The IARF Education Committee is pleased to announce that our Call for Presentations is now open for the 2026 IARF Educational Conference & Expo. This year’s conference will be held on September 2 - 4 at the Embassy Suites in East Peoria, Illinois. The IARF Conference provides an opportunity for community-based service provider teams to connect with each other and colleagues from around the state to learn from one another and share best practices together!
We invite individuals and teams interested in presenting at the 2026 IARF Educational Conference to submit a presentation proposal for review. The Education Committee is seeking presentation proposals for the event that will accomplish the following:
- Provide relevant content for an audience with the range of responsibilities described below;
- Stretch current thinking and provide new approaches with specific "how-to" takeaways;
- Share best practices in person-centered services and supports, provider administration, etc.
- Advance the use of data to achieve value-based outcomes and allow for agency benchmarking;
- Deliver content in an engaging and interactive way that draws on the experience of attendees;
- Utilize case studies to advance discussion of lessons learned from the experience; and
- Propose new models or modes of service delivery for the future.
Audience: Community-based I/DD and Behavioral Health Service Provider professionals serving children and adults in the State of Illinois, including but not limited to:
- QIDPs and Frontline staff, including Frontline Supervisors and Direct Support Professionals in Developmental Disabilities Services and Supports
- QMHPs and Mental Health Professionals
- Management and Administration
- C-Suite and Executive Management
Direct Support Professionals Track
Back by popular demand, IARF plans to focus a full day of sessions targeted specifically to Direct Support Professional (DSP) attendees. Given the limited ability of DSPs to attend multiple days of a conference, we believe Thursday, September 3rd provides an incredible opportunity for DSPs to access a full conference day of educational content while networking with peers and other professionals in disability services. Based on data we’ve previously collected from a survey of over 400 DSPs, IARF is requesting submissions specifically for DSPs in the following areas:
Self-Care – presentations that can help DSPs:
- Avoid burnout;
- Mitigate conflict in the workplace;
- Manage stress;
Services and Supports – presentations that can improve DSP skillsets:
- Provide more meaningful days to individuals receiving services and supports;
- Gain better understanding in serving individuals with behavior support needs;
- Learn more about the range of intellectual/developmental disabilities DSPs may serve;
Professional Development – presentations that can help DSPs grow as professionals:
- Current and emerging technologies to help individuals receiving services obtain more independence;
- Improve communication skills with coworkers and supervisors;
- Potential career paths for DSPs in service
Please be sure to indicate in your submissions that your proposal is targeted to the DSP track.
2026 Conference Theme
The IARF Educational Conference & Expo is a space where learning professionals come together to explore new ideas, share practical strategies, and discover innovative approaches to the challenges facing our field. This year’s theme, Pathways to Possibility, invites attendees to think beyond the current limitations and struggles being faced and envision what is achievable for the people we support, our workforce, and our organizations.
Together, we will create an environment that fosters collaboration, creativity and forward-thinking solutions where participants can learn from one another, build meaningful connections, and leave feeling inspired and empowered to drive change. This conference is more than an event, it is a community of passionate individuals committed to strengthening services, expanding opportunities, and shaping a more inclusive and responsive system.
We encourage proposals that align with this theme, including but not limited to leadership and professional development, workforce recruitment and retention, innovative and emerging service models, and strategies that improve services and supports among the people they serve. Sessions should aim to spark new ideas, highlight successful pathways, and provide actionable insights that attendees can bring back to their organizations.
Presentation Focus
In addition to our theme, we encourage presentation proposals that share lessons learned, evidence-based results and replicable approaches and practical tools that advance the ability of I/DD and Behavioral Health service providers. Research suggests that interactive sessions increase attendees’ experience, opportunities to network with peers, and retention of the information that is presented. When submitting a proposal, please consider formatting your presentation for such interaction. We realize that not every subject is conducive to this presentation style, so you should not be dissuaded from submitting a proposal if that is the case.
We hope you will consider joining us and presenting at the conference! We are looking forward to sharing more details on the event soon. The schedule-at-a-glance, tradeshow & sponsor information, and registration will be available shortly!
Submission Overview
You do not need to be a member of IARF to submit a proposal. Commercial content, product or service-related advertisements are not permitted. Session content must be educational. Presenters selected for the conference will also receive a discount on registration.
Submission Deadline
All presentation proposals must be electronically submitted by no later than May 22, 2026.
Please feel free to share this with other colleagues who may be interested in presenting at this event.
