The Family Cafe

04/13/2026

Keynote Spotlight: Patrice: The Movie 🌟

We are so excited to welcome Director Ted Passon, producer Kyla Harris, and cast members Patrice Jetter, Gary Wickham, and Elizabeth Dicker of Emmy-winning film Patrice: The Movie to join us Saturday, June 13 for the second keynote of The 28th Annual Family Café! 🎥

The movie’s conflict centers around issues of marriage equality for individuals with disabilities. While the main characters want to marry, they risk losing their benefits. Despite the scrutiny they’re under, they decide to plan a commitment ceremony that could risk their entire future.

If you’d like to watch the film before the conference, it’s available to stream on Hulu. We highly recommend it!

04/10/2026

We are so grateful to be able to continue to grow with the needs of our attendees. ❤️

Last year, thanks to the generosity of our sponsors and donors, we were able to provide Financial Assistance to nearly 900 applicants! THANK YOU to everyone who helps us make this happen every year - and cheers to making this year even better! 🌟

If you requested financial assistance for this year's event, you'll be hearing from us soon!

04/09/2026

Here’s what our exhibitors are saying... ❤️

Join us at The 28th Annual Family Café to connect with our 15k+ attendees! 🌟

Reserve your booth space today! Spots are filling up quickly this year: bit.ly/ExhibitAtCafe28 🔗

Attendees include individuals with disabilities, families, and professionals, making our event a unique opportunity to share your organization’s resources, products, and services with the people who need them most.

Each exhibit space includes everything you need to get started:
👉 A 10x10 booth space
👉 Registration for two Booth Representatives
👉 Electricity and Wi-Fi
👉 A skirted table & two chairs
👉 Pipe and drape
…PLUS access to digital tools to help you connect with attendees before, during, and after the event.

If you're looking to grow awareness and build relationships, the Exhibit Hall at The 28th Annual Family Café is the place for you! 🙌 Reserve your booth TODAY!

04/06/2026

Join us for our next FROM webinar, "Effective Fundraising Strategies and Tactics in a New Era" this Thursday, April 9, at 10 AM!

In a new era of fundraising when we can no longer count on the same people to fund our work, we need to change our strategies and tactics to adapt. Sign up for this webinar to learn about who potential funders are in this new era, how to best engage them, and which skills will be most valuable for your fundraising efforts that you can start to build and strengthen so you are poised for fundraising success in 2026 and beyond.

Learn more and register at https://familycafe.net/from/

04/05/2026

On This Day in Disability History: The 504 Sit-Ins Begin ♿

On April 5, 1977, nearly 50 years ago today, people with disabilities and their allies occupied federal buildings across the country to demand enforcement of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. This protest not only paved the way for accessibility measures in federal buildings and programs, but also demonstrated that when the disability community works together to make our voices heard, we can influence huge steps towards change.

This image shows Judy Heumann and Nancy D’Angelo looking out the window of a federal U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) building in San Francisco, where the longest sit-in took place. For nearly a month, protesters remained inside the building until regulations were finally signed on April 28, 1977.

If you’d like to learn more, the History Channel has a clear and engaging YouTube video about the 504 Sit-Ins titled “The 504 Sit-Ins | History Honors 250.”

03/31/2026

LAST CALL for Financial Assistance applications! 🚨

Applications for Financial Assistance at The 28th Annual Family Café are due April 1, so be sure to apply if you haven’t done so already: https://bit.ly/RegisterForCafe28 🔗

If you need assistance, feel free to call or email us directly:
📞 - (850) 224-4670
📧 - info@familycafe.net

03/30/2026

Get more out of your experience at The 28th Annual Family Café by joining us at one of our two pre-cons: The Women’s Summit and The FROM Pre-Con! 🌟

Secure your spot today: https://bit.ly/RegisterForCafe28 🔗

Both of these pre-conference events take place Thursday, June 11, and are just $30 to register for. Join this year’s Women’s Summit for a conversation about joy, self care, and burnout, or participate in our FROM Pre-Con to learn how to grow and improve as a family-. youth-, or self-advocate-run organization.

03/30/2026

The US Justice Department is suing SeaWorld and other theme parks over bans on wheeled walkers.

Today, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida (collectively, the “Department”) filed a lawsuit against United Parks & Resorts Inc. and its subsidiaries (UPR), alleging UPR’s policy banning guests with disabilities fr...

03/27/2026

There are only 5 DAYS LEFT to apply for Financial Assistance for The 28th Annual Family Café! 📢

Register and apply today: https://bit.ly/RegisterForCafe28 🔗

Registration will be open until the event begins, but applications for Financial Assistance must be submitted by April 1, 2026. Once you’ve applied, you’ll be entered into our Financial Assistance lottery and notified of your application status by mid-April.

03/26/2026

Presenter Interviews: Jason and Jessica from Children’s Medical Services Health Plan! 🧑‍⚕️🏫 Operated by Sunshine Health

Last year, this incredible presenter team shared valuable information with our attendees about the link between healthcare and the public school system. There are so many things that may impact a child or young adult’s access to a positive and effective school environment, but some of these barriers can be circumvented with help from both school resources AND healthcare programs and professionals.

This is just a small piece of the wealth of knowledge this team was able to share at The 27th Annual Family Café! For more information about the CMS School Liaison program or for education resources, click here and go to “The Link Between School and Healthcare”: https://linktr.ee/thefamilycafe 🔗

03/25/2026

Connect directly with Florida’s disability community! Join us in the Exhibit Hall at The 28th Annual Family Café. 🌟

Claim your booth space TODAY: https://bit.ly/ExhibitAtCafe28 🔗

The event takes place at the Hyatt Regency Orlando from June 12 - 14, 2026, and hosts 15k+ attendees from across the state, providing a unique opportunity to meet with individuals with disabilities and their families one-on-one.

You’d be a great fit for The Annual Family Café if your organization falls under one of these categories:

👉 Employment
👉 Medical Services
👉 Living Supports
👉 Legal Services
👉 Education
👉 Finances
👉 Assistive Technology
👉 or any business supporting the disability community!

We boast a 65:1 attendee to exhibitor ratio, making it easy to capture the attention of folks who could benefit from your services. We hope you’ll join us!

03/24/2026

Have YOU registered for one of our two pre-cons? 🤔

We are so excited to have both the Women’s Summit and the FROM Pre-Con planned for The 28th Annual Family Cafe this year! Register here: https://bit.ly/RegisterForCafe28 🔗

More about these events:
♀️ The Women’s Summit
• Thursday, June 11, 11:00 AM to 6:00 P
• This year’s theme is “Wake Up Joy!” Participants will explore how joy, hope, and heart and mind coherence support resilience, motivation, and long-term health.
• Lunch is provided!
• $30 Registration fee, payable by credit card at the time of registration

🏢 The FROM Pre-Con
• Thursday, June 11, 10:00 AM to 6:00 P
• This year’s theme is “It’s Time to Deliver!” Participants will learn about all the nuts and bolts of successful Family Run Organization building as well as on-the-spot consulting with our friend and colleague John Ferrone.
• $30 Registration fee, payable by credit card at the time of registration