AAIDD Texas Chapter Annual 50th Anniversary Convention: 50 Years of Inclusion: Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Future 2026

The AAIDD Texas Chapter Annual 50th Anniversary Convention invites individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), professionals, advocates, family members, and community members to celebrate "50 Years of Inclusion: Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Future." This annual convention provides a platform to exchange insights, share advancements, and collaborate on best practices aimed at enhancing the quality of services and promoting dignity and self-determination for people with IDD and their families. Attendees can expect a dynamic lineup of presentations, including a thought-provoking opening session exploring the evolution of publicly funded supports, insightful discussions on mental health, trauma-informed care, and family experiences in crisis, practical strategies for supporting independence, transition-age youth, and workplace inclusion, and emerging perspectives on sensory processing, peer support roles, and person-centered practices. The convention will also feature timely updates on Texas legislation and system-level changes impacting IDD services, with information tables staffed by experts from the Health & Human Services Commission (HHSC) and discussions with state leaders on IDD initiatives and outcomes. The program is designed to offer meaningful opportunities for clinicians, providers, educators, policymakers, and advocates to learn, connect, and grow.