The Belonging Summit:

A Park City Retreat for Building Disability Confidence Through Adaptive Travel, Community, and Self-Advocacy

"Hosted by Julie Harris and Catarina Rivera" in black text. Headshots of Julie, a smiling White woman with dark hair and Catarina, a smiling Latiné woman with light skin and dark brown hair. Behind them is a colorful sunset mountainscape.

Accessible. Empowering. Liberating. Community-building.

You deserve adventure without needing to explain, justify, or apologize for your needs. 

You deserve acceptance without barriers and without shame.

You deserve a community that affirms and validates you.

Join disability advocates Catarina Rivera (aka Blindish Latina) and Julie Harris (author of Boldly Belong) for four days from June 13-16, 2025 at the National Ability Center in Park City, Utah where you’ll not only experience accessibility as a foundation of every experience, but also develop the inner beliefs and tools to advocate for yourself long after you leave.’

Whether you have an apparent or nonapparent disability, you belong.

Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or a first-time solo traveler, you belong.

Whether you’re neurodivergent, DeafBlind, a wheelchair user, or anything else, you belong.

Whether your access needs are sensory, mobility, cognitive, or anything else, you belong.

No compromises. 

No explanations needed. 

Just a transformative experience designed for you, meeting you exactly where you are.

What you’ll get

  • ✺

    Feel more confident advocating for yourself with best practices and scripts.

  • ✺

    Create cross-disability connections and relationships that are affirming and validating.

  • ✺

    Experience adaptive outdoor recreation from the trusted experts at the National Ability Center. Have fun in the outdoors without barriers!

  • ✺

    Small-group workshops with disability experts and advocates who will be available to you during the whole retreat.

  • ✺

    Experience the charm of Downtown Park City with lots of options for eating, drinking, and shopping!

  • ✺

    Gain a greater sense of self-empowerment and connection to community that will help sustain you long after the retreat is over.

Retreat Schedule

Friday 6/13

Check In after 3pm

Facility Tour

Welcome

Equestrian Assisted Learning (aka horses!)

Dinner

Sunday 6/15

Breakfast

Lead with You: Unmask, Stop People Pleasing, and Connect to your Own Voice Workshop led by Julie

Lunch

Archery or Yoga (your choice)

Self-Advocacy Made Easier: Scripts, Reframing, and Owning your Right to Take Up Space Workshop led by Catarina

Round Valley Hike

Break

Dinner

Saturday 6/14

Breakfast

Pickleball or Cycling (your choice)

Internalized Ableism: Naming It, Facing It, and Addressing It Workshop with Catarina and Julie

Lunch and Outing in Downtown Park City

Break

Dinner

Monday 6/16

Breakfast

Final group gathering

Check out at 10am

Retreat Location

National Ability Center

1000 Ability Way

Park City, Utah 84060

Nearest Airport: Salt Lake City (SLC)

Retreat Details

Dates: June 13-16, 2025

Price: $1,729

Includes: All activities, workshops, accommodations, breakfast each day, lunch on Saturday and Sunday, a copy of Julie’s book

Note: Spots are limited to ensure personal attention and meaningful connections.

This retreat is for you if you want to:

  • Build real-world confidence

  • Practice self-advocacy in a supportive environment

  • Accept and prioritize yourself and your needs without apology

  • Engage in community conversaiton about disability identity and your lived experiences

  • Gain tools that last beyond the retreat

  • Identify internalized voices that undermine your confidence

  • Experience a fully planned trip without the time, effort, or mental load of researching, planning, and advocating.

  • Have advocates by your side (literally) as questions and needs arise, so you aren’t figuring it out alone

  • Experience an accessible environment with cross-disability relationships

  • Rest and restore yourself in nature

Meet your Hosts

  • Julie Harris, a White smiling woman with blue eyes and dark brown hair wearing a black top. Headshot.

    Julie Harris

    Author, Speaker, Consultant

    Julie Harris is the author of Boldly Belong: The Power of Being You in a Disabling Society, a speaker, and an advocate focused on helping people be who they are and reclaim their confidence in a world not built for them. After experiencing complete memory loss due to a brain injury, she defied doctors’ expectations and found success in the corporate world. She has worked with startups, universities, non-profits, and Fortune 500 companies improving disability inclusion. She is a LinkedIn Top Voice in Disability Advocacy with a community of 61K+ on the platform.

  • Headshot of Catarina, a light-skinned Latiné woman with dark brown wavy hair, a faux leather jacket, and a big smile in front of a blurred cityscape.

    Catarina Rivera, MSEd, MPH, CPACC

    Speaker, Consultant, Content Creator

    Catarina Rivera aka Blindish Latina is a disability advocate, professional public speaker, DEIA consultant, and world traveler who champions accessibility in travel. She educates organizations and leaders about disability awareness, inclusion, and accessibility. She is deafblind due to Usher syndrome. She is a TEDx speaker, LinkedIn Top Voice in Disability Advocacy, a Webby Awards Nominee, and a D-30 Disability Impact List honoree. She has been featured in Forbes, ABC News Live, and Telemundo. She has a community of 80K+ across platforms.

Limited Enrollment

Limited Enrollment

✺ Frequently asked questions ✺

  • All retreat accommodations are double occupancy rooms, with roommates decided based on personal preferences. You can specify if you require or would prefer a private room (an additional cost will be required).

  • Every room has an ensuite bathroom. There are roll-in showers in 8 rooms with grab bars and fold-down benches. There are balconies in 8 rooms. Rooms have visual and auditory fire alarms as well as adjustable thermostats. All rooms are onsite at the National Ability Center.

    • Lodging

    • Accommodations

    • All accessible recreational activities with the National Ability Center

    • Workshops with Catarina and Julie

    • All 3 breakfasts (Saturday, Sunday, and Monday)

    • Lunch on Saturday and Sunday

    • Travel from the National Ability Center to Park City

    • Retreat gift from the hosts

    • Airfare

    • Transportation from airport and back to airport

    • Dinner on Saturday and Sunday

    • Shopping in Park City

  • Spaces are first-come, first-serve. The last possible sign-up date May 31, if spaces are still available.

  • When signing up for the retreat, you can select to pay with AfterPay and set up interest-free payments.

  • We are hoping to have the ability to offer some sliding scale or scholarship spots for the retreat. If you’d like to request this option, email hello@catarinarivera.com to discuss.

  • Reach out to hello@catarinarivera.com with any additional questions or comments. Thank you!