2019 State Convention & Awards Banquet

 The Arc Maryland's 2019 State Convention is just a few months away! Don't miss the biggest event of the year for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, families, staff, advocates and more!

Our Plenary Speaker this year is Joseph M. Macbeth, Executive Director, The National Alliance of Direct Support Professionals.

As advocates, families, providers and policy makers find themselves at a critical point in shifting support models for people with disabilities toward individual autonomy and self-direction, this keynote offers a chance to reflect on how the strength of advocacy led the community living movement over the past 40 years. We will also reflect on the changes coming to our system that are driven by funders, families and people with disabilities and how service organizations must implement continuous quality improvement practices in their approaches to empowering people to lead self-directed lives.

This session will also address some of the issues that direct support professionals across the country are telling NADSP about their work, what they need to be successful and offer suggestions that promote the notion that "Quality is defined at the point of interaction" and how NADSP envisions that direct support professionals should walk side-by-side with those they support toward a life of freedom, dignity and choice. Macbeth will share some stories from the road, and some "uncomfortable truths" to make you consider things a little differently about the work of direct support professionals.

 

 

Register Now!                      

Below you will find a schedule of the day for The Arc Maryland. Stay on the lookout for announcements on speakers for our Breakout Sessions throughout the day!

8:00 AM Registration Opens

8:30 AM - 9:00 AM Breakfast & Networking

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Plenary Session

10:15 AM - 11:00 AM Breakout Session 1

11:15 AM - 12:00 PM Breakout Session 2

12:15 PM - 2:00 PM Lunch and Awards Banquet

2:15 PM - 3:00 PM Breakout Session 3

3:15 PM - 4:15 PM The Arc Maryland Annual Meeting

4:30 PM - 6:00 PM The Arc Maryland Volunteer of the Year Awards: Not Included in Convention Registration

The Arc Maryland Awards Program will honor winners of the following awards during the Lunch Banquet:

• Legacy Award
• The Lorraine Sheehan-Bernard A. Gould Award for Volunteer Governmental Affairs Service
• Outstanding Advocate of the Year Award
• School Inclusion Award
• Employer of the Year
• Media Excellence Award
• Stanley S. Sidle/ William Oghe Jr. Memorial Citizenship Award
• Professional of the Year
• Professional of the Year for Direct Service
• The Arc Outstanding Employee of the Year - Administration/Program Management
• The Arc Outstanding Employee of the Year 0 Gilbert John Zucchi Direct Care Award
• Certificate of Apprciation/Meritorious Service
• Legislator of the Year
• President's Cup

For full descriptions of the awards above, and to nominate someone you know who deserves recognition for the incredible work they do in the DD Community, check out our 2019 Awards Nomination Packet! Please submit Awards Nominations by Monday, March 18 to Sharon Dols at sdols@thearcmd.org.

Convention Scholarships are made available by The Arc Maryland each year to cover the registration fee for a limited number of Self-Advocates to attend our Convention. Please apply by April 15 for consideration. Click here for the application form.

Sponsor, Exhibitor and Advertising Opportunities for our 2019 State Convention are also now available. You can review our sponsorship levels and benefits on our Sponsor and Exhibitor form and submit the form to be featured in our big day! For more information, please contact Kathy Swanson at 410-571-9320 or kwsanson@thearcmd.org.