Hilton Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing
201 S Christopher Columbus Blvd
Philadelphia, PA 19106
On the night before the big championship bout, Rocky had a revelation. He may not win. But the important part, in his words, was to “go the distance.” The message? Never give up. Keep trying. Don’t quit. That message resonates in the human services field. We face so many challenges, but no matter what, we go the distance. During the 2025 CQL Conference: Go The Distance!, we’ll take on these challenges together.
From Monday, October 13th, 2025 through Thursday, October 16th, 2025, we’re gathering in-person in Philadelphia – Rocky’s hometown – to identify cutting-edge solutions for complex issues facing the disability services sector. Through keynotes that inspire, breakouts that bring big ideas, and networking that creates valuable connections, this is the knockout event of the year. During the 2025 CQL Conference: Go The Distance!, attendees will learn about specific strategies, receive resources, and discover proven practices to transform services and people’s lives.
Below you will find an overview agenda for the 2025 CQL Conference: Go The Distance! It includes dates and times (all in ET) for what you can expect throughout the event. Please note: The information listed here is all subject to change, and is intended primarily for your general travel and planning purposes.
Overview Agenda
Monday, October 13th 2025
- 10:00am – 3:00pm | National Leadership Consortium Pre-Conference
Be a Better Innovation Leader: Even if Change Scares the Hell Out of You - 6:00pm – 8:00pm | Attendee Check-In
Tuesday, October 14th 2025
- 8:00am – 9:00am | Attendee Check-In
- 8:00am – 9:00am | Breakfast
- 9:00am – 9:15am | Welcome
- 9:15am – 10:15am | Keynote Presentation
- 10:15am – 10:45am | Sponsor/Exhibitor Break
- 10:45am – 11:45am | Breakout Sessions
- 11:45am – 1:30pm | Lunch (on your own)
- 1:30pm – 2:30pm | Breakout Sessions
- 2:30pm – 3:00pm | Sponsor/Exhibitor Break
- 3:00pm – 4:00pm | Breakout Sessions
- 4:00pm – 5:00pm | Evening Reception
Wednesday, October 15th 2025
- 8:00am – 9:00am | Attendee Check-In
- 8:00am – 9:00am | Breakfast
- 9:00am – 10:00am | Keynote Presentation
- 10:00am – 10:30am | Sponsor/Exhibitor Break
- 10:30am – 11:30am | Breakout Sessions
- 11:30am – 12:00pm | Sponsor/Exhibitor Break
- 12:00pm – 1:15pm | Lunch (provided) & Awards of Excellence Ceremony
- 1:15pm – 1:45pm | Sponsor/Exhibitor Break
- 1:45pm – 2:45pm | Breakout Sessions
- 2:45pm – 3:15pm | Sponsor/Exhibitor Break
- 3:15pm – 4:15pm | Keynote Presentation
Thursday, October 16th 2025
- 8:00am – 9:00am | Breakfast & Raffle
- 9:00am – 10:00am | Keynote Presentation
- 10:00am – 10:15am | Break
- 10:15am – 11:15am | Keynote Presentation
The 2025 CQL Conference: Go The Distance! is one of the most cost-effective conferences in our field. It provides attendees with registration rates that won’t break the bank, especially for those who choose to register early. Please note that all attendees must register individually. If you have any questions or concerns, you can Contact CQL for assistance.
Register Now
Click the 'Register Now' button to sign up for the conference, where you will enter attendee details, requests for accommodations, dietary restrictions, and submit payment.
Register NowSubmitting Payment
The current registration rate is $450 per attendee for the general conference and an additional $200 for the Pre-Conference.
If you are paying online, there is a 3% convenience fee. If you want to avoid this fee, please Contact CQL prior to registering, to submit payment via check or ACH.
