SPEAKERS &
Presentations



Thursday



DAVID HALE



David Hale was born and raised in South Mississippi in a home where God was not a priority. He was raised by his mother and grandfather because his father was in prison. When David was 16 years old, he was driving drunk and survived the wreck that left him paralyzed from the middle of the chest down. As he struggled to come to terms with becoming a paraplegic at such a young age, David became depressed and addicted to drugs and alcohol. At his lowest point, he was homeless, living in a cardboard box in a park and contemplating suicide. Since becoming a Christian on August 7, 2011, life has been amazing for David.


He earned a GED, Associates Degree, Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling. He now counsels people with alcohol and drug addictions and is the CEO/Owner of Life Without Limits, LLC. He also serves as a motivational speaker to young people about the choices they make and the consequences of those choices.


David’s mission is to spread joy and show people that with Jesus there are truly “ NO LIMITS” on what you can do. He wants everyone to realize that with diligence, purpose, determination, “want-ta”, push, drive, and motivation to grind they can adapt to and overcome all challenges or mountains that stand in the way of becoming who they want to be. He encourages people to believe they can have a life without limits and do what they want to do!



Friday


Jill JACOBS
Commissioner, Administration on Disabilities
Administration for Community Living

Email: jill.jacobs@acl.hhs.gov


Jill Jacobs was appointed to serve as the Commissioner of ACL’s Administration on Disabilities on Feb. 14, 2022.


Ms. Jacobs has more than two decades of professional experience managing disability services organizations, analyzing policy, and working toward improved health and disability programs and services at local, state, and federal levels. She also has been an active grassroots organizer, leading campaigns to depict President Franklin D. Roosevelt seated in his wheelchair in the national monument in Washington, D.C. and to ensure the inclusion of disabled children in schools, and organizing disaster response efforts for people with disabilities following Hurricanes Harvey and Maria, to name just a few of her accomplishments.


In addition, Ms. Jacobs brings to the role the lived experience of her own disability and as the mother of two disabled adults Before joining ACL, Ms. Jacobs served as the Executive Director of the ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia (ECNV), a center for independent living.


Previously, Ms. Jacobs founded and served for sixteen years as the CEO of Ability Unleashed, a coordination and facilitation agency for Medicaid home and community-based services. She has held executive positions at several non-profit and government entities and served on the boards of a number of disability advocacy organizations, including the National Council on Independent Living and United Cerebral Palsy of Washington & Northern Virginia. For her work advancing rights and access of disabled military family members while she was an Army spouse, the United States Army awarded Jill the Dr. Mary E. Walker Medal of Honor. Ms. Jacobs is a graduate of Texas A&M at Central Texas and received social work training at Army Social Work Services at Fort Hood, Texas.

Link to Video: 30 Years of Community Living

Friday



Dwight Owens



In 2005, at the age of 23, Dwight was in a horrible car accident. After only 1 year of high school teaching, a 72-year-old drunk driver crashed into Dwight’s vehicle and his life was changed forever. Dwight had broken bones, punctured lungs, a broken back, brain trauma, a severed spinal cord, a year in the hospital and a lifetime of paralysis ahead of him. In fact, Dwight coded immediately after the accident and the doctors gave him no chance to survive. But survive he did, and what could have become a life of depression, self-pity, and bitterness has instead transformed into one of uplifting courage, self-reliance, and forgiveness.


After surviving life support and an entire year in the hospital, Dwight found the courage to turn tragedy into triumph, and has become a motivational speaker sought after throughout Mississippi and beyond. Receiving several local, state, and national awards for his service, he is also an author and well known advocate for mental health awareness, disability awareness, alcohol & drug addiction prevention, and beyond. He received his Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from The University of Southern Mississippi and is currently pursuing his Doctorate degree in Educational Leadership.


Fourteen years ago, Dwight married Tamika, the love of his life, and the couple had their first child, Brailey Samara Owens, on 12/12/12. Dwight says, “God has a plan for all of us, and we all have challenges to face. He also gives us the strength and resources to overcome those challenges. There are no guaranties in life, and it can change on a dime. All I know is that you have to face things head on, put them in the best possible light, and help others every chance you get. Life doesn’t have to be perfect to be wonderful!”



BREAKOUT SESSIONS
presentations and other materials are listed by numbers below.



1) Resources in Our State that You "Aut" to Know About - Jennifer Jackson, EdD The presentation will provide an overview of current resources throughout the state related to Autism with a primary focus on transition and employment. Services provided through the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation will be discussed in detail.


2 ) The Importance of Advocating for Your Child in School - Katrina VanBuren, Ed. S. The proposed presentation will discuss the importance of advocating for their child or other loved ones within the school system. Unfortunately, many parents and caregivers are confused, frustrated, and overwhelmed when trying to communicate the specific needs of their loved ones. The presentation will provide strategies that foster empowerment among families to advocate effectively.


3) Learning Financial Literacy with Danny Dollar! - Kristi James, M.Ed.

Through ready-to-go lessons, students learn important financial literacy and entrepreneurship concepts through the exciting book, Danny Dollar Millionaire Extraordinaire: The Lemonade Escapade. Through his adventures, Danny Dollar will help students improve their reading skills while learning about personal finance and entrepreneurship, skills that help them transition post high school. Books and materials are provided at no cost to the teachers or schools.


4) Communication and Conflict Resolution - Leslie Junkin

Communication and conflict resolution skills are crucial for families that have children with disabilities. From families in early intervention just starting the journey with their child, families of children in school and families of youth and young adults navigating transition and life after school, knowing how to communicate and resolve conflict are skills that will be needed for a lifetime.


5) How will working affect my Social Security Check? - Janie Buckley

This session will provide an overview of the Social Security Administration’s two disability programs. This will include the basic work incentives for each.


6) Person Centered Practices - Courtney Williams, MSW, Yolanda Green, Bret Blackmon, Ph.D.

Person Centered Practices empower people, families, and human service providers to engage in a collaborative planning process where people are the experts on how to best live their lives. This presentation will share concepts and skills on how to support people during "phases" of the life trajectory while highlighting an intersectional lens to discover the many layers of a person's identity that may cause disadvantages or privileges when receiving services.


7) Independent Living, Here We Come! - Leslie Junkin

Preparing for independent living is an exciting time in any youth's journey towards adulthood. For youth with disabilities, that time can also be filled with questions and challenges. A checklist can help identify skills necessary to live as independently as possible given each youth's unique needs and challenges. This session will take you through a series of checklists that cover a wide range of needed skills and steps to take in achieving the level of independence desired.


8) The Importance of Accessible Public Transportation - Scott Crawford, Ph.D., Kattie Henderson, JD, and Shirley Wilson

Dr. Crawford and Attorney Kattie Henderson will update attendees on litigation in Jackson regarding public transportation. Shirley Wilson from the Mississippi Department of Transportation will discuss options for attendees in their own communities regarding public and Medicaid/Medicare offerings. ​


9) Mississippi's State of Mental Health Services - Polly Tribble, Joy Hogge, Ph.D.

This session will provide an overview of the current litigation regarding adult mental health services in Mississippi. Jacqueline Fleming, LCSW and Teri Brister, PhD, members of the Court Monitoring Team in U.S. v. Mississippi, will be part of the panel and available to listen to questions and concerns from attendees.