Spring Conference 2025

SPRING CONFERENCE

For staff who support people experiencing intellectual disabilities

New for 2025!

Can’t attend in-person? Join our opening and closing keynotes virtually and tune in from your organization! More information and how to register is on the back page.

OUR HOST HOTEL: THE SHERATON CAVALIER 612 SPADINA CRESCENT E SASKATOON, SK

Click here to book accommodations in the SARC block of guestrooms, or scan the QR code below

Opening Keynote Presentation MAY 14, 2025 10:45 A.M. Remember - you can register for our opening and closing keynote presentations virtually!

The Playful Effect: Where Mental Health and Play Fit Into the Workplace Have you ever walked into a space so perfect that you didn’t want to sit down or touch anything? Many caring professionals treat their work the same way - carefully managing every detail, meeting every need, and making sure everything runs smoothly.

But when was the last time you did something so good that you lost track of time?

Get ready - you’re about to have that moment. This keynote isn’t about adding more to your to-do list. It’s about giving yourself permission to breathe, recharge, and reconnect with what fuels you.

Brandi Heather takes a fresh look at self-care, showing how play can be a powerful tool for reducing stress, staying energized, and supporting your mental wellness. Through hands-on activities, humour, and lived experience as a disability inclusion educator, she’ll show how play isn’t just about having fun - it’s a way to solve problems, build stronger teams, and handle challenges more easily.

This isn’t just another talk - it’s a chance to reset, refresh, and rethink how you show up every day. You’ll walk away feeling lighter, more connected, and ready to press play on a life that includes you, too. Because play isn’t just fun - it’s fuel.

AGENDA MAY 14, 2025 9:30-10:30 a.m. Registration Begins 10:30-10:45 a.m. Welcome and Opening Remarks 10:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Opening Keynote Presentation 12:00-1:15 p.m. Networking Lunch and Exhibitor Showcase 1:15-2:45 p.m. Concurrent Session 1 2:45-3:00 p.m. Networking Break and Exhibitor Showcase 3:00-4:30 p.m. Concurrent Session 2 4:30-5:00 p.m. Exhibitor Showcase

MAY 15, 2025 8:00-9:00 a.m. Breakfast 9:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Concurrent Session 3 10:30-10:45 a.m. Networking Break 12:15-1:15 p.m. Networking Lunch 1:15-2:45 p.m. Concurrent Session 4 2:45-3:00 p.m. Networking Break 3:00 p.m. Closing Keynote Presentation

MAY 11-17 IS DISABILITY SERVICE PROFESSIONALS WEEK! WE’RE EXCITED TO CELEBRATE YOU AND HAVE SOME SPECIAL THINGS PLANNED! DON’T MISS OUT...

REGISTER TODAY!

1:15-2:45 p.m.

CONCURRENT SESSION #1 May 14, 2025

A: The Art of Adaptation: Using Creativity and Play to Build Accessible Experiences Play is one of our most powerful tools for building more accessible, engaging, and educational environments. By harnessing play as a strategy for finding new solutions and possibilities, we can design spaces and experiences that support physical, social, and cognitive Brandi Heather access in meaningful ways. In this hands-on session, you will discover how creative thinking and play fuels accessibility and engagement, explore six practical elements that shape participation and interaction, experiment with play-based strategies to adapt environments, instruction, and collaboration, and walk away with fun and flexible strategies to enhance autonomy, social connection, and engagement. Come out and play!

B: Universal Strategies to Support Online Safety Technology, the internet, and social media have become part of everyday life. Accessing the internet is beneficial for everyone and can be an important part of identity, connection, and communication.

Inclusion Saskatchewan and Community Living Service Delivery (CLSD) Hayley Huartson have worked together to create some resources to give people and their supporters knowledge and tools to have a safe and successful online experience.

Join this session to hear from the authors of the resource, as well as a self-advocate, talk about how these resources can be used with the people your organization supports.

Brittany Sauve

C: Using Generative AI for Supportive Employment Generative AI has been around for a number of years and there has been many developments in the medium AI takes, security measures, and its effectiveness. Across the sector, many in the disability service sector have found ways to use generative AI to boost productivity and to help job seekers with reaching their employment goals.

Jeffrey Normore

This session will go over how you can utilize generative AI in your organization’s services, as well as methods for how it can be used to teach job seekers to grow their digital skills.

3:00-4:30 p.m.

CONCURRENT SESSION #2 May 14, 2025

A: ImSET Program - A Transformative Tool Helping People Reach Their Independent Living Goals in a Collaborative PersonDirected Approach The Independent Mindset Skills for Empowerment and Transition (ImSET) program, developed through a partnership between Independent Living Christa Giddens Nova Scotia (ILNS) and Futureworx Society, helps people experiencing disability transition to independent living environments. ImSET focuses on enhancing social and emotional skills to support people in achieving personal and professional success. The program's impact is showcased through feedback from clients, service providers, and employers, illustrating how it empowers people to reach their full potential. ImSET is a new iteration of Futureworx’s Complete 360 and provides tools for self-reflection, personalized goal-setting, and targeted support to help people thrive in the Randy Lindsay workplace and community. The presentation will offer a detailed look at ImSET’s positive effects and provide free site licenses for organizations interested in piloting the tool.

B: Neurodiversity at Work - Embracing Strengths and Navigating Barriers

Trish Harper

Embracing neurodiversity in your workplace means creating a more adaptable environment where everyone can thrive. When you cultivate a culture of acceptance and inclusion, you tap into the unique strengths of neurodivergent individuals. These include enhanced creativity, innovation, productivity, problem-solving, and collaboration.