Registration Rates
Pre-Conference Attendance
- $200 (1/21/25 – 9/30/25)
General Conference Attendance
- $450 – ‘Early Bird’ Rate (1/21/25 – 3/31/25)
- $500 – ‘Standard’ Rate (4/1/25 – 8/31/25)
- $600 – ‘Late Bird’ Rate (9/1/25 – 9/30/25)
Cancellation/Substitution Policies
Registrant Cancellations
- All registrants who cancel prior to September 15, 2025, will be issued a refund, less a $50 administrative fee.
- No refunds will be issued on or after September 15, 2025.
- Registrants must submit the cancellation request through the Attendee Changes Form.
Registrant Substitutions
- Registrants are allowed one (1) free substitution, if requested prior to September 15, 2025.
- Subsequent substitution requests, occurring prior to September 15, 2025, will incur a $50 administrative fee.
- No registrant substitutions are permitted on or after September 15, 2025.
- Registrants can only substitute a registration to another employee of their own organization.
- Registrants must submit the substitution request through the Attendee Changes Form.
Conference Disclaimers
- Conference attendees assume any and all risks to their health and safety related to participation in the event. By registering for this conference, the conference attendee is acknowledging that CQL | The Council on Quality and Leadership is not responsible for any personal injury (including death), property damage, or loss suffered by the attendee as a result of their participation.
- Attendees are strongly advised to make travel arrangements (hotel, airfare, etc.) that are refundable. If you elect to purchase non-refundable travel arrangements, it is at your own risk and CQL is not liable for any associated costs or fees.
- Any accommodations requests made by registrants – especially regarding interpreters and captioning – must be submitted before 9/15/25, so that CQL has an adequate amount of time to make arrangements.
Hilton Philadelphia at Penn's Landing
About The Hotel
Hilton Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing
201 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd.
Philadelphia, PA 19106
The 2025 CQL Conference is taking place at the Hilton Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing. According to the hotel website, “Steps from waterfront activities on the Delaware River, our hotel is a mile from Liberty Bell, the convention center, Reading Terminal, and the Museum of the American Revolution. We’re adjacent to Spruce Street Harbor Park and walking distance to shops and galleries in Old City. Enjoy our indoor pool, waterfront dining, and 24-hour fitness center.”
Attendees are strongly advised to make refundable travel arrangements (hotel, airfare, etc.). If you elect to purchase non-refundable travel arrangements, it is at your own risk and CQL is not liable for any associated costs or fees.
Hotel Amenities
- 15-Minute Drive From PHL Airport
- Complimentary Shuttle To Area Attractions
- Self-Parking And Valet Parking
- On-Site Restaurants
- Indoor Pool
- 24-Hour Business Center
- 24-Hour Fitness Center
- Connecting Rooms
- Pet-Friendly Rooms
- Digital Key
Group Rate
CQL has reserved a hotel block with the Hilton at Penn’s Landing at a discounted rate of $259 per night (not including taxes/fees).
The discounted rate expires on 9/22/25. The reserved room block will likely be filled prior to that date, so we encourage you to reserve your room as soon as possible.
From provider agencies to governmental systems, state associations to national organizations, and advocacy groups to academia, our conferences welcome hundreds of professionals in the field including executive leadership, supervisors and managers, quality assurance/enhancement staff, and other stakeholders with diverse expertise across the disability services sector. CQL’s partners are among the most forward-thinking in the field and are actively seeking out tools, technology, products, software, services, and resources that will support them along the way. This makes the 2025 CQL Conference: Go The Distance! the perfect event for connecting attendees to your company’s solutions!
Conference Prospectus & Sponsor/Exhibitor Sign-Up
2025 CQL Conference Prospectus
The 2025 CQL Conference: Go The Distance! provides numerous sponsorship and exhibiting opportunities to advance your strategic objectives, which are outlined in our event prospectus.
Sponsor/Exhibitor Sign-Up
You can sign up as a sponsor/exhibitor by completing the online application form, where you will enter your company details, select your desired option, and submit payment.
Silver Sponsors
Thank you to the following organizations that are Silver Sponsors of the 2025 CQL Conference.
CIL
CIL is a nonprofit real estate developer founded by advocates and service providers who recognized that people and families thrive best when they have a place to call home – and are fully included in the community.
