Circles of Life is Wisconsin’s annual conference for families who have children with disabilities and the professionals who support them.
Consider becoming a financial supporter of Circles of Life. By sponsoring or exhibiting you allow us to sustain this important event so participants can learn, grow and connect.
Building community, fostering lasting connections, and finding ways to remain resilient through times of change are at the heart of our 2027 conference theme.
Parents and professionals are invited to submit presentation proposals that give conference attendees practical, actionable strategies to care for their families, build meaningful connections, and maintain strength and balance during times of change.
A track for providers and other professionals is also being planned. We welcome proposals from families with lived experience to share with Wisconsin professionals, as well as others with insights and strategies for professionals who work with the disability community.
Deadline: Proposals must be received by Friday, October 23. All presenters will be notified by December 18.
Compensation: This conference does not offer payment for presentations. Limited scholarships for family presenters to cover the cost of lodging are available.
Each year, we recognize three individuals at the conference for their positive impact on the lives of children with disabilities and their families.
Awards for:
Award Categories and Information
The award nominations are closed. Start thinking of your selections for 2027.
You can ensure more families across the state get to attend Circles of Life 2027 by providing your financial leadership.
There’s information on this page about becoming a sponsor or an exhibitor. It has a lot of benefits, and you’ll make great connections.
If you don’t need to promote a business, but you know how beneficial this conference is (or maybe has been for your family) think about gifting a scholarship so another family can attend.
For questions about how you can financially support the conference contact Lynn at Lynn@fvofwi.org.
Conference sponsors reach hundreds of families and professionals over the 2-day event. Sponsors receive an exhibitor booth, recognition on our website, app and social media prior to the conference as well as signage at the conference.
Starting at the Gold Level, sponsors can gain extra visibility as a meal or activity sponsor. Your logo will be prominently displayed with your ad on the big screen at these gatherings. Contact Lynn at Family Voices, Lynn@fvofwi.org, for more information.
PLATINUM Level
GOLD Level
SILVER Level
For assistance with the online form, email UW-Stevens Point Continuing Education at uwspce-conf@uwsp.edu. For general sponsorship questions, contact Lynn at Lynn@fvofwi.org
or (608) 512-0217.
NON-PROFIT Organization
FOR-PROFIT Organization
ADDITIONAL STAFF: Each exhibitor includes one full-conference registration. Additional registrations are available.
In 2026 Circles of Life reached our exhibitor capacity early and had to stop accepting applications well before the conference. Conference goers met with these vendors on scheduled breaks throughout both days to learn about their valuable resources. Our conference app is interactive to connect attendees with exhibitors throughout the conference.
Set up
Wednesday, May 5 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Thursday, May 6 7:00am – 8:30am
Exhibit Times
Thursday, May 6 8:30am – 4:30pm
Friday, May 7 8:30 am – 12:30pm
Professional/Provider/Educator
Parent/Family Member
Child/Teen attending Gathering of Youth Program
Child
Adult Caregiver/Chaperone (attending to support a child/teen with a disability)
A credit card or 1 of the 3 promo codes from the “Financial Assistance” section (below) is needed to complete the online form.
UWSP Continuing Education
2100 Main St. RM032
Stevens Point, WI 54481
[The Circles of Life Conference is coordinated by Family Voices of Wisconsin, which is an approved organization in the state CLTS Provider registry.]
If you have a family member enrolled in the CLTS Program, CCOP, IRIS or Family Care, funding may be available to cover registration costs. In some cases, CCOP may be available to cover lodging expenses.
Using CLTS/IRIS/Family Care Funding:
Thanks to support from Family Voices of Wisconsin and the Elsie Shaw Foundation, a limited number of scholarships are available for families of children with disabilities (birth through age 21) to attend the conference. Scholarships may be used to cover registration and lodging costs, making this opportunity more accessible for families who would otherwise be unable to participate.
These funds are intended as a payer of last resort and are available for families who are not able to secure financial assistance through other sources including CLTS (Children’s Long-Term Support), the Children’s Community Options Program (CCOP), Family Care or IRIS. Applications are reviewed as they are received, and the deadline to apply is April 1.
