Registration will open on April 4th for the event featuring workshops, keynote speaker and vendors
Registration will soon be open for the 37th Annual Developmental Disabilities Awareness Day
(DDDAY), a staple of the area developmental disability community held this year on
Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at the Niagara Falls Convention Center (NFCC), 101 Old Falls
Street, Niagara Falls, NY.
DDDAY is a marquis event of the Developmental Disabilities Alliance of WNY, which is a
collaborative group of member voluntary agencies who provide services to people with
disabilities in the Western New York and Finger Lakes regions.
This conference brings together advocates, industry connected vendors and suppliers,
local and regional agencies, and leading experts to present on a wide variety of topics
during the event. The event is the largest one of its kind in the United States.
People with disabilities, families, and professionals from across the region work together
to present a comprehensive, informative conference. Professionals from many different
area agencies that specialize in services for people with developmental disabilities and
similar health-related industries will be on hand to provide workshops, guidance,
literature, and general information about services and emerging trends.
The keynote speaker is Keah Brown, an award winning journalist, author, and
screenwriter. She is the recipient of Ulta Beauty’s Muse 100 award, a celebration of 100
inspirational voices around beauty. She is one of The Root’s 100 most influential African
Americans of 2018. Keah is also the creator of the viral hashtag, DisabledAndCute. Her
work on disability, identity, and pop culture has appeared in Town & Country Magazine,
Teen Vogue, Elle, The LA Times, Marie Claire UK, And The New York Times, among
other publications. Her essay collection, The Pretty One, picture book, Sam’s Super
Seats and a young adult novel titled The Secret Summer Promise are out now.
The NFCC is fully accessible. Ample parking options surround the center and parking
will be discounted for city lots.
The conference runs from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm with a reception following from 3:00 to
5:00 pm and includes main workshops occurring in the morning and a feature
presentation offered after lunch. Tickets are $30 in advance to attend, $50 including
lunch, and $35 at the door (no lunch).
Registration and other information is available online at https://ddawny.org/event/dd-
day-of-2025-developmental-disability-awareness-day-conference/