IL Days 2026

Registration is now open for IL Days.

you will find a schedule of the day below, Please pick one session per time slot.

This year we were only able to secure a limited room block at reduced rates for the night of the 25th. Staff should use the state rate block until it is closed, then use the attendee block. If you are planning to stay multiple nights please call the Hilton directly.

State rate block:

https://www.hilton.com/en/attend-my-event/wi-independent-living/

Attendee block:

https://www.hilton.com/en/attend-my-event/wi-independent-living-centers/

Guests can also call Hilton reservations at 800-445-8667 or call the hotel directly at 608-255-5100 and reference the group code: WCILC.

PEER SUPPORT: Foundations and Fundamentals

10:00 - 11:15

Peer support is woven into the historical fabric of the Independent Living Movement in Wisconsin and plays a part, to some extent, in almost all aspects of Independent Living Services. Authors Jean Logan and Jim Wahner will join us for a panel discussion examining the colorful role of peer support in building the Independent Living community from its beginnings, as well as what it means to us today and into the future. How does peer support fit into different approaches to programming that the centers offer, whether it is the central goal or tangential to things like skills training, transition, and advocacy work? How do we adequately document its impacts in all those areas? And how does peer support need to evolve in the current climate we are facing of dwindling resources and diminishing support to meet the needs of our communities, including staff working in IL?

Benefits 101

10:00 - 11:15

"Unlock the Mystery of Benefits. Navigating Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, and other assistance programs can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be! This training is an ILC staff’s essential guide to understanding the programs that impact many of our consumers. In this interactive session, you’ll learn:

• The Basics Made Simple: What SSDI and SSI really mean, and how they differ.

• Eligibility Demystified: Who qualifies, what criteria apply, and how work affects benefits.

• Application & Appeals: Guidance on applying for benefits and what to do if you’re denied.

• Beyond Social Security: Explore Medicaid, Medicare, FoodShare, Energy Assistance, and more.

• Pro Tips & Resources: Where to find help, avoid common pitfalls, and empower consumers to advocate for themselves.

Whether you’re new to benefits or looking to sharpen your expertise, this training will give you practical tools, insider tips, and confidence to support individuals effectively. Join us and turn complexity into clarity!"

Dementia 101

10:00 - 11:15

"Many of us come in contact with community members with dementia. Whether you help a loved one, neighbor or friend, work with the public, or would just like to know more, this information will help you. At this presentation you’ll learn about dementia, a general term used to describe a decline in brain function. The session will cover:

•difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia

• signs and symptoms of dementia

• an overview of the most common types of dementia

• how dementia affects the various parts of the brain

• effective communication tips and tools

• an experience with dementia first hand (if there's time...the Dementia Live)"

Building Code revisions and the ADA

1:30 - 2:45

The Wisconsin state building code recently underwent an update in line with the International Building Code revisions. This workshop will look at the changes to the accessibility standards, some which will exceed what the ADA requires. This is an important workshop for anyone who is interested in doing accessibility reviews of blueprints and new buildings.

AI Policy Development

1:30 - 2:45

These Days it seems AI is everywhere and impacts everything we do. Recently the WCILC Board began the development of AI policy language for ILCs in Wisconsin to adopt. This process led to some unique and interesting conversations about the impacts that AI have on ILC staff. Join members of the AI Policy Development Workgroup for a discussion about the process and lessons learned, including ensuring AI use stays true to your agency mission, considerations in using AI as an employee and with consumers, possibilities for future use.

Empathy V Compassion

1:30 - 2:45

Empathy helps us connect with others, but unregulated empathy can lead to emotional overwhelm, burnout, or withdrawal - especially for those working in substance use and mental health recovery. Drawing on the neuroscience of Dr. Tania Singer, this breakout session explores the crucial difference between empathy (feeling with) and compassion (feeling for with warmth and care). Participants will learn how empathic distress arises, why compassion is a more resilient response, and how to shift from one state to the other.
This highly interactive session includes brief partner exercises inspired by Singer’s contemplative dyad practices, reflection activities, and a guided loving-kindness meditation that begins with someone easy to care about and then gently turns inward. Attendees will leave with practical tools to cultivate compassion, for consumers, colleagues, and themselves, in order to sustain well-being while continuing to offer meaningful support.

Beyond the Script: How ILCs Teach Self-Advocacy Across Lived Experiences

3:15 - 4:30

This session focuses on practical, achievable skills that participants can immediately apply at their own Independent Living Centers, ILCW, and can be carried forward if there are career changes. Through real-world examples and reflective activities, attendees will build confidence in communicating clearly, naming barriers early, and understanding when leadership means escalating an issue rather than taking it on alone. Participants will leave with a shared language for leadership that supports sustainability, reinforces self-determination, and strengthens everyday work while mitigating burnout.

SPIL roundtable

3:15 - 4:30

ILCW is hosting a round table discussion to gather ideas and insights that we can use to help us build a foundation for development of the 2028-2030 SPIL. Let us know what we need to keep IL going in the right direction, what we can build on from the 2025-2027 SPIL, what needs to be reevaluated, and what innovations will keep us building IL up through the next SPIL cycle and beyond.

Leadership Without a Title

3:15 - 4:30

This session focuses on practical, achievable skills that participants can immediately apply at their own Independent Living Centers, ILCW, and can be carried forward if there are career changes. Through real-world examples and reflective activities, attendees will build confidence in communicating clearly, naming barriers early, and understanding when leadership means escalating an issue rather than taking it on alone. Participants will leave with a shared language for leadership that supports sustainability, reinforces self-determination, and strengthens everyday work while mitigating burnout.

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Host or Publisher Jason Glozier