Last week, I spoke at ANCOR Connect 2026 in Boston.

ANCOR is the American Network of Community Options and Resources. ANCOR works to share solutions for community-based service providers to support people with intellectual disabilities.

ANCOR Connect brought together organisations from across the United States who work for inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities.

The event felt honest and hopeful. People spoke openly about the challenges they face.

At the same time, I saw strong commitment to keep going and make progress.

Challenges and solutions

Two things stood out to me.

First, many of the challenges are shared across countries. These include not having enough staff, pressure on funding, and growing division in politics. In some places, we also see a move back towards segregated services. These issues are not limited to one country.

But we also see shared solutions. When we work together and learn from each other, we can respond more effectively.

Second, the words we use matter. They shape how we think and act.

In my speech, I asked people to think about how they talk about their work. Are we only delivering services, or are we building relationships in our communities? Real change comes from trust, respect, and working together over time.

Real change comes from trust, respect, and working together over time.

Jamie Cooke, Executive Director, Inclusion International

This moment calls for action

The theme of the conference was “Navigating the Now”. This feels right. We are at an important moment.

The choices we make now will shape the future. We can move towards more inclusive communities, or we can fall back on approaches that separate people.

Working together across countries and sectors matters. When rights are weakened in one place, it affects others. When organisations accept lower standards, it can affect the whole system.

But when we share what works, speak up, and stand together, we are stronger. We can push for change that respects dignity and inclusion.

I keep asking myself:

  • How do we stop a move back towards segregation?
  • How do we support leadership at all levels?
  • How do we speak up for better support and stronger rights?

I am grateful to ANCOR for the invitation, and to Barbara Merrill, CEO of ANCOR, for her leadership. It was good to connect with other Inclusion International members, including Keystone Human Services and Tukena Foundation.

There are real challenges ahead. But the direction is clear.

We work for community.
We work for dignity.
We work for belonging.

We want a world where every person with an intellectual disability can live the life they choose, as part of their community.