Step 2: Become a Part of the Experience

Call for Presenters

We want to hear from anyone using CtLC! Come show how you and your teams are supporting personal growth, community engagement, policy advancements, and technological innovations in pursuit of good lives for all. Proposals should show how the CtLC framework, principles, and tools are being used across the lifespan, different target audiences or purposes.

All Presentation Proposals are due no later than November 22, 2024 for consideration.

Download Your Presenter Packet

Call for Sponsors & Exhibitors

Showcase would not be possible without the support of amazing Sponsors and Exihibitors! We invite you to showcase your partnership with the LifeCourse Nexus and celebrate your commitment to the movement for good lives for all. Sponsors will be recognized before, during, and after the Showcase.

If you are interested in designing custom sponsorship benefits for an amounnot listed, we are happy to discuss.

Download Your Sponsor Guide

Showcase At-A-Glance

Tuesday, April 23, 2024

8:00am - 5:00pm	CoP for Supporting Families Annual Meeting
1:00pm - 5:00pm	Pre-Showcase Intensives (additional registration required)
5:00pm - 6:30pm	Ambassador Only Reception

Wednesday, April 24, 2024

8:30am - 10:00am	Breakfast & Keynote TITLE: Self-Discovery Through Dignity of Risk PRESENTER: Chris Worth, CtLC Ambassador and Fellow, Ph.D. Candidate DESCRIPTION: Kick off the Showcase, as Chris Worth - a CtLC Ambassador/Fellow and a Ph.D. Student at University of Missouri- Saint Louis – shares his personal story of discovering himself, building resiliency, and finding comfort in discomfort. Learn how taking risks has been an important part of his journey, and how he has used the Charting the LifeCourse framework and tools to explore possibilities and dive into opportunities.
10:00am - 10:15am	Break
10:15am-11:30am	Breakouts by Track *• Personal Skill Building •* TITLE: Charting Our Own Lives: Developing Self-Advocate Leadership PRESENTERS: Francine Hogan & Diana Morris-Smaglik (PA Family Network), LifeCourse Nexus Staff DESCRIPTION: Too often individuals with lived experience find themselves as token members of organizations or being given scripted information to share. Join this session to learn how Family Voices of PA and the MO Chapter of the LifeCourse Nexus are using CtLC to support self-advocates to identify where and how to use their voice and to develop leadership skills to do so. Get ideas for creating Leadership and Advocacy Portfolios, building capacity through mentoring, establishing supportive learning collaboratives, and more! *• Supporting Families •* TITLE: Building Puentes: CtLC for Bridging Cultures PRESENTERS: Virgi Blaine & Lucy Olmos (ID Department of Health and Welfare - Children's DD Program) DESCRIPTION: Culture is an important part of one’s daily life – and includes life experiences, language, traditions, food, values, and more. Join this session to hear how CtLC can be used to facilitate conversations that allow for – and celebrate – the nuances of a person’s full identity. Family support professionals will share examples and ideas for building trust and making space for a person to tell their own story, as well as for self-reflection and addressing assumptions to effectively work across cultures. *• Person-Centered Practices •* TITLE: Using the Person-Centered Portfolio: Tips from Nexus Coaches PRESENTERS: Tina Calderaro-Mendoza, Barbara Sapharas, Brenda Smith, Lisa Meyer & Lori Jasper (LifeCourse Nexus Coaches) DESCRIPTION: The CtLC Portfolio is a powerful set of tools that allows for a quick and easy way to learn about a person and what’s important to them. This session will provide an interactive overview of the foundational, person-centered CtLC tools – what they are, how to develop them, why they are important, when they can be used, and the impact they can have for the person and those who may be providing support. Hear tips, tricks, and examples from CtLC coaches – with plenty of time to ask your questions and get inspired! *• Organizational Alignment/Transformation •* TITLE: Charting the Course to Provider Transformation PRESENTERS: Lindsay Parker (Arkansas Support Network), Jack Butler (Achieva) DESCRIPTION: The Charting the LifeCourse framework is a powerful resource to lead systems transformation for disability service providers who strive to support people to truly live their good lives. Two providers will share how they used CtLC to recalibrate strategic initiatives and transform their role in the lives of those they serve. Examples of how CtLC principles have been aligned with other quality frameworks to drive goal setting, action planning, and measurement, as well as specific practice changes will be highlighted. *• System/Culture Change •* TITLE: Transforming Systems Informed by ALL PRESENTERS: Erin Leveton & Jillian Salmon (A&M) DESCRIPTION: State developmental disability systems provide critical supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This session will highlight the development of a new, cross-disability children’s waiver in ND. Hear how they have used CtLC in their approach for truly listening to people and families, understanding their wants and needs, and incorporating their feedback and recommendations into policy, guidelines, and practices. *• Education/Transition •* TITLE: Supporting Students Across the Lifespan PRESENTERS: Lynne Shields, Sara Salsbury, Michelle Frygier, & Amy Davis (West Geauga Local Schools), Andrew Johnson Kliethermes, Jonathan Lidgus, April Regester, Andrew Kliethermes & Heather Cowan (UMSL SUCCEED Program) DESCRIPTION: Charting the LifeCourse principles can be used to disrupt the status quo in educational systems and processes across the lifespan. Hear how the framework and tools are being used to design practices and programs at the school district and post-secondary level. Join this session for practical ideas for integrating CtLC into processes, procedures, and practices to increase student engagement and self-direction and enhance all areas and levels of education to lead to good lives.
