Site Details

Location: Crowne Plaza Providence-Warwick

801 Greenwich Avenue

Warwick, RI 02886 

(401) 732-6000

Keynote Speaker - Donna Cruz Jones

Donna Cruz Jones was born with Spina Bifida in the U.S. territory of Guam. She served two terms on the Spina Bifida Association National Board, and served multiple terms on the advocacy board for Duke Children's Hospital in Durham, NC.

Donna has worked as a staffer on Capitol Hill twice, worked for multiple political campaigns on the state and national level. She also served as the Americans with Disabilities for McCain Coalition Coordinator and was a Staff Assistant for Veterans for McCain Coalition.

In 2019, she was invited to testify before the House Appropriations subcommittee on Health Education and Labor as a representative of the Spina Bifida community.

Advocating for herself and those in the disability community is of the utmost importance, and she enjoys educating herself about the ADA, Medicare, and legislation pertinent to her community. 

Outside of her philanthropy work, Donna was also a competitive weightlifter and specialized in the bench press. She believes disability is a natural part of life and advocating for the inclusion of all disabled individuals in society is of the utmost importance. She currently resides in New York City, NY.

Morning Session Presenter - Christine Levy

Christine Levy is a speaker, educator, advocate, and  entrepreneur who blends deep expertise with compassion to  help families navigate the complexities of education and  ensure every child has the supports they need to thrive. With  20+ years in public and independent schools, she has been a  classroom teacher at The Hewitt School (NYC), Upper  Elementary Coordinator at The Aaron School (NYC), and held  district leadership roles in Rhode Island, including Assistant  Director of Special Education and Multi-Tiered Systems of  Support Coordinator. 

In 2024, Christine expanded her vision by launching the Levy Educational Advocacy Academy, training  a team of specialized advocates to ensure that every student regardless of ability receives the  advocacy, support, and opportunities they deserve.



Christine has established collaborations with the Jonnycake Center, the Down Syndrome Society, and  the Hamilton School at Wheeler (RI). She has also appeared on notable podcasts such as Dr. Dan’s  Parent Footprint and Coaching with Brooke, sharing insights from her career and advocacy practice. 

Christine will be sharing her expertise to help inform and guide families when navigating the educational placement process and Individual Education Plans (IEP).