LEARN MORECIL
Tech First SHIFT
SHIFT is an online education and accreditation platform that is advancing and standardizing Technology First best practices and programming.
LEARN MORETech First SHIFT
Exhibitors
Thank you to the following organizations that are exhibiting at the 2025 CQL Conference:
CIL
Direct Support Workforce Solutions at the University of Minnesota/ICI
iTherapyDocs
Tech First SHIFT
CQL is seeking presentations from those who will share innovative and creative solutions that promote person-centered practices, support people to achieve their dreams, spark innovation in service delivery, empower support staff, drive organizational transformation, and more. If you are interested in submitting a breakout session, please first review the information included below, and then complete the Request for Presentation Proposals form.
Request for Presentation Proposals
Submission Guidance
- Submissions must include clear demonstration of implementation in supports and services, beyond theory and philosophy.
- Submissions must contain valuable and practical content, which attendees can apply to their organization.
- Submissions that include promotions of paid products and services will not be accepted.
- Proposals must be submitted by April 4th, 2025
- CQL intends to notify selected presentations in early May.
CQL has also created a Breakout RFP Summary, which details information you need to enter on the RFP Proposals form. It is intended to help you in preparing your presentation submission, prior to completing the form.
Presentation Guidance
- While the conference is from 10/13/25 – 10/16/25, breakout presentations will only take place from approximately 10:00 am – 4:00 pm EST on both Tuesday, October 14th and Wednesday, October 15th.
- The total length of a breakout session is 1 hour – 45/50 minutes of presentation content and the remaining time devoted to live Q&A.
Additional Information
- Presenters are responsible for all booking and payment of travel and lodging.
- If the presenters choose to attend the conference outside of their presentation, they must pay for full conference registration.
Topic Areas
Person-Centered / Innovative Practices
- Putting plans into action
- Promoting rights, choice, control, advocacy
- Engaging with Supported Decision-Making
- Supporting people who communicate without using the spoken word
- Championing Independence: Self-Management of Health
- Championing Independence: Money Management
- Implementing trauma-informed supports involving people with IDD, psychiatric disabilities, substance use disorders, and older adults
Dignity and Respect
- Demonstrating respect in supports/services
- Embracing the dignity of risk
- Identifying and addressing over-support
- Tailoring supports to what the person wants/needs
- Supporting spirituality in people’s lives
- Embracing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion
Workforce
- Implementing person-centered retention and recruitment strategies
- Generating best practices in workforce development
- Using a trauma-informed approach for staff retention
- Cultivating leadership among DSPs, front line supervisors, and others
- Utilizing success stories to impact agency culture
Relationships
- Developing healthy relationships
- Equipping DSPs to help people establish and maintain relationships
- Improving the presence of natural supports
- Building social capital and social roles
Community-Building
- Engaging in community participation
- Supporting leadership roles in the community
- Organizational connections to the broader community
Employment
- Facilitating supported/customized/competitive employment
- Building a meaningful day for people
- Transitioning away from traditional day services
Technology
- Providing remote supports in rural locations
- Promoting independence
- Impact of technology on service delivery
- Improving access to services
- Augmenting communication
- Exploring user-friendly apps and helpful devices
- Leveraging technology for organizational efficiency
Organizational Transformation
- Promoting a positive organizational culture
- Building strong teams
- Strengthening communication
- Including diverse perspectives in decision-making
Data
- Developing practical applications (identifying metrics, setting up systems, etc.)
- Utilizing data to inform decision-making and drive change
- Making data digestible for stakeholders
At the 2025 CQL Conference: Go The Distance!, the CQL Awards of Excellence will recognize an individual, organization, and/or system that demonstrates excellence in the support of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and psychiatric disabilities, as well as older adults. The CQL Awards of Excellence recipients will be recognized at an all-conference luncheon, which will take place on Wednesday, October 15, 2025. In Spring 2025, you will be able to submit nominations for the CQL Awards of Excellence.