2026 Presenters

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Theresa Somerton is a Co-Founder of Lifetime Abilities, a Canadian organization that delivers keynotes and workshops built on one philosophy: working with — not for — people who require support. She has spent more than twenty years in the developmental services sector, including eight years as Director at Large on the Board of Community Living Ontario. She has served on rights committees for more than fifteen years, with Community Living Belleville and Area, Community Living Quinte, and Inclusion Northumberland, and

received the James Montgomery Honour Award. She is a co-investigator with the Participatory Advocacy Research Network and presents from lived experience.

Yvonne Spicer is a Co-Founder of Lifetime Abilities and an Ambassador with Autism Canada. She is the author of My Life, My Choice, My Future, published in 2023, and presented at the United Nations in 2023 on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. She collaborates on research with Queen's University, the Participatory Advocacy Research Network, and the Successful Advocacy Research Group. She received Queen Elizabeth the Second Platinum Jubilee Award in 2023 and the Jason Rae Award in 2024 and presents from lived experience.

Soety Jensen is an autistic self-advocate dedicated to advancing awareness, acceptance, and meaningful inclusion for neurodivergent individuals. She brings a unique perspective shaped by her personal experiences navigating education, employment, and community life as an autistic adult. Soety is passionate about fostering conversations that celebrate autistic strengths, promote accessibility, and empower autistic voices. She was recently diagnosed with Autism and ADHD. She grew up with certain delays, such as speech impairment and reading comprehension difficulties. She has struggled with making and maintaining valued relationships due to having a distinct social learning curve.