21st Annual Illinois Statewide Transition Conference in Lisle
The “Stepping Stones of Transition” conference shares services and resources to prepare youth and young adults with special healthcare needs and other disabilities for success in adulthood.
The 2026 Illinois Statewide Transition Conference, titled “Stepping Stones of Transition,” will take place in person on Nov. 5-6. The conference is at the Sheraton Lisle Naperville Hotel, 3000 Warrenville Road, in Lisle.
It will highlight the opportunities and resources available for youth and young adults with disabilities as they transition to adulthood.
“Stepping Stones of Transition” is for youth, parents, caregivers, vocational professionals, healthcare professionals, educators and others who work with youth and young adults with disabilities. Youth will learn how to plan for their future, including:
- What happens after I leave high school?
- How do I sort through the maze of resources?
- What steps can I take now to prepare for upcoming changes?
- What skills are important for me to develop?
Participants can choose to attend sessions on topics including:
- Self-advocacy
- Employment
- Future and financial planning
- Post-secondary education
- Health care
The conference will also feature professional magician and autistic self-advocate Cody Clark who will lead an interactive session that combines magic, storytelling and real-life experiences to teach simple strategies for handling challenges and building resilience.
See the conference flyer for more details:
The Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) helps sponsor the conference and serves on its steering committee.
DSCC may be able to fund the conference-related expenses for DSCC participants and their families, caregivers, nurses and/or personal attendants. These expenses include the cost of the hotel and transportation.
Registration and information for DSCC participants
The deadline for DSCC families to sign up is Oct. 16.
Registration and information for the general public
The general public can find more details and registration information at www.illinoistransitionconference.org/. Please note: DSCC participants should not register on the public website.
Please contact DSCC Title V Transition Specialist Claire Cook at (800) 322-3722 or clairer3@uic.edu for help with registration and more details.
To learn more about the conference’s impact on families, you can read about our participant families’ experiences at the 2025 conference and watch our recap video.
Find more videos highlighting different parts of the transition conference experience on our Illinois Statewide Transition Conference YouTube playlist.