The Bridge Forward Day One Welcome kicked off with a warm host greeting, a quick tech orientation, and an overview of accessibility features to help everyone engage with ease. The Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council then provided an overview of the conference and why these issues matter to all stakeholders. The National Leadership Consortium on Developmental Disabilities closed with an overview of its 2024 research project funded by the Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council, The Intersection of Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities and Behavioral Health Research.