We all want the same thing: to support people in living the most independent lives possible, but the path isn't always clear.
Budget pressures. Staff shortages. Rising demand. Complex needs. These are real challenges every commissioner, provider, and practitioner faces. What if there were approaches already proven to work that could help? Not theory or aspiration. Real examples from councils and providers who've found ways forward?
This event brings together people who are exploring how cognitive support technology can complement care, reduce over-reliance on human prompting for routine tasks, and create space for staff to focus on what matters most - genuine relationship-based support. You'll hear honest conversations about what works, what doesn't, and what we're all still learning. Because none of us has all the answers, but together we're building the picture.
What We'll Explore Together
The Independence Question
Assessment Approaches
What's Stopping Progress
Cost and Capacity
Rights and Dignity
Implementation Reality
The LD & Autism Enablement Community
This conference and forum is part of a broader programme bringing together commissioners, providers, OTs, and sector organisations who are advancing practice in enabling autistic adults and people with learning disabilities.
A Year-Round Programme
The community operates through annual regional conferences for in-person learning and peer exchange, regular webinars addressing specific implementation challenges, and newsletters sharing evidence from the UK and internationally. Members connect with colleagues navigating similar challenges and contribute to building sector-wide evidence for what works.
The insights, the practical knowledge, the evidence base, all come from practitioners and sector leaders like you. Abilia facilitates the space where this collective learning happens.
Who You'll Learn From
Dr Carly Jones MBE
A leading autism and disability advocate, senior advisor and consultant whose work centres on the safeguarding, rights, and inclusive co-production of autistic people. She shares what autonomy, dignity, and self-direction and independence can genuinely feel like from the inside — and what that means for how we design and deliver support.
Charlotte Downing
Parent advocate bringing the family perspective. Charlotte will host our panel discussion, ensuring we explore the questions that matter most to the people technology is meant to serve.
Alex Goff
Alex will share his journey from initial scepticism to measurable outcomes, including what failed along the way. Honest insights on staff buy-in, user confidence building, and making technology actually work in practice.
Amanda Shelvey
Dorset's OTs will share practical assessment approaches, how they navigate eligibility questions, and what they've learned about matching people to technology that genuinely helps.
Event Agenda
09:00
Registration & Coffee
Meet fellow attendees
09:30
Welcome from Abilia; What 50 years has taught us
With 50 years of experience across 14 countries, we will share our learnings across continents that enables independence versus technology that creates dependency
09:45
Keynote: Dr Carly Jones MBE
The Right to Try - Independence, dignity, and closing the gap between policy and practice
10:15
Alex Goff, Evolve Independence
The Implementation Gap - What happens between 'we should try this' and 'this is actually working'
10:30
Break
Tea, coffee and informal conversations
10:45
Expert Panel Discussion
From Assessment to Reality - hosted by Charlotte Downing with Dr Carly Jones, Amanda Shelvey, Alex Goff, PA Consulting (TBC), Somsert Commissioner
11:45
Break
Tea, coffee and informal conversations
12:00
Interactive Workshop
Practical tools and framework discussions on your tables
13:00
Lunch & Networking
Lunch while we continue conversations and arrange follow-ups
Who This Event Is For
Commissioners
Care providers
OTs & Practitioners
