Circles of Life Conference

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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 theme for 2025 is overcoming barriers. We look forward to seeing you in the Wisconsin Dells for Circles of Life.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Children’s Long-Term Supports and Children’s Community Options Program

April 24 – ALERT: We are able to accept registrations through April 30th for families using CLTS Waiver Funding. Our registration form has been modified to reflect this change. We realize that prior authorizations may be delayed given the change to Gainwell. We will work with counties on the prior authorizations as needed given these changes.

Families who have children enrolled in the Children’s Long-Term Support (CLTS) and Children’s Community Options Program (CCOP) may be able to use these programs to pay for conference registration, travel and hotel costs.  

 

Your child’s Support and Service Coordinator (SSC) will need to know what you would like to learn from attending and the goals and outcomes it supports for your family. If your SSC has questions, contact DHS, DHSBCSTAC@dhs.wisconsin.gov.

 
 
To use the CLTS Waiver for conference funding do the following:
  1. Your family works with your SSC to add the service(s) to your child’s individual service plan.
  2. Your family, with the help of your SSC if needed, completes the CLTS paper registration form.
      1. Details about available sessions can be found on the Sessions part of this webpage. 
  3. Your SSC will submit the paper registration form to Beth@FVofWI.org. Beth is also your contact for questions about this process.
  4. After this is complete, your SSC will need to send prior authorization(s) to Beth at Family Voices of Wisconsin Beth@FVofWI.org

Parent Scholarships  

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 on Feb. 10. The scholarship deadline is 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

 

    • Make any needed partial payments ($25/person) using this link Circles CLTS PayPal or Venmo @FVofWI.

 

All scholarships have been awarded. The application is closed.

Questions: Contact John at the Elsie Shaw Parent Scholarship Fund at John@elsieshaw.org or call (608) 846-3530.

 

 

LODGING

511 East Adams, Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965 | (800) 867-9453

Conference Rooms:  Available in Glacier Canyon Lodge or Wilderness Hotel

Conference Rate:  $98 single occupancy | $119 double, triple or quad occupancy

 

To Reserve:

  • Make reservation via phone: (800) 867-9453
  • Use the *Leader (reference) number: Leader # L11476
      • *This Leader # must be given to get your room discount.
  • Make your reservation before April 7, 2025. 

Levels Include: 1 Conference Registration (meals and access to all sessions and activities)

Non-Profit Organization: $400

For-Profit Organization: $600

Additional Staff: $150 each

 

SUPPORT

Exhibit

In 2024 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 will use interactive maps, games and contact information to connect attendees with exhibitors throughout the conference.

Set up

Wednesday, May 7  7:00pm – 8:00pm

Thursday, May 8  7:00am – 8:30am

 

Exhibit Times

Thursday, May 8  8:30am – 4:30pm

Friday, May 9 8:30 am – 12:30pm 

 

Sponsor

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.

Sponsorship Levels:

PLATINUM Level:  $5,500 

GOLD Level:  $3,500

SILVER Level:  $1,500

To register as a sponsor: 2025 Sponsor Registration

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.

To Register:

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.

 

    1. Register yourself for the conference.
    2. Indicate that your young adult will take part in Gathering of Youth when you register.
    3. Use the button below to register your young adult for the Gathering of Youth. 

Activities for Children

Gathering of Youth

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.

Details:

Questions: Brian Kenney, Facilitator                              

briankenney98@gmail.com or (608)448-9034  

Sibshop & Teen Sibshop

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.

  • Thursday 9:00 – 11:45: Sibshop ages 8 – 12  
  • Thursday 1:30 – 3:30: TEEN Sibshop ages 13- 17

Please Note:

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 at the Wilderness Resort – Glacier Canyon Conference Center.

Questions: To learn more about Sibshop, please contact Tessa at Tessa@wisconsibs.org.

Family Fun Night: Prepare Ninjas

This year’s overcoming barriers theme will bring out your love of friendly competition. Stop by Thursday night after dinner to have your ninja try our warriors’ course. Everyone is Welcome!

We’ll have games, crafts, a puppet show, activities and plenty of treats!

Porcupine Auction

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.

PROGRAM

Schedule at a Glance

Thursday, May 8 • Jueves 8 de mayo

7:45 am – 9:00 am

Check-In and Breakfast/Check-in y desayuno

  • MENU: Pastries, Muffins, Hard Boiled Eggs and Fresh Fruit

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

  • MENU: Sandwich Buffet – Shaved Turkey and Ham, Assorted Cheeses, Assorted Breads, Lettuce, Tomatoes, Pickles and Potato Chips

We’re pleased to have Thrivent as our lunch sponsor!

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

  • SNACK: Coffee, Assorted Sodas, Granola Bars and Whole Fruit

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

  • MENU: Taco Buffet – Ground Beef, Soft Tortillas, Shredded Cheese, Tomatoes, Lettuce, Sour Cream, Chips and Salsa

We’re pleased to have Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities as our dinner sponsor!

6:15 pm – 7:30 pm

Family Fun Night & Auction Winners/Noche de diversión familiar y ganadores de subastas

Friday, May 9 • Viernes 9 de mayo

7:45 am – 8:45 am

Breakfast, Slide show, Door Prizes & Closing /Desayuno, Presentación de diapositivas, premios y cierre

  • MENU: Scrambled Eggs, Potatoes, Toast and Fresh Fruit 

We are pleased to have Fiscal Assistance, Inc. as our breakfast sponsor!

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

Keynote Speaker

Brian Kenney

Overcoming Barriers: Engaged, Involved and Ready

In this fun and engaging keynote, Brian Kenney discusses overcoming barriers through strategies and best practices for full inclusion. He explains that achieving success in education and the community includes family involvement and engagement as well as holding others accountable. 


For over 25 years, Brian has been traveling to Wisconsin schools to create environments  that encourage teams to come together to succeed through activities and conversations. He aims to increase human connections, develop a thriving culture, and exhibit a positive, outcome-based climate within schools and the community. As founder of Team Extreme, Brian works with all types of teams to improve leadership skills and abilities to harness team cohesion.

Professional Lunch and Learn

Peter Leidy

Accept Every Offer! Working together to build community, find new ideas for connection, and listen deeply

Peter Leidy has been learning from people with disabilities since 1983. After working for a provider organization for 19 years, Peter now conducts workshops and consults with individuals, families and teams in areas such as personalized supports, building community relationships, stress reduction, improving workplace communication, advocacy, and supporting and valuing direct support professionals. He is a CLTS provider as well. Peter also writes and sings songs about life inside and outside the human service system.

 

This workshop brings the benefits of improv into team meetings, person-centered planning meetings, and family conversations. It’s not about comedy, but it’s usually fun! This session will provide specific takeaways, including:

  • generating more creative ideas in less time
  • moving closer to desired outcomes
  • building more respectful relationships with people supported and with co-workers
  • deepening listening skills
  • increasing engagement and motivation of stakeholders

Contact

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