AFN Conference

Conference Information

The 2026 Colorado Access and Functional Needs focus is "Lessons Learned, Now What?", turning lessions learned into lessons applied during communication resource disruptions.

Registration opens in November 2025.

Why Should You Attend?

For the first five years we focused on creating shared language and a shared understanding of the AFN resource framework and the CMIST memory tool. Going forward we will turn the shared understanindg into action.

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 of 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. - 1:00 p.m. | Welcome Keynote
- Speaker To Be Determined
1:30 - 2 p.m. | Break and Refreshments
2- 2:30 p.m. | Communication Planning tied to TEICHR Elements
- Speaker To Be Determined
2:30 - 3 p.m. | Communication Planning tied to TEICHR Elements
- Speaker To Be Determined
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, OEM
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
- Speaker To Be Determined
9:30- 10 a.m. | Break and Refreshments
10 - 10:30 a.m. | Communication Response tied to TEICHR Elements
- Speaker To Be Determined
10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. | Communication Response tied to TEICHR Elements Panel
- Panel Members To Be Determined
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
- Speaker To Be Determined

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
- Facilitator Kelly Strife and Sara Abbot, DHSEM Mitigation Section
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, OEM

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.

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