Advocates, Counselors, and Representatives for the Disabled

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Advocates, Counselors, and Representatives for the Disabled

At ACRD, we champion disability rights, inclusion, and equal access through advocacy, education, and policy reform.

Our mission is to empower individuals, break down barriers, and drive systemic change for a more accessible and equitable world.

01/23/2026

2,500.

That is how many professionals have joined ACRD nationwide.

Not because we ran campaigns. Because they needed something real.

Infrastructure for hearing coverage. Technology that actually works. Training that meets practitioners where they are. An organization that requires more than dues.

This year we launched the National Hearing Network. Expanded the Partner Portal with AI tools, cybersecurity services, and appeals tracking. Strengthened the ACRD Academy, EDPNA Master Course, and CLE Library.

Members are held to professional and ethical standards. That is the model.

To our members: thank you. To the field: we are just getting started.

👉Become a member and join the ACRD community: acrd.org/membership

01/20/2026

Leadership is not about position.
It is about responsibility.

We are honored to welcome Leland Dudek as Chair of the Advisory Board at ACRD.

With decades of federal service, including as Acting Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, Lee brings a perspective grounded in collaboration, accountability, and outcomes that matter.

He will join us as keynote speaker at the 2026 ACRD Annual Conference at Ga***rd Palms and share ongoing reflections with members throughout the year.

🔗 Conference details available here: https://shorturl.at/uxGr2

01/14/2026

🚨 Only 24 Hours Left!
Early Bird Registration Ends January 15

Last chance to lock in Early Bird pricing for the 2026 ACRD Annual Conference. In 24 hours, rates go up and these savings are gone for good.

📅 April 9–10, 2026
📍 Ga***rd Palms Resort & Convention Center | Orlando, Florida

Event Highlights:
• Emerging tools and technologies shaping the field
• Two-day live EDPNA Certification Workshop
• CLE-eligible jurisdictions and credit hours to be announced
• Insights from national thought leaders and administrative law experts

Register and save now: https://shorturl.at/qEm8c

01/08/2026

Early Bird pricing ends January 15, 2026!

Momentum is building for the 2026 ACRD Annual Conference, and spots are filling quickly. Last year sold out.

📅 April 9–10, 2026
📍 Ga***rd Palms Resort & Convention Center | Orlando, FL

This two-day national conference is dedicated to strengthening disability representation and advancing best practices across advocacy, appeals, ethics, and firm operations.

What attendees can expect:
• Actionable sessions on appeals strategy, ethics, modernization, and firm management
• National thought leaders and administrative law experts
• Big-picture discussions on technology and industry trends
• EDPNA Certification Workshop (live, two-day exam prep)
• CLE-eligible sessions (jurisdictions announced prior to the event)
• Meaningful connections that lead to referrals and collaboration

🔗 Register and save before Jan. 15: https://shorturl.at/BLHQ6

Group rates available.
Nonprofits may request complimentary access: info@acrd.org

01/02/2026

Advance your EDPNA preparation with ACRD’s EDPNA Online Mastercourse and Live Workshop.

ACRD ushered in the new year with the exciting launch of our free EDPNA Online Mastercourse, a 25 hour structured curriculum available at no cost to ACRD members and designed to strengthen legal analysis, exam readiness, and day to day confidence in disability law practice.

Members can also deepen their preparation at our live EDPNA Workshop, held during the ACRD Annual Conference on April 9 to 10, 2026, in Orlando. This interactive session covers e-CFR navigation, Ethics and Professional Conduct, and scenario based strategy.

Online mastery. Live application. One complete EDPNA experience.

Register for the live EDPNA Workshop by purchasing a ticket to the ACRD Annual Conference:
https://www.acrd.org/events/2026-annual-conference-gaylord-palms-resort-convention-center

12/30/2025

🎉 The countdown is officially on. 🎉 The new year doesn't wait and neither should your professional development. While others are making resolutions, you'll be making progress.

The EDPNA Mastercourse begins January 1st. Start 2026 with clarity, competence, and a competitive edge in disability advocacy.

