CONFERENCE SPEAKERS & PRESENTERS
Morning Session I: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Advocacy: Telling your Story to Impact Change
Track A | View this Session Description
Andrea “Vocab” Sanderson — Poet, Author, Singer
Andrea "Vocab" Sanderson is a poet, singer, and hip hop artist who fuses spoken word, jazz, and R&B with sharp social commentary. She was appointed San Antonio's Poet Laureate from 2020-2023, becoming the first Black person to hold the position. She’s authored two poetry collections She Lives In Music (FlowerSong Press, 2020) and The Seasoned Woman (Gnashing Teeth Publishing, 2025). During her laureate term she was awarded an Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellowship; and she launched The Echo Project to connect communities with intergenerational story-telling through media production. In 2020 Andrea also began collaborating with visual artists to integrate literature into public artworks. Her words can be seen in murals and installations on: E.Commerce Street, Peacock Alley, Poet’s Pointe, along the San Pedro Creek, and The San Antonio International Airport. Her latest album is entitled Variations of Declared Independence. For more info visit: andreavocabsanderson.com.
Track A | View this Session Description
Andrea “Vocab” Sanderson — Poet, Author, Singer
Andrea "Vocab" Sanderson is a poet, singer, and hip hop artist who fuses spoken word, jazz, and R&B with sharp social commentary. She was appointed San Antonio's Poet Laureate from 2020-2023, becoming the first Black person to hold the position. She’s authored two poetry collections She Lives In Music (FlowerSong Press, 2020) and The Seasoned Woman (Gnashing Teeth Publishing, 2025). During her laureate term she was awarded an Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellowship; and she launched The Echo Project to connect communities with intergenerational story-telling through media production. In 2020 Andrea also began collaborating with visual artists to integrate literature into public artworks. Her words can be seen in murals and installations on: E.Commerce Street, Peacock Alley, Poet’s Pointe, along the San Pedro Creek, and The San Antonio International Airport. Her latest album is entitled Variations of Declared Independence. For more info visit: andreavocabsanderson.com.
Planning: Looking to the Future – GPS for the Next Steps
Track B | View this Session Description
Karen Marvel
Karen L. Marvel is the founder and owner of Marvel Law Group, PLLC, a family law practice focused on special needs in San Antonio. As the mother of a special needs young adult — and yes, she has cried in ARDs — she brings both personal experience and legal expertise to the issues that matter most to this community. Karen volunteers with disABILITYsa including as co-chair of the annual Purse-U-Ability/Loteria fundraiser (ask her – she will tell you all about it). She holds a board certification in Family Law from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, is a board member of the TX Family Law Foundation and serves as Vice President/President Elect of the Family Law Bar Association – San Antonio. Karen is a frequent presenter for local and statewide legal conferences.
Track B | View this Session Description
Karen Marvel
Karen L. Marvel is the founder and owner of Marvel Law Group, PLLC, a family law practice focused on special needs in San Antonio. As the mother of a special needs young adult — and yes, she has cried in ARDs — she brings both personal experience and legal expertise to the issues that matter most to this community. Karen volunteers with disABILITYsa including as co-chair of the annual Purse-U-Ability/Loteria fundraiser (ask her – she will tell you all about it). She holds a board certification in Family Law from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, is a board member of the TX Family Law Foundation and serves as Vice President/President Elect of the Family Law Bar Association – San Antonio. Karen is a frequent presenter for local and statewide legal conferences.
Hospitality: Including People with Disabilities in Community Experiences
Track D | View this Session Description
Deborah Scharven
Deborah Scharven serves as the ADA Coordinator for the City of San Antonio ensuring all residents, regardless of ability, can fully engage in community life. She leads efforts that go beyond compliance, working across departments to create environments where accessibility and universal design is integrated into every aspect of City programs, services, and facilities. With over 30 years of experience as an educator, Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (C.T.R.S), and accessibility specialist, Deborah brings a deep expertise in advancing inclusion and independence for people with disabilities.
Track D | View this Session Description
Deborah Scharven
Deborah Scharven serves as the ADA Coordinator for the City of San Antonio ensuring all residents, regardless of ability, can fully engage in community life. She leads efforts that go beyond compliance, working across departments to create environments where accessibility and universal design is integrated into every aspect of City programs, services, and facilities. With over 30 years of experience as an educator, Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (C.T.R.S), and accessibility specialist, Deborah brings a deep expertise in advancing inclusion and independence for people with disabilities.
Lunch Session II: 11:15 AM - 12:45 PM
Conversations Around Common Tables
Tracks A, B, C, & D | View this Session Description
Britney Treviño
Britney is an anthropologist, researcher, and advocate working for the disability community for over ten years. Utilizing her anthropology background in her work within non-profit, Britney leads numerous community-centered programs, events, and trainings aimed at advancing accessibility, inclusion, and public attitudes in San Antonio across Healthcare, Housing, Transportation, Social Connection, Civic Engagement, Education, and Employment. Britney’s primary goal is to shift power to people with disabilities, so their voices are heard equally to that of their peers. As a disabled woman herself, her passion and connection to this work is deeply personal. Britney loves to travel and photograph the world, but she loves spending time at home with her family, friends, and cats just as much.