11:30am - 12:45pm	Lunch & Awards
1:00pm - 2:15pm	Breakouts by Track *• Personal Skill Building •* TITLE: Using a LifeCourse Lens to Create Innovative Peer Support Models PRESENTERS: Colette Cox (Missouri Family to Family), Nickie Brandenburger (Center for Family Involvement at VCU), Francine Hogan, Diana Morris-Smaglik, Ernest Roundtree (PA Family Network) DESCRIPTION: Peer support is a best practice for supporting people with lived experience to build their skills and move toward their good life. Join this session to hear how four states are using a LifeCourse lens to develop innovative peer support models. Learn about strategies for remaining committed to the philosophy of the person within the context of family, building the capacity of and professionalizing peer mentors, and developing systems that recognize and resource these supports. *• Supporting Families •* TITLE: Caring for Yourself While Caring for Others: CtLC Toolkit for Caregiver Well-Being PRESENTERS: Sue Karber & Hollie Campbell (Elevance Health), Jenny Wilson (Consultant) DESCRIPTION: Providing care and support for a loved one can be both a rewarding and challenging role. Understanding how to care for oneself while supporting someone else takes intentional reflection, exploration, planning, and problem-solving to ensure a good life for everyone. Join this session for a first look at the new CtLC toolkit that supports caregivers to focus on their own well-being and needs, while continuing to recognize the interconnection and impact of the role they play (and responsibilities they have) in the lives of others. *• Person-Centered Practices •* TITLE: Transforming Person-Centered Processes Together PRESENTERS: Amy Callendar-Taft (Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Division of Developmental Disabilities), Rachel Ward, Kristen Larsen, Josh Whitfield, (Nebraska Developmental Disabilities Council), Beth Chambers (Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities) & Marci Straughter (Self-Advocate) DESCRIPTION: Integrating CtLC into formal planning processes can empower people with lived experience and their family members to drive services and support. Join this session to hear real-life examples of how transformed planning, built on CtLC principles, has improved person-centered outcomes in OH and NE. Discover strategies for redesigning formal planning processes – including how to engage partners, create buy-in, build capacity, and provide ongoing support. *• Organizational Alignment/Transformation •* TITLE: A Trajectory for Quality Case Management PRESENTERS: Ginny Jones & Nicole Smalley (Service Coordination, Inc), Becky Johnson & Rick Harden (Connections Case Management, Inc.) DESCRIPTION: Case management is highly regulated, with constant change and the necessity of compliance. Hear how two case management organizations worked within this reality to move their trajectory away from “checking boxes” to a culture that prioritizes people while ensuring quality. Join this session to learn how to take CtLC to the next level by truly embedding it in day-to-day practices and organizational policies for supporting people, hiring, training, and retaining staff, and redesigning quality assurance. *• System/Culture Change •* TITLE: Changing Minds and Changing the Model: Enhancing Day Services PRESENTERS: Britta Hough & Jenna Allen (Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities), Celia Schloemer (Nisonger Center) DESCRIPTION: CtLC is a powerful tool for equipping people with disabilities to discover and act on their unique interests and skills to achieve their personal goals and become vital members of the community. Hear how Ohio and Indiana are integrating CtLC in efforts to transform systems that fund Day Habilitation services, as well as the organizations that provide them, to help people build meaningful lives and create pathways to community employment. Emphasizing collaboration and innovation, this session will offer recommendations on leveraging the CtLC framework and tools for enhancing day and employment service quality, building capacity, and fostering inclusive community integration for all. *• Education/Transition •* TITLE: Preparing Students and Supporting Families to Navigate the Transition from School to Adulthood PRESENTERS: Ashlee Rosewell (Summit Future Foundation), Kristin Magazine & Margo Sheldon (Cooperative Educational Services) DESCRIPTION: Successful transitions from school to adult life require collaboration between the student, family, school, and adult support systems. CtLC can be a valuable resource for equipping students of all abilities to explore possibilities, articulate their vision, and prepare for their good life. The framework and tools can also help families to set high expectations, as they navigate the transition with their students. This session will highlight strategies for student-directed planning, providing supports to families, and ultimately enhancing self-determination in home and community life.
2:15pm - 2:30pm	Break
