Welcome Session
Welcome from the Executive Director
Welcome to APRIL’s 32nd Annual National Conference on Rural Independent Living in beautiful Niagara Falls, NY! This year’s theme is: FALL into APRIL: Facilitate • Advocate • Learn • Lead,"
Thank you so much for being here! APRIL is so grateful for your continued support and collaboration in this mission we hold so dearly: Independent Living.
I want to take a moment to remember and celebrate the lives of the disability rights leaders who left us this year. We honor their contributions and the legacies they left us to carry on.
I am looking forward to networking with you all and discussing our Call to Action priorities and plans to build a more equitable, fair and just society! Now is the time to create the world we all dream of having!
We have an incredible line-up of speakers and workshops for you this year. We hope your experience is a fabulous and gratifying one filled with networking opportunities, sharing of ideas, reconnecting with old friends and making new ones. If this is your first APRIL Conference: WELCOME!!! You are among family here and we sincerely hope that you feel the love we have to share. Please take advantage of this opportunity to meet and share ideas with your colleagues from all over the country.
I want to sincerely thank all of our conference sponsors for making this event possible, but most importantly, thank you all for being here and for all the things you do in your community to enrich the lives of our fellow people with disabilities. Together we have incredible power to make change!
We need solidarity now more than ever. Our unified voice has the ability to ripple out into the collective and crack open the toughest of spaces! Onward we go!
Remember to exercise your right to VOTE this November 3rd. In the words of Justin Dart: Vote like your life depends on it…. BECAUSE IT DOES!!!
Elissa Ellis, APRIL Executive Director
Welcome to the 2026 APRIL Annual Conference from Kim Gibson, APRIL Board President
Welcome to the 2026 Annual Conference in beautiful Niagara Falls, New York! This year, we gather around the theme “FALL into APRIL: Facilitate • Advocate • Learn • Lead,” celebrating the values and principles that continue to guide the Independent Living movement and our work together as a Network.
It is my privilege to welcome members, advocates, Centers for Independent Living, Statewide Independent Living Councils, youth, current and emerging leaders, allies, and friends from across the country. Each of you brings knowledge, experience, and a commitment to the Independent Living Philosophy that strengthens our movement and enriches our collective work.
I extend my heartfelt appreciation to our Board of Directorsfor your continued dedication and leadership. Your commitment to APRIL and to the Independent Living movement is reflected in the time, energy, and lived experience you bring to our organization. Thank you for helping to guide APRIL and for keeping our values at the forefront of our work.
This year's theme, “Facilitate • Advocate • Learn • Lead,”speaks to the many ways we contribute to the movement. We facilitate connection and participation, advocate for disability rights and self-determination, learn from one another and our experiences, and lead by creating opportunities for meaningful change. Our youth, current, and emerging leaders are an important part of this work, bringing perspectives and ideas that help shape the future of Independent Living.
I also want to recognize our dedicated APRIL staff. Your expertise, creativity, and commitment make this conference possible and support the work of our Network throughout the year. Your efforts are deeply appreciated.
To all of our conference attendees, thank you for being here and for your continued commitment to the Independent Living movement. I encourage you to take full advantage of this opportunity to share ideas, exchange experiences, strengthen existing relationships, and build new connections. Together, we can learn from our successes, acknowledge our challenges, and continue moving forward.
A sincere thank you to our sponsors and partners for believing in APRIL and supporting our work. Your generosity helps us bring our Network together, develop future and emerging leaders, and continue advancing disability rights and disability justice.
Finally, if you have not already done so, I encourage you to join or renew your APRIL membership. Our strength lies in our community, and each member contributes to the collective voice and vision of the Independent Living movement.
As we gather in Niagara Falls, may we celebrate our shared history, embrace the opportunities before us, and look toward the future with purpose. Let us FALL into APRIL—to facilitate, advocate, learn, and lead together.
Thank you for being part of this important movement and for all that you do to advance Independent Living.
With gratitude and in solidarity,
Kim Gibson, DSW, LCSW
APRIL Board President
Elissa Ellis, APRIL Executive Director
Elissa brings more than two decades of deep commitment, leadership, and institutional knowledge to this role, having served APRIL for the past 23 years in multiple capacities—including Deputy Director, Financial Officer, and National Conference Coordinator. Her tireless dedication has shaped countless aspects of APRIL’s operations, outreach, and national impact.
