Inclusion Connection

01/22/2026

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10/29/2025

06/18/2025

TOMMORROW!!!!

Join us June 19/20 in Cedar Falls, Iowa to help celebrate inclusion and create community.
Supporting One, Supporting All
Register Now: https://www.inclusionconnection.org/

Featured speakers:

Matt Hayes:

Matt began using AAC at age five through training at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. At age six he wrote his first poem, “Trapped in Silence”. He has been an active poet and writer. Matt is the subject of the Emmy winning PBS documentary My Voice: One Man’s Journey to Overcome the Silence of Autism. As part of his advocacy work, he has co-founded the non-profit Typing to Speak, spoken at Yale University, presented his poetry professionally, been interviewed on radio and podcasts, presented at many conferences, and is an Autism National Committee board member. He is currently working on methods to help communicators learn how to use AAC with greater ease. Matt is working on his speaking voice and calls himself an emerging speaker.

Jen Christianson, She/Her/Hers

Jen graduated from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa with a Bachelors of Science in Nursing & Public Communications degrees. She works at UnityPoint Health (UPH) in the Waterloo region as a Family Planning Nurse at Allen Women’s Health and as Clinic Nurse at UPH’s inaugural LGBTQ Clinic in Cedar Falls.

Jen has been providing Safe Zones Trainings: Inclusivity trainings creating safe spaces in health care for LGBTQIA+ identifying individuals for over six years.

She and husband Kyle have spoken to numerous groups interested in advancing DEI: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in healthcare, businesses, schools, faith and community settings.

In 2019 Jennifer attended the Fenway Health Institute Conference in Boston entitled, “Advancing Excellence in Transgender Health.” The Fenway Health Institute is the National LGBTQIA+ Health Education and Research Center providing educational programs, resources and consultation to health care organizations nationally and around the world.

In March of 2023, Jennifer participated in Harvard Medical School’s Advancing Excellence in Sexual and Gender Minority Health Education - Train the Trainer course.

Jennifer and Kyle are proud parents of Ben and Lars.

At Inclusion Connection, our mission is simple - promoting inclusive communities that live, learn, work and play together.

06/18/2025

TOMORROW!
Join us June 19/20 in Cedar Falls, Iowa to help celebrate inclusion and create community.
Supporting One, Supporting All
Register Now: https://www.inclusionconnection.org/

Keynote speaker:
Shelley Moore

Based in British Columbia, Canada, Dr. Shelley Moore is a highly sought-after inclusive education researcher, teacher, consultant and storyteller. She has worked with school districts and community organizations around the world. Her research explores how to support teachers to design for all learners in grade level academic classrooms that include students with intellectual disabilities using strength based and responsive approaches. Shelley completed her undergraduate degree in Special Education at the University of Alberta, her Masters at Simon Fraser University, and her Ph.D. at the University of British Columbia.

06/17/2025

Join us June 19/20 in Cedar Falls, Iowa to help celebrate inclusion and create community.
Supporting One, Supporting All
Register Now: https://www.inclusionconnection.org/

Featured Speaker

Blake Morris
Blake Richard Morris is an IT professional based in Cedar Falls, Iowa, currently serving as the Assistant Desktop Services Specialist at Wartburg College. With a strong background in network and system administration, Blake earned an Associate of Science degree from Hawkeye Community College and continued his academic journey at the University of Northern Iowa, where he studied Computer Science.
Blake is deeply committed to providing exceptional technical support and fostering inclusive environments. His contributions to higher education institutions, such as Wartburg College and the University of Northern Iowa, reflect a passion for helping students, faculty, and staff thrive through reliable technology services.

In 2024, Blake was honored with the Iowa APSE Personal Achievement Award in recognition of his resilience, professional accomplishments, and dedication to supporting individuals with disabilities in the workplace. He is also known for his public speaking advocacy and efforts to raise awareness about inclusivity and accessibility.

A proud Cedar Falls native, Blake credits his community, family, and educators for their unwavering support throughout his journey. He finds great joy in spending time with his nieces, Madelyn and Natalie, and remains grateful to the many mentors, friends, and colleagues who have shaped his path.

06/16/2025

Join us June 19/20 in Cedar Falls, Iowa to help celebrate inclusion and create community.
Supporting One, Supporting All
Register Now: https://www.inclusionconnection.org/

Today's Featured Speaker

Kristofor Medina:
Kristofor Medina is a tough fighter for disability rights and inclusion.
Kris lives in Berlin, Vermont and has a Bachelor's from the University of Vermont in English and Disability Studies. Following college, Kris began working for Green Mountain Self-Advocates. Professional highlights have been meeting Bernie Sanders and advocating in Washington, D.C. The fight for education and inclusion is ongoing. Now Kris is working to fight for medicaid funding. Kris believes people that cannot speak can contribute to the world.

06/13/2025

Join us June 19/20 in Cedar Falls, Iowa to help celebrate inclusion and create community.
Supporting One, Supporting All
Register Now: https://www.inclusionconnection.org/

Today's Featured Speaker

Tracy Thresher:

Tracy Thresher is an advocate for people with disabilities. Tracy began typing to communicate in 1990 and was one of the first individuals with autism at Washington County Mental Health Services (a community-based service provider) to be introduced to it. He has presented at local, statewide, and national workshops and conferences. He has consulted with local schools, is a member of the Vermont Statewide Communication Task Force and has worked for the Green Mountain Self-Advocates in Montpelier, VT. In VT, he mentors teenagers and adults. Tracy has worked at Syracuse University as a lead trainer and is now recognized as a Master Trainer.

