IDS Staff Attend MS DisAbility Megaconference

Interim Executive Director Dr. Jerry Alliston, Self-Advocacy Coordinator Taylor Carley, and Director of Technology and Accessibility Rich Baker proudly represented IDS at the Mississippi DisAbility Megaconference on June 12 and 13, 2025. The annual event held in Jackson is the state’s premier learning opportunity for people with disabilities, family members and professionals. This year, IDS staff took on vital roles to ensure the conference’s success.

Rich assisted with the audio and visual components throughout the entirety of the conference. Taylor introduced keynote speaker Cody Clark who cleverly intertwined comedy, magic tricks, and insights into Autism Spectrum Disorder to the audience’s delight. Dr. Alliston collaborated with Disability Rights Mississippi for the presentation “Disability & Higher Education: The do’s, don’t’s and the law” in a breakout group on Thursday.

Aside from their contributions to the conference, IDS staff also participated by furthering their professional development through the 9 breakout sessions offered. Special needs planning, assistive technology, advanced crisis planning, and intervention strategies were amongst the topics discussed in detail. The Mississippi DisAbility Megaconference was far from being simply a learning zone as vendor exhibits, meals, and even a gala encouraged community networking.

For nearly 50 years, IDS has promoted independence, productivity, and community inclusion for people with disabilities in Mississippi through the provisions of training, technical assistance, service, research, and information-sharing. Our staff are committed to furthering our professional development and sharing what we learn with our community both through our programs and participation in conferences and events.