2:30pm - 3:45pm	Breakouts by Track *• Personal Skill Building •* TITLE: Supporting Self-Determination and Decision-Making PRESENTERS: Penny Johnson (The Arc of Tennessee), Jane St. John (LifeCourse Nexus) DESCRIPTION: Everyone has the right to autonomy in their own life, and we all need different types of supports to make decisions. Join this session to hear how to CtLC is used to enhance supported decision-making practices across the lifespan. The Nexus team will highlight the specific supported decision-making tools and how they can be used to help explore, plan, and problem-solve to maximize self-determination. The TN Center for Decision-Making Support will share how they have used these resources to assist people, families, educators, case managers, and providers through one-on-one support, training, education, technical assistance, and legal referrals for various decision-making options. *• Supporting Families •* TITLE: Facilitating a Person-Centered Approach to Advocacy Through the Charting the LifeCourse Principles PRESENTERS: Patricia Brennan, (State of New Jersey Department of Human Services Division of Developmental Disabilities), Colleen McLaughlin (Boggs Center at Rutgers University), Cathy Tamburello & Melanie Ayers (Regional Family Support Councils/New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities) DESCRIPTION: New Jersey’s Community of Practice for Supporting Families team has led community and system transformation to equip people and families to communicate what they want for their good life and to expect professionals and systems to be responsive to that vision. This session will highlight concrete examples for integrating CtLC within Family Support Organizations, Regional Family Support Planning Councils, advocacy and leadership training, state agency-led family networking and education sessions, and cross-system collaboration. Learn how these statewide initiatives and activities are enhancing supports to families across the lifespan. *• Person-Centered Practices •* TITLE: Charting Self-Directed (Not Service-Directed) Lives PRESENTERS: Lynn Alexander & Susan Rowell (Values into Action), Kristen Mathews, Emily Blohm & Sherry Cameron (Eiros Group) DESCRIPTION: Self-directed models provide people with increased choice and control over their lives, while also requiring a great deal of responsibility for managing services. CtLC can provide a roadmap for supporting people to plan for now and the future, problem-solve day-to-day challenges, create circles of support, and expand life possibilities. The framework and tools can also be used for recruiting and managing staff, integrating supports, and following program rules and regulations. Hear how two Support Brokerages have integrated CtLC into how they support people to direct their lives, not just their services – including specific examples and success stories. *• Organizational Alignment/Transformation •* TITLE: Enhancing Aging and Disability Systems PRESENTERS: Jennifer Kugler & Nicole Southerland (CICOA Aging and In-Home Solutions), Sheli Reynolds & Angelina Alpert (Missouri No Wrong Door (UMKC-IHD)) DESCRIPTION: CtLC practices are expanding into aging and disability systems and making an impact across program areas. Join this session to hear how the framework and tools are being used to develop cross-system structures and transform organizations. CICOA, an Indiana Area Agency on Aging, will describe how they are aligning their culture, practices, and training with CtLC. They will share ideas and examples of embedding CtLC in case management, transportation, home modification, and home-delivered meals. The Missouri No Wrong Door team will highlight how CtLC is being used to design Aging and Disability Recourse Center systems and define enhancements to person centered options counseling and I&R/A services. *• System/Culture Change •* TITLE: Using CtLC to Champion Change PRESENTERS: Tracey Manz (Family Resource Network of Ohio), Corey Ferguson (Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities), Sarah Brooks & Lyndsay Havey (Ohio Department of Education and Workforce), Celia Schloemer, (University of Cincinnati UCEDD)Colette Canchola (Missouri Family to Family), Rebecca Auberry & Erin Porter (DDRBJC/Connections), MO Nexus Chapter DESCRIPTION: A shared vision and common language can help to unite systems, agencies, and organizations and facilitate enhanced cross-system collaboration that leads to better outcomes for people. Hear how early adopters and champions have worked in two states (MO & OH) to create spaces for true collaboration and implement real change. Learn how to gain traction for partnerships within and across organizations and systems, with CtLC as the foundation. *• Education/Transition •* TITLE: Enhancing Family-Centeredness in Early Intervention Assessment and Planning PRESENTERS: Erica Wallace, Beth Popich & Susan Jones (The Ohio Association of County Boards of DD) DESCRIPTION: Life’s trajectory begins at birth. Charting the LifeCourse can empower families as they enter the service system and learn about resources, do future planning and determine life goals for their child and family. This presentation focuses on how Ohio has encouraged the use of CtLC throughout the process of Early Intervention (birth to age 3) from enrollment with the family directed assessment through transition planning at age 3 and beyond. The federal law and research supporting family centered practice with the potential of national application will be highlighted, demonstrating how CtLC components uniquely fit and empower the family as the leader and decision maker from the very beginning.
3:45pm - 4:00pm	Break
4:00pm - 5:00pm	CTL In Action

