Story Slam: Where Every Story Finds Its Light

Monday, March 15, 2027 | 7:30–10:00 PM | Mainstage - Paradise South

Everyone has a story to tell, and some of the best ones come from the moments we never expected to be worth telling.

Following the Opening Exhibit Hall Reception on Monday night, join us on the ACNC27 Mainstage for ‘Story Slam: Where Every Story Finds Its Light’, an evening of stories told by members of our community.

Storytellers will be selected at random to take the stage and share a five-minute story from their lives. There’s no competition, no judging, and no pressure to make your story inspirational. This is simply a chance to come together, listen, laugh, connect, and hear from one another.

And your story doesn’t have to be about how you lost your limb, your diagnosis, an injury, or the experience that brought you into the limb loss and limb difference community.

We want to hear about you.

Tell us about the airport mishap you can finally laugh about. The interaction with a stranger you still think about years later. A moment from parenting, dating, traveling, swimming, getting dressed, navigating a broken device, or simply going about your day. Tell us about something that went completely wrong, a small victory that meant more than anyone realized, or a moment that changed the way you saw yourself.

Your story can be funny, frustrating, heartfelt, awkward, unexpected, or somewhere in between. It doesn’t need a perfect ending or a life-changing lesson. It just needs to be yours.

How It Works

Interested in taking the stage? Add your name to the Story Slam bucket.

Throughout the evening, we’ll randomly draw names and invite storytellers to the Mainstage. Each person selected will have five minutes to tell their story.

That’s it. No judges. No scores. No winner.

You don’t need to teach us a lesson. You don’t need to inspire us. You don’t need to explain your disability or make an ordinary moment extraordinary.

Just tell us a story about what it means to be you.

Whether you take the stage or spend the evening listening, come be part of a night built around the stories that connect us.

Come listen. Come laugh. Come connect. And maybe, come tell us a story.

If your name comes out of the bucket, the Mainstage is yours for five minutes.

Want Help Finding Your Story?

Want to participate but aren’t sure what story to tell? Join one of our scheduled Storytelling Preparation Sessions, included as part of the conference programming. These sessions will help you identify a meaningful moment, uncover the heart of your story, and shape it into a five-minute story that feels authentic and natural to tell.

Session offered twice:

Monday, March 15 | 1:15–2:15 PM

Monday, March 15 | 2:45–3:45 PM

Location: Pavilion 10

Preparation sessions are optional and are available for anyone who would like support finding or shaping their story before participating in the Story Slam.

Story Slam Host: Mike Bolland

Mike Bolland is a speaker, comedian, and community advocate who brings humor, warmth, and personal experience to the stage. Born without a right hand, he played Danny in the 1974 film The Trial of Billy Jack and later became the first person with limb loss to earn a Professional Bowlers Association card and compete on the PBA Tour. He also spent nearly 30 years at Discount Tire in digital and customer experience leadership roles.

Mike is the co-founder and host of Espresso Yourself, a community event in Arizona that gives people a welcoming space to speak and share their stories. He served as president of Chats Toastmasters in Scottsdale, Arizona, a club focused on public speaking and leadership and hosts the We’re Not Stumped podcast. He also serves on the boards of directors of Ability360 and Arizona Disabled Sports. His experience as a performer, interviewer, and community host shapes his welcoming approach to helping people feel comfortable sharing their stories.

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