Begin the year ahead of the curve.

👉 Register now: acrd.org/training/edpna

12/12/2025

Save the Date: FREE 25 Hour EDPNA Mastercourse Arrives January 1

ACRD is dropping the most powerful exam prep course we've ever created, completely free, and it's not just about passing a test. It's about becoming the attorney your clients need and your peers respect.

Here's what 25 hours will do for your career:

✓ Master the frameworks that separate good attorneys from exceptional ones
✓ Build unshakeable confidence through real case scenarios
✓ Learn the exact strategy that gets results on exam day
✓ Position yourself as a certified leader in disability law

First-time test taker? This is your roadmap.
Retaking the exam? This is your breakthrough.
Already skilled? This is your competitive edge.

Firms may integrate the curriculum into onboarding, professional development pathways, and exam preparation tracks.

The course drops January 1.

Don't wait → https://www.acrd.org/training/edpna

12/04/2025

The conversations shaping the future of disability representation begin this April.

Early Bird savings are in effect for the ACRD 2026 Annual Conference, but only for a limited time. Register by January 15, 2026 to secure preferred pricing for two days of high-level education, leadership, and connection at the Ga***rd Palms in Orlando.

Your seat. Your savings. Your moment to act.

Register now by visiting: acrd.org/events/2026-annual-conference-gaylord-palms-resort-convention-center

12/03/2025

The future of disability inclusion depends on the strength of the systems that serve people with disabilities.

On this International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the UN theme, Fostering disability inclusive societies for advancing social progress, calls us to look directly at how representation shapes outcomes. Progress requires accurate evidence, ethical judgment, and clear guidance for every claimant who relies on SSA.

Our members are advancing that progress every day. Through disciplined practice and unwavering commitment, they protect fairness and give claimants a voice within a complex system. Their work strengthens communities and moves disability inclusion from principle to reality.

12/01/2025

One Week Away. One Conversation You Should Not Miss.

In just one week, ACRD and NOSSCR will bring members together for a joint Virtual Symposium on December 8 from 1:30 to 2:30 PM EST, offering timely insight into developments shaping the national landscape for professionals who work with disability claimants.

This focused one hour session will help members understand the current environment, what may be emerging in the months ahead, and how to navigate an atmosphere where information is shifting quickly. Attendees will hear from leaders who are closely engaged in national conversations and who can offer perspective that is rarely shared publicly.

ACRD members are encouraged to reserve their seat now at acrd.org/national-symposium.

11/27/2025

A Thanksgiving Note to Our Community

As Thanksgiving arrives, many of us will pause in living rooms and kitchens filled with familiar voices, warm light, and the quiet comfort of being surrounded by people who matter. It is a holiday stitched together by memories, small rituals, and the feeling of being held by a community.

This week also reminds us of the countless families across the country whose lives have been steadied because someone in our ACRD community stepped in at a crucial moment. You have helped people find their way when the path felt uncertain. You have stood beside individuals who were overwhelmed, frightened, or exhausted. You have made room for hope in places where it was starting to fade.

Thanksgiving asks us to look back at the year and recognize what sustained us. For ACRD, that answer is clear: it is you. Your commitment, your compassion, and your willingness to walk with others through some of the hardest seasons of their lives.

As you celebrate this week, may you feel the same sense of care that you offer so generously to others. May your table be warm, your rest be real, and your heart be full.

From all of us at ACRD, thank you.

11/21/2025

New for this year’s ACRD Conference. A game-changing addition.

For the first time, attendees can take part in a dedicated EDPNA Exam Prep Workshop.

This is a focused, expert-led session built to help future EDPNA candidates feel grounded, confident, and ready. If you’ve been considering the exam, this is the moment to step in and get ahead.

Join us at the conference and take advantage of a resource you won’t find anywhere else. Your preparation starts here.

🔗 https://www.acrd.org/events/2026-annual-conference-gaylord-palms-resort-convention-center

Address

1912 Insurance Branch Way
Belleville, IL
62221

Telephone

+12025007755

Website

https://www.acrd.org/

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