2025 APRIL Conference
Join us for our 31st Annual APRIL Conference in Portland, Oregon to Empiower Your Inner R.O.S.E: Resilient. Outspoken. Steadfast. Engaged.
Portland Oregon is known for its natural beauty, scenic volcanic mountains and amazing river gorges and waterfalls as well as its eclectic arts and counter-culture, AND its roses! Portland is known as the City of Roses, or Rose City.
Our Conference theme this year is an ode to that symbolism!
Land Acknowledgment Specific to Oregon
Indigenous tribes and bands have been with the lands that we inhabit today throughout Oregon and the Northwest since time immemorial and continue to be a vibrant part of Oregon today. We would like to express our respect to the First Peoples of this land, the nine federally recognized tribes of Oregon: Burns Paiute Tribe, Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua & Siuslaw Indians, Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation, Coquille Indian Tribe, Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe of Indians, and The Klamath Tribes. It is important that we recognize and honor the ongoing legal and spiritual relationship between the land, plants, animals, and people indigenous to this place we now call Oregon. The interconnectedness of the people, the land, and the natural environment cannot be overstated; the health of one is necessary for the health of all. We recognize the pre-existing and continued sovereignty of the nine federally recognized tribes who have ties to this place and thank them for continuing to share their traditional ecological knowledge and perspective on how we might care for one another and the land, so it can take care of us. We commit to engaging in a respectful and successful partnership as stewards of these lands. And as we are obliged by state law and policy, we will uphold government-to-government relations to advance strong governance outcomes supportive of tribal self-determination and sovereignty.
Welcome from APRIL Executive Director, Elissa Ellis
Welcome to APRIL’s 31st Annual National Conference on Rural Independent Living in beautiful Portland, Oregon! This year’s theme is: Empower Your Inner R.O.S.E.
Resilient. Outspoken. Steadfast. Engaged.
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.
APRIL has undergone many changes since we were together last year in Chicago. 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 vibrant and revitalizing one filled with networking opportunities, sharing 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 must never lose sight of our collective capabilities. 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!
Elissa Ellis, APRIL Executive Director
Welcome from APRIL Board President, Kim Gibson
Welcome to APRIL’s 31st Annual National Conference on Rural Independent Living here in Portland, Oregon!
As Board President, I am honored to join you in celebrating this year’s theme: Empower Your Inner R.O.S.E. – Resilient. Outspoken. Steadfast. Engaged.
This theme reflects not only the strength of our movement but also the heart of our community. At APRIL, we know that independent living and peer support are not just services—they are lifelines, pathways to opportunity, and proof of what we can accomplish together.
As Linda Gonzales reminded us, “Independent Living is not about doing everything by yourself, it is about being in control of how things are done.” Her words continue to guide us as we build on the vision of leaders who came before us.
This conference is an opportunity to learn, connect, and renew our commitment to each other. Whether you are here for the first time or returning as family, know that your presence and participation are vital. The knowledge and experiences you bring strengthen our collective voice and expand our reach.
On behalf of the APRIL Board of Directors, I thank you for being here, for your leadership in your communities, and for the everyday work you do to advance Independent Living across the nation. Together, we are building a stronger future where Independent Living thrives.
With gratitude and solidarity,
Kim Gibson, DSW, LMSW
APRIL Board President
Welcome from Eastern Oregon Center for Independent Living (EOCIL), W. Kirt Toombs
On behalf of the Eastern Oregon Center for Independent Living (EOCIL), I extend a warm welcome to each of you gathering here in Oregon.
This year, more than ever, our movement depends on unity. Organizations such as APRIL, USICD, and NCIL ensure that Independent Living values remain strong in Washington, D.C., even in the face of funding uncertainty, systemic bias, entrenched ableism, and rising hate toward people with disabilities. Their leadership connects our local impact to national priorities and global advocacy.
We encourage CILs, advocacy partners, and individuals to join these networks as members.
Membership is not simply support; it is an investment in stability, solidarity, and the future of Independent Living.
May this conference inspire us to deepen our collaborations, broaden our reach, and renew our shared commitment to one another. The challenges before us are great, but together, our resolve is greater.
With appreciation and solidarity,
W. Kirt Toombs Chief Executive Officer, EOCIL President