Tracks A, B, C, & D | View this Session Description
Britney Treviño
Britney is an anthropologist, researcher, and advocate working for the disability community for over ten years. Utilizing her anthropology background in her work within non-profit, Britney leads numerous community-centered programs, events, and trainings aimed at advancing accessibility, inclusion, and public attitudes in San Antonio across Healthcare, Housing, Transportation, Social Connection, Civic Engagement, Education, and Employment. Britney’s primary goal is to shift power to people with disabilities, so their voices are heard equally to that of their peers. As a disabled woman herself, her passion and connection to this work is deeply personal. Britney loves to travel and photograph the world, but she loves spending time at home with her family, friends, and cats just as much.
Afternoon Session III: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Advocacy: Navigating Healthcare
Track A | View this Session Description
Michelle Casares and Josie Mijares
Michelle Casares is a PhD Candidate at the University of the Incarnate Word’s Dreeben School of Education, specializing in Adult Education, Social Innovation, and Entrepreneurship. A three-time recipient of the Social Security Administration’s Analyzing Relationships between Disability, Rehabilitation and Work (ARDRAW) Small Grant, Michelle’s research leverages digital storytelling to empower parents of children with autism as they navigate complex support systems. With over 20 years of experience in higher education, she currently serves as a Digital Experience Strategy Manager, where she aligns her expertise in digital media with a deep commitment to disability advocacy. A global presenter on digital storytelling and social change, Michelle is also the proud parent of a teenage son on the autism spectrum, whose passion for computer programming inspires her dedication to fostering inclusive, innovative futures.
Track A | View this Session Description
Michelle Casares and Josie Mijares
Michelle Casares is a PhD Candidate at the University of the Incarnate Word’s Dreeben School of Education, specializing in Adult Education, Social Innovation, and Entrepreneurship. A three-time recipient of the Social Security Administration’s Analyzing Relationships between Disability, Rehabilitation and Work (ARDRAW) Small Grant, Michelle’s research leverages digital storytelling to empower parents of children with autism as they navigate complex support systems. With over 20 years of experience in higher education, she currently serves as a Digital Experience Strategy Manager, where she aligns her expertise in digital media with a deep commitment to disability advocacy. A global presenter on digital storytelling and social change, Michelle is also the proud parent of a teenage son on the autism spectrum, whose passion for computer programming inspires her dedication to fostering inclusive, innovative futures.
Planning: Financial Literacy
Track B | View this Session Description
Dr. Felicia Scott, Extension Agent
Dr. Felicia Scott is a strategic and purpose-driven leader with over two decades of experience spanning higher education, nonprofit leadership, financial empowerment, and community and economic development. At the heart of Dr. Scott’s work is a commitment to helping individuals and organizations unlock their full potential. She is also a licensed financial professional and a Certified AI Strategist, integrating emerging technology into her work to build sustainable and forward-thinking solutions. Her greatest achievements are her children – Sydney and Kendall!
Track B | View this Session Description
Dr. Felicia Scott, Extension Agent
Dr. Felicia Scott is a strategic and purpose-driven leader with over two decades of experience spanning higher education, nonprofit leadership, financial empowerment, and community and economic development. At the heart of Dr. Scott’s work is a commitment to helping individuals and organizations unlock their full potential. She is also a licensed financial professional and a Certified AI Strategist, integrating emerging technology into her work to build sustainable and forward-thinking solutions. Her greatest achievements are her children – Sydney and Kendall!
Hospitality: Digital Accessibility in Event Planning
Track D | View this Session Description
Deborah Scharven and Olivia Gaitan
Deborah Scharven serves as the ADA Coordinator for the City of San Antonio ensuring all residents, regardless of ability, can fully engage in community life. She leads efforts that go beyond compliance, working across departments to create environments where accessibility and universal design is integrated into every aspect of City programs, services, and facilities. With over 30 years of experience as an educator, Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (C.T.R.S), and accessibility specialist, Deborah brings a deep expertise in advancing inclusion and independence for people with disabilities.
Track D | View this Session Description
Deborah Scharven and Olivia Gaitan
Deborah Scharven serves as the ADA Coordinator for the City of San Antonio ensuring all residents, regardless of ability, can fully engage in community life. She leads efforts that go beyond compliance, working across departments to create environments where accessibility and universal design is integrated into every aspect of City programs, services, and facilities. With over 30 years of experience as an educator, Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (C.T.R.S), and accessibility specialist, Deborah brings a deep expertise in advancing inclusion and independence for people with disabilities.
Olivia Gaitan is a Compliance Lead Analyst with the City of San Antonio, specializing in Digital Accessibility.
In her role, Olivia helps ensure that digital information and services provided by the City of San Antonio are accessible
to everyone, regardless of how they access or interact with technology. Olivia also serves as the staff liaison for the Disability Access Advisory Committee. She holds a Master’s degree in Social Work and enjoys working alongside
and supporting individuals in the disability community.
In her role, Olivia helps ensure that digital information and services provided by the City of San Antonio are accessible
to everyone, regardless of how they access or interact with technology. Olivia also serves as the staff liaison for the Disability Access Advisory Committee. She holds a Master’s degree in Social Work and enjoys working alongside
and supporting individuals in the disability community.
