Last week, many Emmaus clients and staff attended the self-advocacy conference “Real Voices, Real Choices,” cohosted by the Department of Mental Health and the Missouri Mental Health Foundation. The 2024 conference was held at Margaritaville Resort at the Lake of the Ozarks. The purpose of the conference is to “unite, inform, and empower individuals and families living with mental illness, developmental and intellectual disabilities, and those in recovery for substance use disorders.” 

Participants from all over Missouri were able to attend many sessions taught by self-advocates, family members, and professionals in the field. The topics ranged from taking on an advocacy project, to planning for your next adventure, to ways to disrupt the school to prison pipeline. One session was led by Emmaus Board Member Susie Parker and her colleague. They discussed powerful ways to share your own story to make change.  

In a session about trauma and how it affects individuals with developmental disabilities specifically, it was surprising to learn that very little research has been done on effective treatment. Trauma treatments tend to be created for typically developing peers and then adapted for individuals with IDDs. 

In addition to excellent educational opportunities, conference participants were able to play bingo, sing karaoke, and swim. The conference also boasts a sensory room for those that need lower stimulation as well as a room to create art, also for decompressing. 

Registration for the conference opens in the Spring. If you would like to attend next year, be sure to bookmark the conference website. Want to present at next year’s conference? Those opportunities open in January or February each year. Head to that same link for more information. 

Did you attend the conference and get some sweet photos? Please send them to our Marketing team at Stories@EmmausHomes.org. In your email also share who is featured in the photos – clients and staff.