A proud native of Kent, Ohio, Elissa relocated to the Little Rock area in 2007 when APRIL’s leadership transitioned. Over the years, she has been an integral part of APRIL’s mission to support the independent living needs of people with disabilities in rural America. With over 300 members, APRIL’s grassroots strength and national reach have grown alongside Elissa’s vision and hard work.
Outside of her professional role, Elissa is the proud mother of three adult children and "Nana" to six grandchildren—four girls and two boys—ranging from 12 years old to the newest arrival this past April. Her 170-pound Mastiff adds extra slobber and joy to her already full life.
Elissa's passion for disability rights is evident in her advocacy work. She is an active member of numerous coalitions and task forces focused on systems change in areas such as accessible voting, nursing home transitions, COVID-19 vaccine access, and emergency response for people with disabilities. She also served on the Executive Board of Arkansas Can Do, which promoted a positive worldview of disability through education.
Throughout her time at APRIL, Elissa has collaborated with partners like the University of Montana RTC: Rural and the University of Kansas RRTC on key initiatives, including Living Well with a Disability, Healthy Community Living, Emergency Preparedness, and more. Her holistic approach—always viewing the world through the critical lens of disability—has helped break down barriers and elevate accessibility in countless areas, from national conferences to community programs.
Elissa is especially passionate about mentoring youth and empowering future leaders in the Independent Living Movement. Her commitment to education, inclusion, and accessibility will continue to guide APRIL into its next chapter.
Kim Gibson, APRIL Board President
Dr. Kim Gibson, a committed leader and advocate, brings over three decades of experience in advancing disability rights, fostering diversity, and championing inclusion. Her impactful contributions to the Independent Living (IL) movement have left a lasting impression on the communities she has served. Originally hailing from Idaho, Kim embarked on her journey in disability advocacy in 1988. Her path led her through Wyoming, Pennsylvania, and Texas before she assumed the role of Executive Director at disABILITY LINK in Georgia in August 2013. Driven by a passion for the IL philosophy, she has dedicated her career to expanding programs that prioritize diversity and inclusion. Kim holds a Doctorate and Master's degree in social work, a testament to her commitment to continuous learning and excellence. Her academic journey was marked by the prestigious Neta Kolasa Scholarship, recognizing her unwavering dedication to social justice. As a devoted mother to her son, Dustin, and his wife, Pushee, Kim values family and the relationships that enrich her life. She recently welcomed a new service animal, Chipper, continuing her tradition of companionship after the passing of her cherished Charlie.
Throughout her career, Kim has been an ardent supporter of education, serving as a field instructor for individuals pursuing social work, educational, and occupational degrees. Her involvement in various community events, focused on suicide prevention, women's rights, disability rights, and civil rights, underscores her commitment to advocacy and societal improvement. Kim has received numerous accolades, including the 2014 National Council of Independent Living (NCIL)
"Women's Caucus Hall of Fame Award" and the 2023 Disability Inclusion Leadership Award from the National Diversity Council. Actively engaged in her community, Kim currently is serving as the President of APRIL (Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living), she continues to uplift organizations through policy advocacy, growth initiatives, and prioritizing the Independent Living Community and philosophy. Through APRIL’s peer-to-peer mentorship program, Kim is a peer mentor for other CILS (Centers for Independent Living). Kim is the past vice-chair of the Southeastern Center Directors Association and has served as a board member of NCIL (National Council of Independent Living), a board
member of SILC of GA, and a variety of NCIL subcommittees. She also serves on several local boards and has, in the past, served on various advisory boards in Wyoming appointed by the Governor and boards in Pennsylvania. Kim continues to work actively in the community, embodying the principles of the Independent Living Philosophy and tirelessly working towards a more inclusive and equitable society.
Local New York Representatives
Stephanie Orlando, WNYIL CEO
April Fearby, Director of Independent Living
Aaron Bair, WNYIL COO
Land Acknowledgement
With the aim of educating our community and acknowledging the many land treaties that overlay the City of Niagara Falls and Niagara Region, we acknowledge and thank the Indigenous peoples who were stewards of this land for a millennia before us.
APRIL acknowledges that we are privileged to gather on the lands of the Seneca, Tuscarora nations and other Indigenous communities such as Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe peoples who have stewarded this land throughout generations. We honor their sovereignty, demonstrate respect and correct the stories and practices that have erased Indigenous peoples’ history and culture by inviting and honoring truth.
Native Blessing by Travis Stafford
Travis Stafford, Seneca Nation Turtle Clan. Travis works at the Stanley Huff Heritage Center on the Cattaraugus Territory. He works to preserve and practice traditional knowledge and ceremonies in the Seneca community.