As the sun rose over the desert sky one last time for DEAMcon25, it brought with it just the energy needed to enter our final conference day–part excitement, part reflection, and a whole lot of gratitude. Day three might have marked the final chapter of this year’s conference, but it delivered the same passion, purpose, and power that made every day in Arizona an unforgettable experience for all who attended. From the flaky croissant breakfast sandwich to the made-to-order avocado toast station, attendees were greeted with the same food flair to fill their bellies for the conversations ahead. Let’s dive in!

This attendee wasn’t about to let a powerful panel slip by undocumented–snapping the moment and capturing the energy, insight, and glow of the stage.

Sunny Starts & Stimulating Conversations

NOD’s Margaret Ling and RIT’s Kendra Evans share best practices for bridging neurodiverse students and companies.

With a full morning of general sessions ahead, we kicked off the event by welcoming long-time partners, the National Organization on Disability and the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), sharing the best practice model for bridging students and companies. Armed with facts, statistics, recommendations, and even a case study featuring Member RTX, attendees gained much-needed insights and a downloadable resource showcasing a playbook, short videos, checklists, and suggestions and solutions. Next, our attorney partners from Roffman Horvitz and Silberman Law returned to the stage for an incredibly engaging panel discussion, recapping what we’ve learned over the past two days and answering final remaining questions such as, “What are our best insights into what is illegal DEI?” and “What are best practices regarding employee resource groups/affinity groups in the current environment?” Alissa Horvitz facilitated the conversation, joining in to provide insights and commentary as her legal partner, Josh Roffman of Roffman Horvitz, and Mickey Silberman of Silberman Law, shared their expertise on navigating the new environment in a compliant and future-focused manner.

Sparking insights in the Sonoran spotlight, attorneys Mickey Silberman of Silberman Law and Alissa Horvitz and Josh Roffman of Roffman Horvitz recap and answer questions related to compliance and recruitment.

After a quick snack break and one final sweep around the underwriter hall, attendees reconvened for the final two sessions of DEAMcon25! Meghan Walls and Andy Traub from the Center for Disability Inclusion took to the stage as first-time DEAMcon attendees to discuss their role in disability inclusion, regardless of title or position. From here, they discussed how your mindset matters and that the words used have a direct impact on the disability inclusion journey. From accommodations to collective input for greater impact, they emphasized the importance of knowing your team and biases so you can create stronger allyship and build a personal action plan along the way. Next, the conference concluded with a requested topic–foundations in pay equity, presented by Neil Dickinson and Stephanie Legge at OutSolve. From using your data to tell a story to detailing pay transparency regulations now in effect in 10+ states, they reinforced that structure supports fairness. By utilizing the three pillars of a sustainable, fair pay and compensation framework, you can create more fairness in hiring.

Presenters Neil Dickenson and Stefanie Legge share tips for establishing consistent pay practices that promote fairness and attract top talent.

Wrapping with Final Words & A Heartfelt Sendoff

As DEAMcon25 came to a close, Executive Director Tom Eckhart returned to the stage one final time to share a few heartfelt words that captured the spirit of the week. We were reminded of why we gather each year, not just for the sessions and insights but for the shared mission, the laughter in the hallways, and the moments that reconnect us to our purpose. Amid the buzz of the event, we took a moment to express profound gratitude to every attendee and underwriter who made this experience possible. The energy, passion, and partnership are what continue to elevate DEAMcon year after year.

And just like that, the lights dimmed on another unforgettable conference, full of handshakes, spontaneous hallway farewells, final selfies under the DEAMcon neon, and promises to carry the momentum forward. Until next time, thank you for being part of something truly special!