Youth with disabilities and special health care needs, along with their families and professionals, came together for the inaugural Navigating the Road to Independence summit, held April 18-19, 2025. Hosted by the Family Navigation Network, a program under the Nevada Center for Excellence in Disabilities in the College of Education & Human Development, the two-day event aimed to support and educate attendees on the complex journey of transitioning into adulthood.

Director of the Nevada Center for Excellence in Disabilities, Randall Owen, Ph.D., highlighted the significance of this summit, “I'm so proud of the work that the Family Navigation Network has been doing and in particular of this event. It has been wonderfully received by the community who recognize that there is much more work to be done. Hopefully this event is the first of many.”

The summit was born from a shared recognition of a critical need in Nevada’s disability community. “At the Family Navigation Network, we recognized a clear need in our community for education around the topic of transition — and we knew we had the tools to meet that need,” Maria Barber, a transition specialist from the Family Navigation Network said. “As a parent of an 18-year-old with cerebral palsy, I experience transition every day. I wanted to help educate our community in the way I would want to be educated.”

With this purpose in mind, the team began planning in late 2024, identifying key elements essential for a meaningful and inclusive experience. From selecting a fully accessible venue to ensuring that all speakers were experts in their fields, the summit was carefully crafted to address the broad and diverse needs of the disability community.

The event featured dynamic breakout sessions, a robust vendor fair and nationally recognized keynote speakers. Topics ranged from Medicaid transition and education planning to independent living skills such as driving, medical appointments and relationships. A youth and young adult track stood out for its creative use of improvisation to tackle real-world scenarios, resulting in laughter, connection and deep engagement.

One highlight was the Friday evening performance by The Note-Ables, a Reno-based band composed of musicians with disabilities. Their inspiring set not only entertained but underscored the summit’s theme of empowerment and inclusion.

During the summit’s closing session, three young adults shared their personal dream boards, offering a powerful glimpse into their hopes for the future. One young man, recently finished with leukemia treatment, spoke about rebuilding his life and rediscovering his passions. Another participant expressed her excitement about graduating high school and stepping into adulthood. A third proudly shared her aspirations as she heads off to college, eager to embrace independence and new opportunities. Together, their stories served as powerful reminders of how youth can dream big when given the right inspiration, tools and support.

The event received overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants. One parent shared, “I had a huge list of questions that I needed answered, and I never thought I would be able to reach the people who could give me those answers. I am leaving with every question answered and can now move forward helping my daughter through transition.”

Another attendee, a Washoe County School District high school special education teacher, reflected: “I came to this summit thinking I knew everything about transition. After attending, I realized that I knew nothing. I am so thankful I came.”

The Family Navigation Network sees the summit as the beginning of a larger effort to build capacity and connection within Nevada’s disability community. “Having a clear vision allowed us to create a truly successful event—one where attendees left feeling empowered, supported, and connected,” organizers said. Plans are already underway to bring the summit back in 2026.

The Family Navigation Network (FNN) is Nevada’s Family-to-Family Health Information Center and the Parent to Parent of Nevada’s peer-to-peer emotional support program. It is a family-led project that supports families of children and youth with special health care needs. The FNN helps connect families to community resources and health care information and can provide emotional support for those caring for a loved one with a special health care need or disability.