ICYMI: Highlights of the 2025 Florida Self-Advocacy Conference

Mary Jo Pirone receives third Zack Gottsagen Aspire Advocate Achieve Award!

Family members and FL SAND colleagues of Mary Jo Pirone receive the Zack Gottsagen A+ Award in her honor at the 2025 Florida Self-Advocacy Conference.

Self-advocates and their supporters came together August 22-24 to strategize how to rejuvenate grassroots advocacy projects in their communities at the “Power of Our Voices!” the 2025 Florida Self-Advocacy Conference hosted by the FL SAND Fellows.

Previously known as the FL SAND annual conference, this weekend gathering brought together self-advocate speakers and presenters, workshops, and opportunities for self-advocates to network with their peers from across the state. The FL SAND Fellows planned and hosted the event and provided the general session training on Saturday morning. The conference was held at the Florida Hotel and Conference Center in Orlando. More than 100 self-advocates, family members, providers and agency representatives attended.

The conference was supported by FL SAND sponsors who helped fund travel, personal care assistance, and other conference expenses for attenders. Supporters included Disability Rights Florida, the Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology (FAAST), The Arc of Florida, ABLE United, and Panache Holistics.

Day one, Friday evening, consisted of an encouraging keynote address by Orange County Soil and Water Conservation Commissioner Karolyn Campbell. Campbell is the first legally blind person to be elected to public office in the state. Despite being legally blind, Campbell was able to defeat the odds by using the "power of her voice." In her talk she highlighted moments in her journey --including moving up faster than co-workers who had underestimated her abilities -- and offered advice on how to overcome the odds. 

The other highlight of Friday evening was the presentation of the Zack Gottsagen Aspire Advocate Achieve, or A+ Award, offered to a self-advocate who has made an immense impact on their community. This year's award recipient was Mary Jo Pirone, an active member of three FL SAND groups over her lifetime, winner of the Idelio Valdes Advocacy and Leadership Award from the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, and a pioneer of the disability rights movement in Florida.

Pirone passed away in March of 2025, making this A+ Award the first given posthumously. After being accepted by leaders of the three FL SAND groups in which she served, the award was given to her family members. Tribute speeches by FL SAND President Denise Payne and FL SAND President-Elect Rachel Riccobene highlighted the impact Mary Jo had on the disability community as a whole.

The Fellows led two workshops Saturday morning. “The Power of Grassroots Advocacy” was an interactive training designed to inspire local groups to step up their grassroots advocacy efforts. It ended with a "Shark Tank" activity where regional teams came up with ideas for a community advocacy project, which they then pitched to the “Sharks” – a group of FL SAND Fellows. Fellows offered encouraging feedback and advice on how to get the projects up and running. 

The Fellows also presented a Lunch and Learn session on "Bringing a Route to Self Determination Workshop to Your Community.” This session included instructions and resources to equip local groups in planning and delivering the "Route to Self-Determination” workshop to self-advocates in their hometowns. The "Route to Self-Determination" is an entry-level training in self-determination for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Chatequa Pinkston (left) and Michelle Zeman (right) deliver a conference break-out session at the 2025 Florida Self-Advocacy Conference.

On Saturday afternoon, self-advocates were offered breakout sessions on a range of topics. Members of HURDLE presented their school stories "Breakfast Club" style; Mandy Ranochak and other MAGICAL self-advocates presented a how-to workshop on About Me boxes, inviting participants to create their own About Me (vision) boards; Chatequa Pinkston and Michelle Zeman shared their tips and experiences in how self-publishing books and hosting podcasts can be advocacy tools; and Laura Minutello with Disability Rights Florida shared vital information on voting rights. 

Saturday night capped off the day in style with FL SAND’s own DJ Dan Booten spinning the beats and hosting a fun karaoke session. 

After a presentation by headliner conference sponsor Disability Rights Florida, the FL SAND board took the lead by holding officer elections and its annual general membership meeting. Congratulations to Rachel Riccobene and Rachel Long for their new roles as President and Vice President respectively. Groups shared their accomplishments from the last year and outgoing Fellows got a chance to share memories and sincere thanks as they handed over the torch to the remaining Fellows. The event was a success.

Did you miss out? Not to worry. This conference is hosted every other year. More information will be posted when it becomes available right here on Florida Self-Advocacy Central.