We are so excited to have our own Lisa Matthews as our keynote speaker at this year’s conference! Read more about Lisa below and find all the details about the conference on our conference main page.
Keynote Speaker – Lisa Matthews
D.C. Chapter Representative, Sibling Leadership Network
(Washington, D.C.)
Lisa Matthews currently serves as a board member of the Sibling Leadership Network (SLN) and is the SLN DC Chapter Representative. She is the former Chair of the DC Developmental Disabilities Council (DDC Council), Executive Committee and a current member of the State Plan and Implementation Committee for the DDC Council. Prior to joining the DDC Council, she was a graduate of the DC Advocacy Partners Program (DCAP) where she was able to develop skills in advocacy and policy making. Lisa is compassionate about navigating the disability system to better understand her role as a sibling and support her brother and other individuals with disabilities and their families. Her goal is to educate, elevate and empower others to identify and solve problems that will bring perspective and positive change in their lives.
Lisa’s insight as a sibling of someone with a disability has inspired her to advocate for and with families to raise awareness of their needs to the disability community and beyond. Her proven passion as a civic leader and advocate has led her to serve as a panelist and moderator for BIPOC sibling roundtable discussions, provide written testimony to the DC Council, co-lead as newsletter editor and designer to educate families and community stakeholder about autism, and help launch recreational and job readiness programs in her community. Lisa also serves on boards focused on issues not limited to ensuring community integration for individuals with disabilities, homelessness, empowering women and their children in transition, and support for at-risk youth.
Lisa currently lives in Washington, DC and works as the Chief Grants Officer for a non-profit organization. She enjoys writing poetry, is a contributing author of two books and is an honored listee in Who’s Who in America.
Other Exciting News: Our Equity & Inclusion Scholarship Opportunity!
We have created an Equity & Inclusion Scholarship to remove barriers for siblings from the BIPOC community and other traditionally marginalized, historically underrepresented communities to participate in SLN events and initiatives.
The first opportunity to receive an Equity & Inclusion Scholarship will be for the 2021 National SLN Conference being held virtually June 18th & 19th. Financial scholarships cover attendance, which includes registration fees and conference sessions.
Learn how to apply for the Equity & Inclusion Scholarship HERE.
Applications must be submitted by May 7, 2021.