This session will teach you how to build a neuro-inclusive workplace culture through your communication and relationship building. You will learn practical ways to embrace the strengths and navigate barriers for people with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and more.

C: Conflict Prevention and De-Escalation in Community Services

Alison Wall

True violence prevention starts long before the threat of actual violence occurs. This course explores strategies for understanding and navigating workplace dynamics, with an emphasis on identifying triggers and preventing conflict before it escalates into violence. With a focus on the unique aspects of working in the Community Services industry, we’ll discuss the importance of empathy, emotional boundaries, and teamwork in fostering a safe and supportive environment. By the end, you’ll have practical tools to apply immediately in your role.

May 15, 2025

Concurrent Session 3

9:00 a.m.12:15 p.m.

A: Make A.T. in Minutes - Discover the Joy of Rapid Fabrication of Assistive Technology Solutions in Minutes

Therese Willkomm

This hands-on session will discuss, demonstrate, and explore hundreds of assistive technology solutions made in minutes using everyday tools and materials. Learn how to embrace the ‘ABLE’ principles in using materials to make devices that are ‘Adjustable, Bendable, Affordable, Washable, Reusable, Re-heat-able, Remold-able, Portable, and more! Explore 10 different reusable specialty tapes and fasteners for quick making, mounting, and modifying. Each person will receive a mini McGyver Bazooka Kit for creating rapid mounting/ holding solutions on the fly, and will make a multi-use, remoldable device.

This session will be limited to 50 people - first come, first served

B: Navigating Cultural Diversity and Enhancing Communication in the Workplace

Kristin EnnsKavanagh

In this session, delegates will engage in group discussions and hands-on activities to deepen their understanding of how culture influences our interactions. We will examine key elements of culture that can both enhance and challenge our ability to connect and collaborate in the workplace. We will explore: The four layers of diversity and how they shape our identities.

Cultural orientations and how perceptions and biases influence our interactions.

Strategies for reducing unconscious bias and making better decisions.

A framework to help us work through intercultural misunderstanding and conflict so we can take take informed action.

By the end of the session, delegates will have practical tools to improve communication and help foster an inclusive workplaces.

C: SCOPE’s Community Secure Treatment Model

Lesli Peddie

People with complex needs have a wide array of service needs. On the high end, people with a dual diagnosis may have several life-threatening behaviours and/or be at significant risk to others. As hospitals are at (or over) capacity, there is an increasing need to serve people in a community setting. Calgary SCOPE Society presents a secure treatment model as a viable alternative to hospitalization, that also provides a greater quality of life for people with extreme complex needs.

Daryn Hunt

May 15, 2025

Concurrent Session 4

1:152:45 p.m.

A: 101 Assistive Technology Solutions Made With Reusable Plastics

Therese Willkomm

This hands-on session will discuss and demonstrate hundreds of devices that can be made in minutes with five multi-use plastics. Each person will make and take home one multi-use devise that can be used in 18 different ways to accommodate for physical, sensory, or cognitive impairments.

This session will be limited to 50 people - first come, first served

B: The Truth About Apples and Pineapples

Michael Bortolotto

This session is a true story which focuses on the pros of having and maintaining diversity, equity, and inclusion and the cons of judging people due to their skin colour, unique speaking accent, physical shape, gender preferences, culture, race, religion, and abilities. This session will provide you with a four-step strategy to assist yourself and your colleagues in building and maintaining a diverse, equitable, and inclusive working environment for all people, regardless of their abilities and uniquenesses.

C: The Developmental Disabilities and Mental Health Intersection This session covers information about the nature of mental health disorders among persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Content will include definitions of intellectual and developmental disabilities and mental health conditions, prevalence, characteristics, vulnerability factors, similarities and differences Jessica Hamlyn between mental health and intellectual/developmental disabilities, and a discussion of the presentation of common mental health conditions in the intellectually/developmentally disabled population.

This session will also cover tools and strategies to address the needs of those with this dual diagnosis.

CLOSING KEYNOTE PRESENTATION MAY 15 3:00 P.M.

How Can I Best S.E.R.V.E. You? “Before you can lead anyone, you must be able to lead yourself first."

Michael Bortolotto At the age of 16 months, Michael Bortolotto was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, a condition caused by an interruption in oxygen to the brain during birth. Through an extensive routine of time-consuming exercises, he has learned to lead himself beyond the various challenges and obstacles that have threatened to prevent him from walking, talking, and using his arms, hands, and fingers.

Michael has been a member of seven different Toastmasters Clubs and has delivered keynote addresses at Toastmasters Regional Conferences.

He has also competed in numerous speech contests, which he has either won or placed runner-up in. He also belongs to the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers and has delivered educational keynote speeches throughout Canada. ​

This closing keynote will build up your self-leadership abilities and knowledge.

By listening to five short inspirational and educational stories, you will become more empowered to S.E.R.V.E. the needs of the people you support and carry out your organization's initiatives

Remember - you can register for our opening and closing keynote presentations virtually!

SPRING CONFERENCE Register before the early bird deadline to be entered into a draw to receive one free conference registration!!

Early Bird Registration (in effect until April 21 at 9am) SARC Members $449 Non Members $505+GST

Regular Conference Rates SARC Members $479 Non Members $530+GST

New this year!

Register to attend our opening and closing keynotes virtually SARC Members $200 (per organization) Non Members $240+GST (per organization) *More information will be provided to you after you register