Let your voice be heard!

Our Voice ... Our Vision ... Our Future
The Arc of Indiana 2009 Conference & Appreciation Luncheon

Thursday, October 1, 2009
Indiana Convention Center
100 S. Capitol Ave., Indianapolis

Let your voice be heard!

On October 1, 2009, The Arc of Indiana, in partnership with the Indiana Governor's Council for People with Disabilities, is hosting a gathering for people committed to positive change. This groundbreaking event will be unlike any that has been held in Indiana before.

Our Voice…

The goal is to bring 1,000 self-advocates, family members, leaders of organizations and other professionals together for one day to lend their voice and opinion on critical issues impacting people with developmental disabilities and their families. Each participant will have a hand held voting device, and will be able to respond to a series of questions in several broad topic areas:

• Early Identification and Early Childhood
• Education
• Post High School Education / Training
• Future Planning and Guardianship
• Training for Families and Caregivers
• Self-Advocacy
• Health and Wellness
• Employment and Day Supports
• In-Home Supports
• Living in the Community
• Cultural Competency

Voting will be completely confidential. However, demographic information will be collected so that the results can be sorted by self advocate, family member or professional. In addition, the information will be classified as male/female, by age groups and by zip code.

This valuable information will be used to shape future decisions.

Our Vision…

Registration for the conference includes The Arc's annual Appreciation and Awards Luncheon. This year's luncheon speaker is Dr. Tom Pomeranz, a nationally recognized authority, trainer, clinician and consultant in the field of services for people with disabilities. His audiences praise his ability to combine information, humor, passion and storytelling into an informative whole. Dr. Pomeranz will discuss what life could and should look like for people with disabilities.

The Appreciation luncheon will feature the presentation of awards to outstanding people, businesses, and organizations to honor their accomplishments in the field of disabilities. Awards will be presented in a variety of categories including employment, education, community living, professional and individual achievement, public policy and outstanding advocacy.

Our Future…

Following lunch, participants will break into small groups to discuss the questions that were asked in the morning and the answers that were given. During this discussion, everyone will have the opportunity to rank the questions/answers that they think are the most important and the items that need to be addressed. At the conclusion of the day, everyone will receive a report showing how self-advocates, families and professionals voted on each question.

The information gathered, in both the large voting session as well as the discussion session, will be shared with disability stakeholders throughout the state and will be used to help shape future decisions. The goal of this event is to provide information and open a dialog that leads to greater collaboration.

Our Voice … Our Vision … Our Future

Registration is now open for this exciting event. The Conference will begin at 9:00 am and conclude at 4:30 pm. For those attending the Appreciation Luncheon only, the luncheon will take place from 12:00 to 2:30 p.m. Free parking and shuttle service is available from the parking lot of the Indianapolis Zoo, 1200 W. Washington Street.

Registration fees include electronic voting equipment, lunch and parking.

Please register by September 24, 2009.

Self Advocates - $15
Family Members - $19
Professionals - $35

registration link here: http://www.arcind.org/news/?naid=20