Closing Keynote Speaker: 9:15am

Russell Lehmann​

Award‑Winning, Internationally Recognized Keynote Speaker, Poet, Author, and Activist ​Learn More

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The Power of Human Connection

There is not much more powerful than human connection, but not all connection is created equally. In this presentation, Russell explores the difference between connection that empowers and connection that unintentionally confines. With candor, humor, and authenticity, he examines how even well-intentioned support can blur into control when power goes unexamined.

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Blending philosophical insight with lived experience, Russell challenges attendees to reconsider their role not as voices for others, but as partners who create space for voices to emerge and be heard. Through this lens, connection becomes less about leading and more about walking alongside; grounded in mutual respect, shared humanity, and trust.

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This session also explores the nuances of a struggling mind and how it can be genuinely supported in moments of distress. By coming together and embracing the fluidity of life’s ups and downs, we begin to reimagine what is possible, not as isolated efforts, but as a collective. In that shift, we move beyond simply providing support and toward fostering environments where all individuals, with and without disabilities, can exist more fully, participate more meaningfully, and shape their own paths forward.