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ForwardVoices Values Visibility: Advancing Disability Equity Together Conference
This conference aims to highlight the critical importance of developing and strengthening cross-disciplinary partnerships in the care of our most vulnerable patient populations. Researchers and advocates will share insights into the barriers to care and the distinct challenges individuals with disabilities face related to social determinants of health. Presentations will also explore the necessity of expanding interdisciplinary training opportunities, promoting awareness of universal design principles, and recognizing the essential role that individuals with lived experience play in shaping effective and inclusive treatment plans.
NOTE: UPMC/WPH/WBH STAFF. IF YOUR DEPARTMENT IS PAYING YOUR TUITION TO ATTEND THIS CONFERENCE, PLEASE HAVE YOUR SUPERVISOR COMPLETE THE DEPARTMENT TRANSFER FORM FIRST AT THE FOLLOWING LINK, THEN RETURN TO THIS PAGE TO REGISTER: CLICK HERE
Target Audience
Students, advocates, mental health and physical health providers, payors, case managers and stakeholders who are passionate about the care of people with disabilities.
Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this conference, participants should be able to:
- Recognize the lived experiences, perspectives, and priorities of individuals with disabilities and the importance of elevating disability voices in shared decision-making and care planning.
- Explore strategies to expand community-engaged research focused on promoting equity, disability justice, and inclusive healthcare and community environments.
- Advance actionable approaches to promoting visibility, representation, and equity in the care of individuals with complex medical and mental health needs.
- Discuss how telehealth modalities can reduce systemic barriers to healthcare access for patients with disabilities, including physical, sensory, and cognitive impairments, and identify at least one actionable step to expand equitable virtual care within their practice setting.
- Recognize the challenges of the diagnostic odyssey often faced by patients with co-existing multi-sensory and/or physical disabilities and mental health conditions, and apply strategies to foster interdisciplinary collaboration that centers the patient's lived experience throughout the evaluation and treatment process.
- Support individuals with disabilities and their families in developing and using skills to effectively advocate for their needs, rights, and priorities as they navigate systems and engage relevant stakeholders to drive meaningful changes in their own lives and communities.
Additional Information
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
 2026-Disability Equity Conference brochure_FNL.pdf | 502.69 KB |
Course summary
- 7.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
- 7.00 ANCCUPMC Provider Unit is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation
- 7.00 APA
- 7.00 ASWB
- 7.00 Attendance
8:15 am Log onto Zoom
8:30 – 8:45 am Welcome, Introduction and Background
Kim Mathos, DO, MPH
8:45 – 9:45 am Keynote: Creating Connections: Linking Practice, Purpose, and People
Rob Oliver, BA, MA
9:45 - 11:15 am Elevating Family Voices in Disability-Informed Care
Dori Ortman & Jackie White, MPH
11:15 - 11:30 am Break
11:30 am - 12:45 pm The Diagnostic Team Starts in the Community: Building Partnerships and Reimagining Care in the Age of AI
Kennedy Sheppard, BS & Sarah Ailey, PhD RN FAAN PHNA-BC CNE
12:45 – 1:15 pm Lunch
1:15 – 2:45 pm Advancing Equity in Telehealth through Person Centered Care
Melissa Watson, PhD, Makoto Ikegami, DSW, LCSW, Kim MacDonald-Wilson, Sc.D., CPRP Samantha Reznik, PhD
2:45 – 3:00 pm Break
3:00 – 4:30 pm Catalyzing System Change through Community Engagement
Steven Albert, PhD, MSc, MA, Kristy Trautmann, Ashli Molinaro, D.Sc., MPH
4:30 - 4:45 pm Wrap up
Course Director
Kimberly Mathos, DO, MPH
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Planning Committee
Associate Professor
Associate Dean, Academic Outreach and Advising
University of Pittsburgh – School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences
Rebecca Kronk, PhD, MSN, CRNP, FAAN, CNE, ANEF
Professor
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
Duquesne University School of Nursing
Ashli Molinero, D.Sc.
Director, Disabilities Resource Center
UPMC Health System
Corporate Risk Management
Michelle L. Schein, PhD, LPC, CRC
Associate Professor
Associate Program Director for Education
Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling
University of Pittsburgh
Keynote Speaker
Rob Oliver, BA, MA
Author, Podcaster, Educator
Speakers
Dori Ortman
Family Faculty and Advocacy Training Director,
LEND Pitt, University of Pittsburgh/UPMC Children’s Hospital
Jackie White, MPH
The PEAL Center (Parent Education and Advocacy Leadership Center)
Kennedy Sheppard
Epi Research Coordinator
Community, Systems, and Mental Health Nursing
Rush University
Continuing Education and Continuing Medical Education Credits
In support of improving patient care, the University of Pittsburgh is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Physician (CME)
The University of Pittsburgh designates this live activity for a maximum of 6.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Other Healthcare Professionals: Other health care professionals will receive a certificate of attendance confirming the number of contact hours commensurate with the extent of participation in this activity.
Psychologists
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, University of Pittsburgh is approved to offer psychology continuing education by the American Psychological Association. University of Pittsburgh maintains responsibility for this course. Psychologists completing this course receive 6.75 continuing education credits.
Counselors
Education and Consultative Services of UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 5059. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Education and Consultative Services of UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. This conference is approved for 6.75 hours.
Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification
Conference has been approved for 6.75 hours in CE by CRCC
Licensed/Clinical Social Workers, Licensed Professional Counselors, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists LSW/LCSW/LPC/LMFT:
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, University of Pittsburgh is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. University of Pittsburgh maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive 6.0 continuing education credits.
Other Healthcare Professionals
Nurses and other health care professionals are awarded .675 Continuing Education Units (CEU's). One CEU is equal to 10 contact hours. Nurses: For attending this program you will receive a Certificate of Attendance confirming .675 hours of continuing education. These hours may be considered eligible for completing the 30 hours of continuing education required for biannual nursing re-licensure in Pennsylvania. Peer Specialists: This program fulfills requirements for Certified Peer Specialist continuing education.
- Please retain your certificates in a safe place. Replacements cost $30 for those that come from our office (CRCC; Gen. CEU; NCC).
Available Credit
- 7.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
- 7.00 ANCCUPMC Provider Unit is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation
- 7.00 APA
- 7.00 ASWB
- 7.00 Attendance