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.
Our Presentation Application Instructions have details about what we’re looking for in a presentation,
what to expect after you apply, and important dates for your calendar. Please take a look and if you have any questions, contact Lynn at lynn@fvofwi.org.
You can ensure more families across the state get to attend Circles of Life 2026 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.
Download print and mail your form with a check to:
2100 Main St.
Rm 032 Old Main
Stevens Point, WI 54481-3897
Questions about Conference Registration?
Phone: (715) 346-3838
Fax: (715) 346-3504
Email: uwspceweb@uwsp.edu
Parent:
Professional/Provider/Educator:
Child ages 5 – 21:
Supporter/Chaperone of a child with a disability: (one per family)
For those who are not able to receive funding from their child’s Children’s Long-Term Support (CLTS) Program, limited scholarships are available to cover the cost of hotel and registration.
Applications will open in early February and close April 1st, or until all available funds have been awarded, whichever comes first. Applications may close earlier if the scholarships are fully distributed before the deadline.
Questions: Contact John at the Elsie Shaw Parent Scholarship Fund at John@elsieshaw.org or call (608) 846-3530.
Conference Rooms: Information available soon
Conference Rate: Information available soon
Non-Profit Organization:
For-Profit Organization:
Additional Staff:
In 2025 Circles of Life had over 40 resource vendors! 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 13 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Thursday, May 14 7:00am – 8:30am
Exhibit Times
Thursday, May 14 8:30am – 4:30pm
Friday, May 15 8:30 am – 12:30pm
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.
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
briankenney98@gmail.com or (608)448-9034
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. There is no additional fee for this program, but the sibling must be registered for the conference and a parent or guardian must be onsite.
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.
7:45 am – 9:00 am
Check-In and Breakfast/Check-in y desayuno
9:00 am – 10:15 am
Welcome and Keynote Address/Bienvenida y Conferencia principal
9:00 am – 11:45 am
SibShop (ages 8 -12)/SibShop (de 8 a 12 años)
9:00 am – 4:30 pm
Gathering of Youth/Encuentro de Jóvenes
10:15 am – 10:30 am
Break and Exhibitor Visits/Descanso y visitas de expositores
10:30 am – 11:45 am
Session A Workshops/Talleres de la sesión A
11:45 am – 1:15 pm
Lunch, Awards, Celebrating 40 Years/Almuerzo y entrega de premios
Professionals: Network-Lunch & Learn/Profesionales: Networking-Lunch & Learn
1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
TEEN Sibshop (ages 13– 17)/Sibshop adolescente (de 13 a 17 años)
1:30 pm – 2:45 pm
Session B Workshops/Talleres de la sesión B
2:45 pm – 3:00pm
Break and Exhibitor Visits/Descanso y visitas de expositores
3:00 pm – 4:15 pm
Session C Workshops/Talleres de la sesión C
4:45 pm – 6:15 pm
Dinner and Community Conversation /Cena y Conversación Comunitaria
6:15 pm – 7:30 pm
Family Fun Night & Auction Winners/Noche de diversión familiar y ganadores de subastas
7:45 am – 8:45 am
Breakfast, Slide show, Door Prizes & Closing /Desayuno, Presentación de diapositivas, premios y cierre
9:00 am – 11:45 am
Gathering of Youth/Encuentro de Jóvenes
9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Birth to 3 Program ICC Town Hall/Nacimiento a 3 Reunión de la ICC
9:00 am – 10:15 am
Session D Workshops/Talleres de la sesión D
10:15 am – 10:30 am
Break and Exhibitor Visits/Descanso y visitas de expositores
10:30 am – 11:45 am
Session E Workshops/Talleres de la sesión E
11:45 am
Conference Ends: See you next year at the Holiday Inn Stevens Point, May 14 & 15, 2026/La conferencia termina: Nos vemos el próximo año en el Holiday Inn Stevens Point, el 14 y 15 de mayo de 2026
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.