Registration is required to take part in Gathering of Youth. This lets staff get to know your teen and ensures they have the needed health and safety information.
Gathering of Youth is a unique conference track for teens and young adults, ages 10 to 18, who have disabilities. These are supervised sessions that run while parents take part in the keynote and workshops.
Participants eat meals with their families or join tables with other youth. Check-in with your teen before meals and make sure they return to the Gathering of Youth room before going to your workshops.
Questions: Brian Kenney, Facilitator
Sibshops are wonderful events that celebrate the important role of sisters and brothers of children with special health needs. As an official Sibshop of WisconSibs, Inc., these workshops offer engaging, age-appropriate activities and open discussions about the unique experiences and joys of having a sibling with disabilities. They are designed for “typical” siblings, ages 8-12 and ages 13-17.
To participate in Sibshop, you must register for the conference and then separately register your child for Sibshop.
You won’t want to miss our night of fun with games, activities and treats for the whole family.
If you want to help plan this year’s Family Fun Night activities, contact Lynn@fvofwi.org
Find a treasure or just something handy to have around the house. Our auction has it all. Bidding starts at the conference opening on Thursday morning and winners are announced that evening at Family Fun night.
All proceeds go to the Elsie Shaw Parent Scholarship Fund, created to offset the cost of attending the Circles of Life Conference for Wisconsin families.
Thursday, May 14
7:45am – 9:00am
Check-In and Breakfast
Breakfast Menu:
Scrambled eggs, sausage and breakfast potatoes
9:00am – 10:15am
Welcome and Keynote Address
9:00am – 11:45am
Sibshop Kids (Ages 8 – 12)
9:00am – 4:30pm
Gathering of Youth
10:15am – 10:30am
Break and Exhibitor Visits
10:30am – 11:45am
Session A Workshops
11:45am – 1:00pm
Lunch and Awards
Lunch Menu:
Fiesta Taco Buffet (beef, salsa, cheese, chips, rice, etc.)
1:15pm – 2:30pm
Session B Workshops
1:15pm – 3:15pm
Sibshop Teens (Ages 13 – 17)
2:30pm – 3:00pm
Break and Exhibitor Visits (Snack: cookies and soda)
3:00pm – 4:15pm
Session C Workshops
5:00pm – 6:15pm
Dinner and Listening Session
Dinner Menu:
Pasta Buffet
6:30pm – 8:00pm
Family Fun Night and Auction Winners
Friday, May 15
7:45am – 8:45am
Breakfast and Exhibitor Visits
Breakfast Menu:
Scrambled eggs, sausage and breakfast potatoes
9:00am – 12:00pm
Birth to 3 Program ICC Town Hall
9:00am – 11:45am
Gathering of Youth
9:00am – 10:15am
Session D Workshops
10:15am – 10:30am
Break and Exhibitor Visits
10:30am – 11:45am
Session E Workshops
Dr. Lee is a Professor of Pediatrics, and Bioethics and Medical Humanities, at the Medical College of Wisconsin, where she is the Interim Division Chief of Complex Care. She holds a master’s degree in Bioethics from the Center for Bioethics and Medical Humanities at the Medical College of Wisconsin. She practiced pediatric critical care for the first 15 years of her career, then transitioned into pediatric complex care with the Complex Care Program at Children’s Wisconsin.
Dr. Lee is the mother of two children, one of whom has severe neurologic impairment from a brain injury at birth. She is a passionate advocate for anti-ableism, and has published a book, Catastrophic Rupture: A Memoir of Healing, which invites readers to join her as she shifts from an ableist medical perspective of disability that sees only an impaired body, to the mother’s perspective that sees the beauty and value in the person that is her child.
For general information about the conference, advertising or exhibiting, email Lynn at Lynn@fvofwi.org.
For questions about registration call UW—Stevens Point at (715) 346-3838
To learn about conference scholarships, contact John Shaw at the Elsie Shaw Parent Scholarship Foundation, (608) 294-8716 or john@elsieshaw.org.
