AFN Conference

Conference Information

Join DHSEM at the 2026 Access and Functional Needs Conference: Lessons Learned, Now What? The theme is a direct call to action. We move beyond discussion and into communication resource disruption solutions. Join emergency management partners from Colorado and across the country as we bridge the gap between identifying problems and implementing solutions.

Why Should You Attend?

Join over 200 emergency management professionals and disaster support partners in person (or via our hybrid Zoom experience) for a deep dive into solving communication resource disruptions.

Featured Sessions and Solutions

We are moving beyond theory with a speaker lineup focused on actionable data and real-world application:

Lessons Applied: A specialized panel discussion on applying communication response lessons from past disasters.
Hands On Learning: In person attendees will participate in workshops and exercises that move from theory to practice. Virtual attendees can follow along online.
Strategic Planning: How to overcoming chronic influencers and barriers in communication resource disruption planning and response.
Technology and Data: How to harness geographic information system (GIS) resource mapping and access and functional needs demographic indicators.

The Experience

Full Access: No registration fees wtih complimentary meals and refreshments for all participants.
Hear from the Experts: Gain insights from national subject matter experts and local leaders.
High-Impact Networking: Kick off with our Exhibitor’s Networking Social on Tuesday, April 7.
All-Inclusive Venue: Enjoy on site lodging and meals at the DoubleTree Hilton.

Registration

Registration is now open for the 2026 Colorado Access and Function Needs Conference. Use the 2026 Access and Functional Needs Conference Registration Form.

Event Information

Dates: April 7 - 9, 2026
Location: DoubleTree Hilton, 1775 E. Cheyenne Mountain Blvd., Colorado Springs, Colo.
Questions: Email the AFN team at cdps_dhsem_afn@state.co.us or call 720-610-1691
2026 AFN Conference Flyer: Download or View

Below is the the Schedule at a Glance for the 2026 event. In November the conference information hub and registration portal will be launched with the detailed agenda. All times listed in the agenda are Mountain Daylight Time (MDT).

April 7, 2026 Schedule

Before the Disaster: Preparedness and Mitigation

12 - 12:05 p.m. | Conference Kick-Off with Welcome and Participation Best Practices
- Sadie Martinez, Colorado Access and Functional Needs Supervisor, Colorado Office of Emergency Management (OEM)
12:05 - 12:20 p.m. | Welcome Remarks on Day 1
- Sadie Martinez, Colorado Access and Functional Needs Supervisor, OEM
- Trevor Denney, Director, Colorado Office of Emergency Management
12:20 - 12:40 p.m. | Colorado Emergency Preparedness Assessment (CEPA) Communications Data
- Ethan Williams, Chief of Plans, Assessments, and Strategy, OEM
12:40 p.m. - 1 p.m. | Icebreak Activity: Deception Detection
- Speaker To Be Determined
1 - 1:30 p.m. | Introduction to CMMIST Resource memory Tool and Chronic Influencers
- Access and Functional Needs Team, Colorado Office of Emergency Management
1:30 - 2 p.m. | Break and Refreshments
2- 2:30 p.m. | Communication Planning tied to TEICHR Elements
- Elyse Janish, Disaster Behavioral Health and Inclusion Planning Coordinator, Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response
2:30 - 3 p.m. | Communication Planning tied to TEICHR Elements
- Tim Gablehouse, Gablehouse and Granberg LLC
3 - 3:30 p.m. | Break and Refreshments
3:30 - 5 p.m. | Communication Planning tied to TEICHR Elements
- June Kailes, Disability Policy Consultant
5 - 5:30 p.m. | Keynote and Day 1 Close
- Nathan Whittington, President, Colorado Emergency Management Association
5:30 - 7 p.m. | Exhibitors’ Networking Social

April 8, 2026 Schedule

During the Disaster: Response

7 - 8 a.m. | Breakfast, Registration and Check-in
8 - 8:05 a.m. | Welcome and Brief on Day 2
- Sadie Martinez, Colorado Access and Functional Needs Supervisor, Colorado Office of Emergency Manangement
8:05 - 8:25 a.m. | Welcome Keynote
- Speaker To Be Determined
8:25 - 9 a.m. | EM Talks or CMIST Recognitions
- HSAC AFN Subcommittee Representatives
9 - 9:30 a.m. | Communication Response tied to TEICHR Elements
- Maria Church, Access and Functional Needs Program Manager, Kentucky Department for Public Health
9:30- 10 a.m. | Break and Refreshments
10 - 10:15 a.m. | Communication Response tied to TEICHR Elements
- Joycelyn Fankhouser, Disaster Manager/Coordinator, Boulder County Human Services
10:15 - 10:30 a.m. | Communication Response tied to TEICHR Elements
- Dan Frazen, Agriculture Emergency Coordinator, Colorado Department of Agriculture
10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. | Communication Response tied to TEICHR Elements Panel
- Joycelyn Fankhouser, Disaster Manager/Coordinator, Boulder County Human Services
- Dan Frazen, Agriculture Emergency Coordinator, Colorado Department of Agriculture
12 - 1 p.m. | Lunch Break

After the Disaster: Recovery

1 - 5 p.m. | Exercise: Poverty in Disasters Workshop
5 - 5:30 p.m. | Keynote for Day 2 Close
- Trevor Denney, Director, Colorado Office of Emergency Management

April 9, 2026 Schedule

In-Person Only

Please Note: Times are subject to change.

7 - 8 a.m. |Breakfast
8 - 9 a.m. | Welcome Remarks and Exercise Introduction for Integrating Access and Functional Needs into Recovery
- Kelly Strife, State Disaster Recovery Program Manager, Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management
- Sara Abbot, State Disaster Recovery Specialist, Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management
9- 9:30 a.m. | Exercise Scenario 1
9:30 - 10 a.m. | Exercise Scenario 2
10 - 10:30 a.m. | Break and Refreshments
10:30 - 11 a.m. | Exercise Scenario 3
11 - 11:30 a.m. | Exercise Hotwash and Summary
11:30 - 12 p.m. | Closing Remarks
- Speaker Sadie Martinez, Access and Functional Needs Supervisor, Colorado Office of Emergency Management

Sponsor and Exhibitor Information

Become a sponsor or exhibitor for the 2026 Access and Functional Needs Conference. The Colorado Access and Functional Needs team is excited to announce an exciting opportunity to participate in the 2026 AFN Conference: "Lessons Learned, Now What?"

Read the 2026 Sponsor and Exhibitor Flyer.

Sponsor and Exhibitor Form

Complete the 2026 Access and Functional Needs Conference: Sponsor and Exhibitor Interest Form.

Thank you for your interest in supporting this event as a sponsor and/or exhibitor. There is a limited amount of space for exhibitor tables. Please complete the entire interest form. After the form is submitted, Colorado’s Access and Functional Needs Team will reach out to you.

How Does Your Sponsorship Help

Highlight tools and resources that can help emergency management and their community partners ensure the whole community has access to their CMIST resources before, during and after a disaster.
Share specific information about how your organization can partner with emergency management before, during and after a disaster.
Share best and promising practices for integrating the whole community in emergency management before, during and after disasters.

Sponsor and Exhibitor Benefits

Meet with over 200 professionals from emergency management in preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery fields along with disaster support partners and programs.
Have a booth in the exhibitor area if interested and space allows.
Overnight lodging and meals at the DoubleTree Hilton in Colorado Springs.
Attend any or all of the sessions.
Questions: Email Sadie.Martinez@state.co.us.

Archived Conference Information

Retrieve information shared at past AFN conferences hosted by the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

Archived AFN Conference Information