ANCOR Connect ‘27
Join your national community of providers for three days in the one-and-only New Orleans! Together, we'll stay rooted in what grounds us—mission, purpose, and each other—while rising to meet the moment with agility, innovation, and the tools it takes to advance community inclusion for all.
- Overview
- Call for Sessions
ANCOR Connect ’27
ANCOR’s flagship annual gathering connects you with the people and ideas that empower you to deliver better services to more people. Every year, ANCOR Connect is our space for learning, connection, and taking meaningful action—a cornerstone of our community.
ANCOR Connect ’27 will take place April 5-7, 2027, in New Orleans—a city that knows what it means to bounce back without losing its identity. The Crescent City has always known how to endure, and how to rebuild louder, stronger, and more alive than before. This makes New Orleans the perfect place to explore what comes next for our field and the communities we serve.
Come ready to share your story, learn from colleagues and thought leaders, and leave New Orleans with fresh clarity and energy for the road ahead. Together, we’ll reflect on what grounds us: a shared mission, decades of hard-won expertise, and an unshakable belief in the people we serve.
Who Attends?
All are welcome! As the signature gathering of community providers that support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), ANCOR Connect attracts a diverse range of innovators from provider organizations, including:
- Executive leaders
- Program directors & program managers
- Frontline supervisors
- Direct support professionals
- Behavioral health specialists
- Case managers & support coordinators
- Nurses & other clinical staff
- Administrative staff (including professionals from human resources, finance, communications, development and more)
- Board members
In addition to provider organization staff, the ANCOR Connect draws a wide array of others supporting our collective mission, including:
- Self-advocates & other people with I/DD
- Family members of people with I/DD
- Researchers
- Federal, state and local policymakers and regulators
- Companies offering leading products and services used by I/DD providers
- At-large members of the disability advocacy community
Given the diverse range of ANCOR Connect participants, there’s something for everyone—including YOU!
Previous Events
ANCOR Connect ’26: Navigating the Now
ANCOR Connect ’25: Oceans of Opportunity
ANCOR Connect ’24: The Power of We
2023 ANCOR Annual Conference: Possibility Unleashed
We’re excited to announce the Call for Sessions for ANCOR Connect 2027! This is your chance to share your ideas, lessons learned, and strategies with the country’s leading I/DD community.
The deadline for proposal submissions is Friday, October 9, 2026, at 11:59 pm PDT.
Presentation Dates
- Sessions for ANCOR Connect ’27 will be presented on April 5, 6, and 7, 2027, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
- Standard presentations should fit within a one-hour timeframe, inclusive of Q&A (we generally recommend 45 minutes for the presentation and 15 minutes for Q&A).
Our Audience
Our audience comes ready to be inspired, challenged, and equipped with new tools. They’re looking for big ideas paired with practical solutions – ways to strengthen services, uplift people with disabilities, and navigate the challenges of funding, workforce, and policy with creativity and courage. Therefore, our favorite presenters:
- Lead interactive sessions to stimulate thought-provoking discussions.
- Challenge assumptions.
- Teach replicable approaches that conference participants can implement in their communities.
- Provide tools and resources for participants to use at home.
- Demonstrate the impact and success of their approach with data, first-person accounts and other objective evidence.
Presentation Requirements
We ask that proposals:
- Focus on learning and collaboration, not sales or promotion
- Avoid partisan political views
- Fit within the time allotted
Knowledge Pathways
- Business Resilience & Financial Strategy
- Community Connection & Belonging
- Data & Decision-Making
- Development & Fundraising
- Equity & Access for All
- Leadership in Uncertain Times
- Leadership & Organizational Development
- Lived Experience & Direct Support Voices
- Person-Centered Supports & Quality Services
- Policy, Law, & System Protection
- Service Innovation & Flexibility
- Workforce Sustainability & Support
Benefits of Speaking at Our Conference
There are a variety of benefits of having a proposal accepted for presentation as part of ANCOR Connect, including:
- The opportunity to be seen as a credible subject matter expert in the I/DD field.
- Visibility on our website and print materials (where appropriate).
- Discounted registration rates.
Submission Timeline
If you have a story, strategy, or solution to share – we want to hear from you! Submit your proposal by October 9, 2026, at 11:59 pm PDT. Together, let’s make ANCOR Connect ‘27 the place where ideas, partnerships, and purpose come together.
Want to see what the application looks like before you begin your proposal? Check it out here.
Questions?
Email Alli Strong-Martin, ANCOR’s Sr. Manager of Education.