Thursday, April 25, 2024

8:30am - 9:45am	Breakfast & Keynote TITLE: Technology for Good Lives PRESENTERS: Sheli Reynolds (LifeCourse Nexus), David Baker (Missouri Assistive Technology), Marci Straughter (Ohio Tech Ambassador) DESCRIPTION: Hear how all levels of technology can be integrated as a support in your everyday life. Sheli and David will highlight specific strategies to explore and plan from the newly developed CtLC Pathway for Technology Solutions curriculum. Marci will share how she has paired the CtLC framework and tools with assistive technology and remote supports to help her live her good life.
9:45am - 10:00am	Break
10:00am - 11:30am	Spotlight Sessions The Spotlight Sessions are a showcase of the creative and exciting ways our network is using the CtLC framework and tools for policy, practice, and cultural change to support people to have good lives. Each room will have a different topic of focus, beginning with brief Spotlight presentations and followed by an interactive exhibit hall. *• Assistive Technology •* Assistive technology includes many ways of adapting and accommodating to support life experiences. Visit these “tech fest” spotlights to experience the full spectrum of technology supports – including low, medium, and high tech solutions. *• Enabling Technology •* Innovations in technology are making it possible for people to pursue independence and for providers and systems to address the workforce crisis. Visit these “tech fest” spotlights to see how technology can be integrated into an array of supports to expand opportunities and enhance individual autonomy. *• CtLC by Life Stages •* CtLC is about more than just the tools! CtLC Champions will highlight creative ways to use the framework for different age groups. Visit these spotlights for a highly interactive opportunity to try out ways of using the principles to build exploration, planning, and problem-solving skills in every life stage. *• CtLC by Life Domains •* CtLC is being used in innovative ways to explore life experiences and needed supports related to each life domain. Visit these spotlights to learn about strategies for supporting personal decision-making in all areas of life, and for strategically designing programs that facilitate positive life outcomes. *• CtLC for Strategic Transformation •* Members of the Community of Practice for Supporting Families will spotlight how they are using CtLC to ground systems change in principles and values. Visit these exhibits to see how state teams are impacting policy, practice, and communities.
11:45am - 12:30pm	Lunch Closing Plenary
12:45pm - 3:00pm	State/Chapter Meetings

All times Central Standard Time

Re-engage with the Framework

We invite those who are using Charting the LifeCourse (CtLC) to reimagine practices, policies, and procedures to share your experiences, successes, and lessons learned, as we re-connect, re-energize, and re-charge while remaining committed to supporting good lives for all.

Presenters will have the opportunity to share information and connect with a national audience of innovators and change agents in person or virtually.

All proposals are due December 23, 2021 and more information on how to submit your proposal can be found here.

Re-new your commitment to CtLC

The LifeCourse Nexus will host over 500 self-advocates, family members, direct support professionals, service coordinators, teachers, transition coordinators, service provider executives, leaders of state human service disability agencies, and other stakeholders at our 6th Annual CtLC Showcase in Kansas City, MO. on April 13-14, 2022.

Sponsoring the CtLC Showcase will provide your organization with the opportunity to share and network with a national audience of innovators and change agents, who are using CtLC to enhance practices, policies, and procedures with the goal of supporting good lives for all.

We invite you to celebrate your partnership with the LifeCourse Nexus and demonstrate your commitment to exchanging knowledge, building capacity, and engaging collaboratively.