MAKE YOUR MARK! CONFERENCE

September 18-19, 2025 

Holiday Inn & Suites Des Moines-Northwest | 4800 Merle Hay Rd, Urbandale, IA 50322


This year's event is the 12th annual Make Your Mark! Conference. The last 11 conferences have brought Iowans with disabilities, direct care support professionals, parents and family members, and other disability advocates together to increase civic engagement, advocacy and leadership skills.

REGISTER NOW!

Want to volunteer?

Register as an Attendee and email us at contactus@iowaddcouncil.org to let us know you're interested in helping out!


THEME: GAME ON! IT'S TIME TO ADVOCATE


This year's theme encourages us to approach advocacy with strategy, determination, and teamwork. Just like in a game, every player counts and every move is important. We want to empower Iowans with disabilities to take action, overcome challenges, and advocate for a community that includes everyone.


It’s time to roll the dice, make your move, and play your part in advocating for change!


WHO WILL ATTEND THE MYM! CONFERENCE?


The Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council (DD Council) Make Your Mark! Conference is geared toward Iowans with disabilities who want to be more involved in advocacy at a local, state, or federal level. Parents, family members, caregivers, direct support professionals, and other disability advocates are also expected to be in attendance.

Make Your Mark! logo in a blue font with an orange outline

Exhibitor and Sponsor Opportunities


Interested in being a sponsor? All sponsor opportunities include exhibitor space!

Download the Brochure

Conference Video


Check out some of the excitement from last year's event.

Featured Presenters

Matthew Shapiro

Matthew Shapiro


Thursday, September 18 | 9:30 AM


About the Presenter: As a person with a disability, Matthew Shapiro has spent most of his life motivated to teach those he has met how to better understand the disability community and inclusion. 


Through this work it has become his life’s mission to educate others regarding disability related issues. With this thought in mind, in December of 2014, he created 6 Wheels Consulting. Working with those in both the private and public sectors he hopes to expand their understanding of disabilities and inclusion to give them the tools they can use in any environment. 


Matthew has had the privilege of sitting on numerous disability boards and speaking at a variety of conferences both locally and nationally. 
Matthew Shapiro

Zach Mecham


Friday, September 19 | 9:00 AM


About the Presenter: Zach Mecham is an entrepeneur, entertainer, and disability advocate. By day, he helps business owners market themselves online. By night, he tells sometimes funny jokes in dive bars you’ve never been to.


He also spends a significant amount of time fighting on behalf of people with disabilities.  He’s spent most of his adult life fighting for Medicaid and Home and Community Based Services. He’s also fought to remove the asset and income limits that prvent working people with disabilities from accessing these services. 


In what little free time he has left, he’s probably watching movies, making movies, or talking about movies. Either that or tinkering with DIY projects that will likely never be finished.

HOTEL / VENUE

Holiday Inn & Suites Des Moines-Northwest


4800 Merle Hay Road

Urbandale, IA 50322


The conference will be held at the Holiday Inn & Suites Des Moines-Northwest. A block of guest rooms has also been reserved at the rate of $109 per night, plus taxes and fees.

NEW THIS YEAR!

The ARC of Iowa and the Julie & Katie Beckett Advocacy Fund will be offering scholarships to cover hotel room costs for self-advocates.


If you would like to apply, please let us know in your online registration. Applications are due August 22.

Holiday Inn & Suites Des Moines-Northwest

HOW TO BOOK A ROOM

BY PHONE

  • Call 515-278-4755 and ask about rooms for the Make Your Mark! Conference.


ONLINE

  • Go to www.holidayinn.com/desmoinesia
  • Select the date(s) you will be staying
  • Change "Rate Preference" to the Group Rate option and use the code MYM
  • Press "View Prices"



Booking deadline: August 27


Please note that rooms are available on a first come, first served basis. If all rooms in our room block are reserved before this date, this price is not guaranteed. Room fees are not covered by the Iowa DD Council.



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2025 AWARDS

MIA PETERSON SELF-ADVOCACY AWARD

Mia Peterson was a self-advocate who dedicated her life to advocating for individuals with disabilities.


Through her ongoing efforts, she successfully helped make meaningful changes within the disability community. After Mia passed away in 2021, we created the Mia Peterson Self-Advocacy Award in her honor, to recognize an Iowan with a disability who embodies Mia’s legacy and works to advocate for the rights of all people with disabilities.

Mia Peterson
Casey Wilkinson - 2024 Award Recipient

RIK SHANNON DISABILITY CHAMPION AWARD

Rik Shannon dedicated his professional life to improving the lives of Iowans with disabilities during his 23 years as the Public Policy Manager at the Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council.


Rik started his retirement adventure six years ago, enjoying time with his children and grandchildren, and of course cycling. Rik unfortunately passed away this past Spring. The Iowa DD Council wants to honor Rik’s legacy by recognizing disability champions who have devoted their careers to creating a more inclusive environment for people with disabilities by raising awareness, implementing positive changes, and advocating for equal opportunities.

