Where
Walter E. Washington Convention Center801 Mount Vernon Place, Northwest
Washington, DC 20001
Driving Directions
Seeking Volunteers!
Event Description:
Date: March 10, 2017
Event Time: 10am-2pm
Volunteer Time Slots:
- Volunteer time slot #1: 8:30am-10:30am
- Volunteer time slot #2: 10:30am-12:30pm
- Volunteer time slot #3: 12:30pm-2:30pm
- Volunteer time slot #4: All Day 8:30am-2:30pm
Location: Walter E. Washington Convention Center
This year will be the 8th Voices of Change Conference for DC students with disabilities, IEPs, and 504 plans. District of Columbia high schools - DCPS, Charter, and Non-public - are invited to bring their students with IEPs, 504 plans and disabilities to learn about how to successfully transition into employment, education, and independence.
This is truly a community-sponsored event and the planning process itself helps to promote interagency collaboration and connections across the city. Over the past 7 years, the event has grown significantly. Students and schools have shared with us that it is an event that they look forward to each year. This year we expecting 400-500 youth and over 900 participants total.
Call for volunteers:
We are seeking volunteers and adult partners to provide:
- Registration Support
- Exhibitor Support
- Student Support
- Entrance Support
- General Support
Volunteer Time Commitment:
Volunteers are required to attend an hour-long orientation the day before the conference on March 9th at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Please see the registration page to submit your time preference for the orientation. On March 10th, all volunteers are expected to arrive 30 minutes before their assigned timeslot begins.
Program Details:
Opening Session
- An interactive performance featuring youth and artists from the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts focused on using art to express yourself and self-advocate.
- Remarks from Sponsors
Youth-led Workshops
- Youth Leaders will be co-facilitating interactive workshops for participating youth focused on self-determination and disability awareness.
Exhibits
- Youth participate in a scavenger hunt with representatives from organizations (colleges, community organizations, government agencies, employers, assistive technology, and more) who can explain the different post-high school work, education, and living options available to you.
- Get helpful information and resources on support services in your community including post-secondary education, employment, and independent living.
Fashion Show
- For the first time, we will have a youth-led fashion show featuring DC students' original styles and designs for professional attire.
Do you have questions?
Contact SchoolTalk's Sarah Grime at:
sarah.grime@schooltalkdc.org or (202) 487-1976
This Conference is Jointly Funded By: District of Columbia Department on Disability Services, Rehabilitation Services Administration; District of Columbia Developmental Disabilities Council; District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent of Education Division of Elementary, Secondary, and Specialized Education; the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; and the Institute for Educational Leadership.
Co-sponsors: Advocates for Justice and Education, The ARC of DC, DC Appleseed, District of Columbia Association for Special Education, DC Metro ADA Coalition, District of Columbia Public Library, District of Columbia Public Schools Office of Specialized Instruction, DC Special Education COOP, DC State Advisory Panel on Special Education, DC Voices of Change Peer Network, Full Circle Employment Solutions LLC, George Washington University, I’m Determined (VA Department of Education), Inclusion Research Institute, National Alliance to Advance Adolescent Health, Project ACTION!, Quality Trust for Individuals with Disabilities, ReadSpeaker, and University Legal Services