Conference Program

This conference is sponsored by the Virginia Department of Education’s Assistive Technology Network. We are committed to providing web content that is accessible to all – including people with disabilities – and to meeting or exceeding all state and national accessibility standards. If you need assistance with accessibility, please contact us.

Keynote Session Face-to-Face

Presented by: Brandon Stees

Date & Time: Wednesday, November 18, 2026 8:15 AM - 9:15 AM ET Add event to Calendar

Brandon Stees is a student at Blue Ridge Community College. He has completed a majority of the requirements towards an Associates Degree which he hopes to complete by Spring 2028. Brandon has many interests and abilities that he loves to share with others. He also identifies as a person with multiple disabilities, including intellectual disability and low vision. Brandon graduated from Harrisonburg High School as the first person with Down Syndrome to earn a standard diploma.

One of Brandon’s interests is public speaking and advocating for people with disabilities. He has been a guest speaker at various college events or classes including JMU, the College of William and Mary, the University of Texas-El Paso, to name a few. Brandon has served on panels for teacher training sponsored by the Virginia Department of Education, and previously served on the Virginia State Special Education Advisory Committee.

Brandon’s hobbies include writing fan-fiction and board gaming with friends and family. He also enjoys playing euphonium in the Massanutten Youth Brass Band and the JMU Concert band. His dreams for the future include wanting to open a board game cafe, to act, and continue to speak and advocate for people with disabilities. He’s always happy to share about his experiences as a person with disabilities in the hope of bringing encouragement to others and connecting people.

Link(s):

Registration

Whilst AT Network strives to adhere to the accepted guidelines and standards for accessibility and usability, it is not always possible to do so when linking to documents and sites outside of our site. We are continually seeking out solutions that will bring these other areas up to the same level of overall web accessibility. In the meantime, should you experience any difficulty in accessing the material, please don’t hesitate to contact us at matthewn@vt.edu.