KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Speaker, Trainer, Disability Consultant
Alva Gardner
2025 Self-Advocate Keynote Speaker
Alva Gardner is a Keynote Speaker, trainer, and disability inclusion consultant who uses her unique, lived experience as a woman with a disability to infuse her speeches, trainings, and
consulting work with impactful and real-life examples.
Having earned her Bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley, Alva now runs her own company, The 4*3 Perspective LLC (pronounced the four three perspective). She works with organizations and companies to make systemic changes that improve the work they do and the way they support all people, but especially those with disabilities. She is passionate about bringing disability into spaces and conversations where it is not already being included — meeting companies where they are at in their diversity and inclusion journey.
Alva has always considered herself an open book, with a sassy, tell-it-like-it-is way of speaking. She hopes that, by being open and honest about her experiences, she can break down people’s
assumptions and preconceived notions about what it means to live with a disability.
Opening Parent Keynote 2025
Ramonda Olaloye
Ramonda Olaloye is the Assistant Superintendent for the Office of Enhancing Student Opportunities with the Oregon Department of Education, with over 20 years of experience and a deep passion for education. She began her career as a special education teacher and has taken on many roles since, including educational diagnostician, special education coordinator, adjunct instructor, program director, and state monitoring director. Each role has strengthened her commitment to creating supportive and inclusive learning environments for all children.
As a former leader in urban school districts in the Houston area, Ramonda is deeply committed to ensuring every child has access to meaningful educational opportunities. She is also a proud mother of two daughters, one of whom experiences a disability—a perspective that has deepened her understanding of the education system and strengthened her commitment to excellence.
A lifelong learner, Ramonda strives to create opportunities that benefit children, families, and educators alike.
