46th Annual Philadelphia Regional Conference on Developmental Disabilities

KEYNOTE ADDRESS – Amy Nieves, MHR

Our Keynote speaker this year is Amy Nieves, MHR, who serves as the Public Affairs Specialist for the United States Access Board. The Access Board is an independent federal agency that promotes equality for people with disabilities through leadership in accessible design and the development of accessibility guidelines and standards. Prior to her appointment, she served as Executive Director for the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities for the city of Philadelphia under the Kenney and Parker Administrations. In 2024, she was named one of the top 25 Drivers, Doers, and Dreamers for the United States by Government and Technology for her notable work on disability representation and accessible design in geographic information systems (GIS) data mapping and city planning. Additionally, Amy is a Governor-appointed Council Member for the PA Developmental Disabilities Council and PA Statewide Independent Living Council. The title of her Presentation is See Me, See My Future. As a community partner and person with lived experience in poverty, addiction recovery and disability, she knows full well what it is to be underestimated and unseen; yet she also knows what it looks like to keep going. Through this presentation she desires to lift the power of a strong vision and high expectations so that all can envision life on their terms and challenge us all to work collaboratively to reduce and eliminate barriers towards an accessible, inclusive, and equitable future.

Host or Publisher LEND DD Conference Planning Committee