Spring Conference 2026

April 28
- April 30, 2026
Virtual Sessions (LIVE)
Location

Wyndham Grand Executive Center

Address

3201 Bankhead Drive, Little Rock, AR 72206

Event Details

The Developmental Disabilities Provider Association (DDPA) Spring Conference returns April 28–30, 2026, in Little Rock, bringing together providers, advocates, and leaders from across Arkansas for three days of training, collaboration, and innovation. This year’s conference is especially significant as it marks DDPA’s 25th anniversary, celebrating a legacy of service, advocacy, and progress in supporting individuals with developmental disabilities. Attendees can expect a dynamic mix of educational sessions, policy updates, and community engagement as DDPA reflects on its impact and looks ahead to the future.

Become a Sponsor!

Sponsorship – Gold
Sponsorship – Silver
Party Fuel (Coffee & Snacks)
Sponsorship – Bronze (For-Profit)
Fireworks
Cake
Sponsorship – Bronze (Non-profit)
Balloon
Confetti

Sponsors

25th Anniversary Sponsors

Agenda

Day 1 Schedule

Welcome

April 28th

|

8:45 am

_

8:55 am

|

MAIN

|

GENERAL
Yukiko
Taylor
Executive Director
DDPA
View Session

A Different Way of Thinking

April 28th

|

9:00 am

_

10:00 am

|

MAIN

|

GENERAL
Cody Clark
Magician
Cody Clark Magic
View Session

Down Syndrome and Lifelong Medical Challenges

April 28th

|

10:15 am

_

11:25 am

|

MAIN

|

GENERAL
Tomoko Tanaka, MD
View Session

Presenting Sponsor – Summit Community Care

April 28th

|

11:30 am

_

12:00 pm

|

MAIN

|

GENERAL
Jason Miller
CEO
Summit Community Care
View Session

Ladder Up: Growing and Keeping Talent in the IDD Field

April 28th

|

1:00 pm

_

2:00 pm

|

Lindberg C

|

ADMIN
Lori Ross
Board Certified Executive Coach
Clarity Consultants
View Session

Dis-Impos-Ability

April 28th

|

1:00 pm

_

2:00 pm

|

Ballroom

|

EIDT
Cody Clark
Magician
Cody Clark Magic
View Session

Mandated Reporting Training

April 28th

|

2:05 pm

_

3:05 pm

|

Ballroom

|

GENERAL
Sherry Williamson
Mandated Reporter
Arkansas Commission on Child Abuse, Rape and Domestic Violence
View Session

DDPA Member Hub: Website New Functions (Questions for Members) and more

April 28th

|

3:20 pm

_

4:20 pm

|

Ballroom

|

GENERAL
Jeff
Grooms
Webmaster
Grooms Creative Properties
View Session

Day 2 Schedule

The Heart of Our Mission: Voices from the People We Serve

April 29th

|

8:30 am

_

9:30 am

|

Ballroom

|

GENERAL
View Session

Game Changers: The Real Impact of Special Olympics Off the Field

April 29th

|

9:35 am

_

10:35 am

|

Ballroom

|

GENERAL
Camie Powell
Director of Marketing and Partnerships
Special Olympics Arkansas
View Session

Celebrating 25 Years: A story of Endurance and Perseverance

April 29th

|

10:50 am

_

11:05 am

|

Ballroom

|

GENERAL
Janie
Sexton
Executive Director
Building Bridges Developmental & Community Services, Inc.
View Session

Honoring Past Board Presidents, Board Members, Executive Directors

April 29th

|

11:05 am

_

11:15 am

|

Ballroom

|

GENERAL
Yukiko
Taylor
Executive Director
DDPA
View Session

DDPA – “In the Beginning”

April 29th

|

11:15 am

_

11:30 am

|

Ballroom

|

GENERAL
Joey
Astin
Executive Director
St. Francis Area Developmental Center
View Session

A Legacy of Leadership and Political Support

April 29th

|

11:30 am

_

12:00 pm

|

Ballroom

|

GENERAL
Randy Laverty
Former Senator
State of Arkansas
View Session

Get a Grip on Your Business

April 29th

|

1:00 pm

_

2:00 pm

|

Lindberg C

|

ADMIN
Drew Spurgers
Kolbe Certified Consultant
EOS Worldwide
View Session

Caring with Confidence: Medical and Developmental Insights in Patients with Down Syndrome

April 29th

|

1:00 pm

_

2:00 pm

|

Ballroom

|

EIDT
Pratheepa Ravikumar M.D.
Internal Medicine Specialist
UAMS
View Session

ADDT Curriculum Programs

April 29th

|

1:00 pm

_

2:00 pm

|

Lindberg AB

|

ADDT
Zoey Sweeny
Head of Customer Experience & Expansion
Kibu
View Session

DSP Certification/Professional Development

April 29th

|

1:00 pm

_

2:00 pm

|

Enterprise AB

|

WAIVER
Dan Hermreck
Chief Innovation Officer
National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals
View Session

Grant Seeking 101: Tools and Tactics

April 29th

|

2:05 pm

_

3:05 pm

|

Lindberg C

|

ADMIN
Dr. Ginny Blankenship
Founder and Lead Strategist
Lightmaker Grants & Strategy
View Session

Growing Minds Curriculum Options for Early Intervention Centers

April 29th

|

2:05 pm

_

3:05 pm

|

Ballroom

|

EIDT
Kara
Jones
Executive Director
CCCEC
Ja
Chambless
Executive Director
Pattillo Center-School, Inc.
View Session