Tracy support services are provided by Community Developmental Resources, a division of Washington County Mental Health Services based in Barre, VT. For over 50 years, Washington County Mental Health Services (WCMHS) has worked to serve the community through education, support, and treatment of individuals who live with mental health challenges, substance use issues, or developmental/intellectual disabilities. The mission of
WCMHS is to advocate for the inclusion of all persons into our community and actively encourage Self-Determination, Resilience and Recovery.

Tracy now works as a peer mentor with the Communication Training & Resources, a program within Community Developmental Services of WCMHS. This program works to ensure that individuals with complex communication needs are able to communicate in their method of choice and have the support, training, and technology to: be fully included, gain respect of others, demonstrate competence, educate others of their communication competency, develop independence, have quality of life, and find purpose in life.

Tracy is a native Vermonter who lives and works in Vermont. He has presented at local, statewide and national workshops and conferences. Tracy and his friend Larry travel the world promoting their documentary Wretches & Jabberers https://www.wretchesandjabberers.org/about/ , in an effort to change the worlds' view of disability to one of positivity.

06/12/2025

Join us June 19/20 in Cedar Falls, Iowa to help celebrate inclusion and create community.
Supporting One, Supporting All
Register Now: https://www.inclusionconnection.org/

Today's Featured Speaker:

Nate, Brady, Tara:
Together, Nate, Brady, and Tara bring heart and purpose to every space they enter. With a shared passion for connection, inclusion, and personal growth, this dynamic trio delivers powerful messages that inspire communities to lead with empathy and live with intention.
Nate Trainor is an advocate for the acceptance of people with disabilities. He, although non-verbal, is a powerful “voice” for inclusion. Nate has experienced firsthand what rejection, exclusion and assumed incompetence feels like. He volunteers his time to help others understand that everyone has many abilities, communicates and belongs. He is currently living in a duplex and has two assistants that support him to live the life that he chooses. He is an author and provides many presentations throughout the country, advocating for people with disabilities. Nate is a passionate advocate for those without a “voice” or means to communicate. He lives in Waverly, Iowa.
Brady Mikkelson lights up every room with his warmth, vulnerability, and hard-won wisdom. His lived experience and message of resilience remind audiences that the greatest strength comes from embracing who you are.
Tara Soesbe is an educator, author, and speaker with Till360, known for sparking meaningful conversations that drive real change. She champions well-being, leadership, and human connection at every level of education

06/10/2025

Join us June 19/20 in Cedar Falls, Iowa to help celebrate inclusion and create community.
Supporting One, Supporting All
Register Now: https://www.inclusionconnection.org/

Today's Speaker Highlight:

Bella Santoyo and Otto Lana - Presenting on June 20

Social media:

Isabella Santoyo (Bella) is a 23 year old multimodal communicator from the coastal city of Long Beach in SoCal. She is a youth ambassador with the Center on Youth Voice, Youth Choice and a part time college student. Her loves are learning, traveling and advocacy. She believes everyone deserves access to a quality education regardless of their differences.

Otto Lana

Social media:

Otto Lana has flipped the narrative from Mission Impossible to Mission I’m Possible! He graduated from High School June 2024 and gave the valedictorian address fully AAC-tivated…on his iPad! The ceremony should have been sponsored by Kleenex…there was not a dry eye in the house. Fast forward to June 2025…he just completed his first year at University of San Diego.

Otto founded the Alliance for Disability Advocates (ADA) on campus because there were no social clubs on campus meeting this demographic. With one out of four people disabled, there should be a club.

Otto never pouts, he sets to work to figure it out. He partnered with The Natalie Project and will be premiering the documentary “Natty” on campus.

He continues his advocacy work through public speaking, writing articles, poetry, and lyrics.

He is a technical and sensitivity consultant for media of all kinds because authentic representation matters. He is one of the faces of Easter Seals Southern California Disability Pride campaign, “Disability is Not A Dirty Word”.

He and his iPad have been seen all over the country on television, billboards, major sporting events like the Olympics, Paralympics, World Series, and the Super Bowl!

He is an ambassador for both CalABLE and Center for Youth Voice Youth Choice, living an authentic life is the goal, whatever that looks like.

He even has a day! April 12th is Otto Lana Day in San Diego. He also has a perpetual award, the Otto Lana Award, from the San Diego Writers Guild, which he presents to a San Diego high school senior each year who represents dedication and commitment to writing.

His virtual book club with Autism Tree Project Foundation continues to grow and he is thrilled to announce the next authors to join in on the fun are none other than David Baldacci, Geraldine Brooks, and Janelle Brown.

You can follow Otto on Instagram for more information. He will be working with UCSD’s VERGE Center as a consultant to make research articles accessible in plain language so everyone can get fired up about science. Last but not least, he has a thriving e-commerce business selling waterproof letterboards he designed www.ottosmottos.com because communication happens everywhere and you have to be ready.

06/06/2025

https://youtu.be/5IOGOE_qQfM

Check out this video from our keynote speaker at this years' Inclusion Connection Annual Conference- 'Supporting One, Supporting All!' !!!!
We cannot wait to experience her powerful message in person!!

The concept of inclusion has evolved significantly in education, moving beyond mere physical presence in classrooms to encompass a deeper understanding of be...

05/19/2025