Rik Shannon
Pam Jochum | 2024 Award Recipient
Submit an Award Nomination

CALMING ROOM

If you need to take a break from the conference and relax in a quiet space, head to our sensory-friendly calming room!


This is an area with low lighting and calming activities that will be available during the entire event.


Signs will be displayed to help you find the room.


This room is sponsored by Easterseals Iowa.





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Calming room

T-SHIRT

Get your 2025 conference t-shirt for just $10!


Select the "Add-On Conference T-Shirt" ticket when you register, and your shirt will be available for pickup when you arrive at the event.


This is a great way to advocate in style!



T-shirts must be purchased by August 15.




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T-Shirt with 2025 Make Your Mark

AGENDA

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18

  • 8:00 – 9:30 AM | Registration and Breakfast


  • 9:30 – 10:30 AM | KEYNOTE: Mastering "Matthew’s Tool Box" To Stay the Course and Advocate for Issues You Believe In

    Presenter: Matthew Shapiro 


    Session Description: 

    Advocacy is a journey that can take many twists and turns, over extended periods of time, and transcend both positive and challenging times. Given the current climate, when it’s not hard to feel a bit beaten down with fatigue from the policy arena, it is important to remember to stay the good fight and continue advocating for causes and issues that impact you and the community you love and support. 


    Matthew Shapiro, America’s Disability AdviserTM, has spent over 10 years as a lobbyist in the Virginia General Assembly. During that time, Matthew has helped pass numerous pieces of legislation including: the removal of the use of sub minimum wage in Virginia, removing the word “Handicapped” from the Code of VA and establishing an alternative application process making it easier for PWD’s to apply for and be hired for State Government positions. 


    Matthew will be sharing his “Advocacy Tool Box” which includes:  Being persistent (over a multi year effort), being patient (as advocacy takes time) developing coalitions, remaining resilient, being present, navigating no, capitalizing on and finding the joy in small victories, managing the frustration of "not being heard or ignored,” practicing The Honey Theory of negotiation, navigating the delicate balance between friendliness and subtlety versus a more aggressive and direct approach, and a great deal more. This session will utilize several of Matthew’s past experiences to illuminate the strategies that were most effective for him that he can and will impart upon the audience.  


    Matthew will also share an outsider’s perspective on Iowa’s “Work Without Worry” legislation and directly answer your most pressing questions. It is his hope that you will leave this presentation equipped with the tools and are energized and motivated to go change the world one policy at a time.

  • 10:30 - 11:00 AM | Exhibitor Break


  • 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM | GENERAL SESSION: Legislative Panel

    Moderated by Dave Price 

  • 12:00 - 1:30 PM | Lunch and Legislator Chat


  • 1:30 - 2:00 PM | Exhibitor Break


  • 2:00 - 3:00 PM | Breakout Sessions

    • Workplace Accommodation Strategies - Catherine Johnson, Gloria Soto, Carly Ott
    • Pregame Poetry - Sharon Ruth Hensley
    • From Blueprint to Action: Empowering Change through the Iowa Blueprint for Change - Ashley Hazen

  • 3:00 PM - 3:15 PM | Exhibitor Break


  • 3:15 - 4:15 PM | Breakout Sessions

    • Understanding ABLE Accounts: A Path to Financial Independence - Victoria Newton
    • Introduction to Non-Profit Leadership Roles - Carly Ott
    • Advocating for Your Disability Can Get Your Game On - Vickie Setterberg
    • Level Up: The Infinite Spectrum - Ethan Velasquez, Andrea Velasquez

  • 4:15 - 4:30 PM | Exhibitor Break


  • 4:30 - 5:00 PM | Free Time


  • 5:00 - 7:00 PM | Dinner and Evening Entertainment

    Social, Dinner, Comedy Hour and Talent Show – Hosted by Zach Mecham 


FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19

  • 8:00 - 9:00 AM | Registration and Breakfast


  • 9:00 - 10:00 AM | KEYNOTE: Welcome to the Big Leagues

    Presenter: Zach Mecham 


    Session Description: 

    “Welcome to the Big Leagues” is your formal introduction into advocacy at the highest level. Congratulations, you’re in the show now. 


    It doesn’t matter who you are, the connections you have, or the skills you think you lack. It’s time for all of us to step up to the plate, advocate with everything we have, and leave it all on the field.

  • 10:15 - 10:30 AM | Exhibitor Break


  • 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM | Breakout Sessions

    • Benefits Bingo: Make Your Mark Towards Financial Independence - Mistie Johnson, Tammy Crouch, Jenny Lynes
    • Community Inclusion - Todd Noack
    • Game On: Advocating for Assistive Technology to Unlock Your Goals - Kevin Dalin, Ben Weigel
    • Living with Disabilities and Leadership - Sebastien Janelle, Simon Janelle, Monica Janelle

  • 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM | Lunch and Awards Ceremony

    • Mia Peterson Self-Advocacy Award
    • Rik Shannon Disability Champion Award 
    • Bingo prize giveaway
Download Agenda