Arkansas Rehabilitation Pre-Employment Transition Services

April 29th

|

2:05 pm

_

3:05 pm

|

Lindberg AB

|

ADDT
Anne Madsen
Statewide Pre-Employment Transition Services Manager
Arkansas Rehabilitation Services
Dana Byrum
Deputy Director of Special Programs
Arkansas Rehabilitation Services
View Session

DSP Code of Ethics

April 29th

|

2:05 pm

_

3:05 pm

|

Enterprise AB

|

WAIVER
Dan Hermreck
Chief Innovation Officer
National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals
View Session

Legal Side of Leading: Workplace Conduct, Social Media

April 29th

|

3:25 pm

_

4:25 pm

|

Lindberg C

|

ADMIN
J.W. Bramlett
Administrative Services Director/Civil Service Director
City of Texarkana, Texas
View Session

DPSQA Updates (EIDT/ADDT)

April 29th

|

3:25 pm

_

4:25 pm

|

Ballroom

|

ADDT, EIDT
Martina Smith
Director
DPSQA
View Session

DDS Waiver Updates/Open Q&A

April 29th

|

3:25 pm

_

4:25 pm

|

Enterprise AB

|

WAIVER
Lynn Davenport
Program Manager
DHS
View Session

Day 3 Schedule

Life Support: A Family Journey

April 30th

|

8:30 am

_

9:20 am

|

Ballroom

|

GENERAL
Jane Browning
Non Profit Executive
View Session

Unplugged: A Sit-Down with the Speaker and the Senator

April 30th

|

9:30 am

_

11:00 am

|

Ballroom

|

GENERAL
Brian Evans
Speaker of the House, 95th General Assembly
House of Representatives
Bill Stoval
Consultant
WSG
View Session

Unplugged 2: A Sit-Down with the Speaker and the Senator

April 30th

|

9:30 am

_

11:00 am

|

Ballroom

|

GENERAL
Melissa Weatherton
Director
Specialty Medicaid Services
Kelley Linck
Lobbyist,Strategist
WSG
View Session

DDS Director Updates Q&A

April 30th

|

11:10 am

_

12:00 pm

|

Ballroom

|

GENERAL
Jennifer Brezée
Director
DDS
View Session

Speakers

IMG_8791
Yukiko Taylor
Executive Director
DDPA
View Speaker
Screenshot 2026-03-23 at 7.53.10 PM
Cody Clark
Magician
Cody Clark Magic
View Speaker
image001
Tomoko Tanaka, MD
View Speaker
Jason Miller
Jason Miller
CEO
Summit Community Care
View Speaker
image
Lori Ross
Board Certified Executive Coach
Clarity Consultants
View Speaker
Sherry-299x456
Sherry Williamson
Mandated Reporter
Arkansas Commission on Child Abuse, Rape and Domestic Violence
View Speaker
Jeff Grooms
Webmaster
Grooms Creative Properties
View Speaker
1516889688007
Camie Powell
Director of Marketing and Partnerships
Special Olympics Arkansas
View Speaker
Janie Sexton
Janie Sexton
Executive Director
Building Bridges Developmental & Community Services, Inc.
View Speaker
Joey Astin
Joey Astin
Executive Director
St. Francis Area Developmental Center
View Speaker
Laverty.jpg
Randy Laverty
Former Senator
State of Arkansas
View Speaker
DREW-0760_RETCutWhiteBack-square
Drew Spurgers
Kolbe Certified Consultant
EOS Worldwide
View Speaker
Ravikumar_Pratheepa-245x327
Pratheepa Ravikumar M.D.
Internal Medicine Specialist
UAMS
View Speaker
ZoeyHeadshot_DDPA_Apr2026
Zoey Sweeny
Head of Customer Experience & Expansion
Kibu
View Speaker
Dan-Hermreck-headshot-scaled (2)
Dan Hermreck
Chief Innovation Officer
National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals
View Speaker
2022+Headshot--Ginny+Blankenship+2_2
Dr. Ginny Blankenship
Founder and Lead Strategist
Lightmaker Grants & Strategy
View Speaker
Chambless
Ja Chambless
Executive Director
Pattillo Center-School, Inc.
View Speaker
Kara Jones
Kara Jones
Executive Director
CCCEC
View Speaker
Dana Pic
Dana Byrum
Deputy Director of Special Programs
Arkansas Rehabilitation Services
View Speaker
Screenshot 2026-03-23 at 8.09.36 PM
Anne Madsen
Statewide Pre-Employment Transition Services Manager
Arkansas Rehabilitation Services
View Speaker
Headshot 1
J.W. Bramlett
Administrative Services Director/Civil Service Director
City of Texarkana, Texas
View Speaker
Picture1
Martina Smith
Director
DPSQA
View Speaker
L Davenport
Lynn Davenport
Program Manager
DHS
View Speaker
Jane Browning Pic
Jane Browning
Non Profit Executive
View Speaker
Screen+Shot+2020-09-18+at+11.05.20+AM
Bill Stoval
Consultant
WSG
View Speaker
Brian-S-Evans-001
Brian Evans
Speaker of the House, 95th General Assembly
House of Representatives
View Speaker
Jennifer-Head-Shot
Jennifer Brezée
Director
DDS
View Speaker
2025.MELISSA.WEATHERTON01-scaled
Melissa Weatherton
Director
Specialty Medicaid Services
View Speaker
IMG_5095
Kelley Linck
Lobbyist,Strategist
WSG
View Speaker

Virtual Rooms

No virtual sessions for this conference are available.