2026 MASS Self-Advocacy Conference

Saturday, October 17, 2026 at Sheraton Norwood meet with self-advocate peers +make your IDEAS count! Registration ends Tuesday, October 6 Join us for a day of advocacy, friendship, and fun at the MASS Annual Self-Advocacy Conference! Learn from your peers, network with fellow self-advocates, and make Your IDEAS Count! Saturday, October 17, 2026 from 9am - 4:30pm Registration closes completely on Tuesday, October 6. No walk-ins, you must register to attend. Questions, or need to pay another way? Email [email protected] for more information. This conference is made possible thanks to our generous sponsors! Become a sponsor or exhibitor by going here: www.WeAreMASS.org/sponsorship Platinum Sponsors: Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council www.mass.gov/orgs/massachusetts-developmental-disabilities-council Grow Sponsors: Advocates https://advocates.org/ Vinfen https://vinfen.org/ DDS https://www.mass.gov/orgs/department-of-developmental-services Build Sponsors: Delta Projects https://www.deltaprojects.org/ Road to Responsibility https://www.roadtoresponsibility.org/ Beaverbrook STEP www.beaverbrookstep.org The Guild for Human Services https://www.guildhumanservices.org/ Develop Sponsors: Northeast Arc https://ne-arc.org/ Seven Hills Foundation https://www.sevenhills.org/ Sunshine Village https://www.sunshine.us/ Raffle Buy your tickets during the conference and try to win a prize! Prizes include gift cards to restaurants across Massachusetts, vouchers for bowling and mini-golf, tickets to sports events and theaters, and so much more! Keynote: Beth Kollett is a self-advocate and Board Member of Massachusetts Advocates Standing Strong (MASS), representing the Central Region as an At-Large member. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Stepping Stones Community Theater and enjoys candlepin bowling. Beth uses a Supported Decision-Making Agreement (SDMA) instead of guardianship and works with her mother as a supporter while continuing to make her own decisions. Beth became the first person in Massachusetts to officially complete and notarize a Supported Decision-Making Agreement written in braille on August 24, 2022. Beth shared that, “The process was difficult and long, but worth it,” and explained that it helped make her a stronger advocate for herself and others. Through Supported Decision-Making, Beth is able to choose what types of decisions she wants support with while still remaining in control of her own life and choices.