“Contributing: Building a Greater Community through Person Centered Practices"
September 16 & 17 2015- 9:00 am to 4:00pm with an optional 2nd day September 17, 2015- 9:00am to 4:00pm

Register Now! 

 

What is the California Gathering?
The 8th annual CA Gathering will promote the use of Person Centered Thinking practices with people and families we serve, and supporters to create positive change in their own lives, communities, and organizations.  We are pleased to host this event in collaboration with many community partners and the international Learning Community for Person Centered Practices.

Our 2015 theme is Contributing: Building a Greater Community through Person Centered Practices. Our goal at this year's CA Gathering is to broaden the scope of Person Centered Thinking and Planning to foster a learning environment in which participants will take away information, tools and strategies that can be applied to one's personal life and assist us to strengthen our communities to support those we serve. This year's gathering will explore all the many ways people can contribute and be a part of their communities through the use of their voices, gifts, skills, and talents. Our activities will encourage self-expression through music, art and much more!

Featured Guest:Laura G. Buckner Certified Mentor Trainer in Person Centered Practices through The Learning Community for Person Centered Practices and Board Member.

Laura has 26 years experience in the disability field. A Licensed Professional Counselor and former special education educator, Laura has invested the last 18 years in providing training on the local, state and national level. She works wtih teh Texas Center for Disabilities a the University of Texas in Austin and is a founding partner of the Institute for Person Centered Practices. Laura also coordinated the Texas Partners in Policymaking program for 8 years.

Laura believes her greatest expertise comes from her experience as a Mom. Her 26-year-old son has been both impetus and inspiration for Laura's work to create inclusive communities... and the plans that enable people to live lives of choice successfully, with the right supports, in those communities.

We are delighted that Laura will provide a key note address: 

• "The Winds of Change are Blowing: Will You Build a Wall or a Windmill?" The service system for people with disabilities is predicted to change drastically over the next 10-20 years. What does this news mean for families, the people we serve, and providers? Lets discover how to face the wind and adjust our sails.
• Laura will also provide a follow-up session: "The Winds of Change are Blowing: What Now?  What can we do now to begin building community and circles of support.
  

Other Featured Guests: Get ready to hear inspirational stories of several people pursuing their passions and making a difference in the lives of others: From local self advocate, presenter, and dj, Chris Benedict to local filmmakers of Normal People Scare Me , speakers and advocates, Taylor Cross and his mother Keri Bowers. They will share strategies on how people can be their best self advocates, pursue their passions and dreams and understand the responsibility that goes with this.

What is Person Centered Thinking?

Person Centered Thinking (PCT) is a set of ideas, skills, and actions that assist individuals who use services to achieve greater control and influence over their lives leading to improved personal outcomes.

Who Should Attend?
People who

• Preferably completed Person Centered Thinking (PCT) training
• Are currently working to apply PCT in their day to day work or personal life
• Have an interest in furthering their knowledge and skills in the area of PCT

Highlights:

• Gallery Walk of local artists who have disabilities and contribute to their communities by sharing their creative gifts and talents
• Breakout sessions focus on different areas of interest related to how we are incorporating PCT in our work with a focus on different methods of person centered planning
• Learning Marketplace sessions provide an opportunity to informally share learning
• Large group activities inspire conversation and encourage relationship building with local partners

What Topics will be discussed?*

Focus on Day 1:  Uncovering and Discovering our Gifts, Skills and Strengths: Supporting individuals to build lives and relationships that are meaningful to them by using their gifts, interests, skills and hobbies to contribute to their communities.

Day One Agenda-September 16, 2015

8:30am    Registration

9:00am    Welcome and Ice Breaker Activity

9:35am    Society of the Open Hand: Building a Portrait of Competence. Discover people's gifts,                           skills, & interests to connect people to their communities and access employment 

10:20am   Activity: What are the Gifts, Skills and Interests of our CA Learning Community?

10:45am    Self Advocate, presenter and dj, Chris Benedict shares his inspirational story

11:00am    Welcome from the Learning Community for Person Centered Practices

11:20am    Learning Marketplace Introduction

12:00pm   Lunch provided on site

 1:00pm     Topics hosted in our Breakout Sessions:

- Can you Find This Man a Job? 

- Planning for Individuals with Forensic Histories in a Person Centered Way  

- The Winds of Change Are Blowing: What Now?

- Person Centered Planning Live Demonstration with a Focus on Employment

- PATH and MAPS Introduction

2:45pm    Learning Marketplace Sessions

3:45pm    Closing Activities

 4:00pm   End

*times and topics are subject to change

 Day Two Agenda-September 17, 2015

Focus for Day Two: Contributing: Demonstrate all the ways that people can contribute in order to foster those contributions and to assist them to build their lives in a way that is meaningful and brings value to them. 

8:30am    Registration

9:00am    Opening Remarks & Morning Activity

9:15am    Passion Centerd People: Advocates, Speakers and Filmmakers, Taylor Cross & Keri Bowers

10:00am   Gallery Walk of local artists who have disabilities sharing their gifts, skills and talents

10:30am   Laura G. Buckner: "The Winds of Change Are Blowing: Will You Build a Wall or A Windmill?" 

11:05am   System Change in California: The Impact and Opportunity

11:15am   Learning Marketplace Sessions

12:30        Lunch on your own

1:30pm     Breakout Sessions:

- Community Connecting Skills Training to Promote Person Centered Lives, with Self- Advocate Tyson Whitman Sharing His Experiences With Using These Skills in His Own Life

- Self-Advocacy and Self Directed Lives from Multi Perspectives with the Same Goal with Peer Advocate Jennifer Dwyer and Project R of The Arc of Ventura County

- Mapping Transitions to the Future with Taylor Cross and Keri Bowers

- PATH and MAPS Live Demonstration

- Friends: How Do We Make Them and Keep Them; Skills for Individuals and Supporters 

3:15 pm    Lets Your Voice Be Heard! Building Community Together Through Shared Song

3:45pm    Wrap up and Closing

4:00pm    End

*times and topics are subject to change

 Registration Details

• Register by August 3, 2015 for a discounted rate. Deadline for payment is August 25, 2015.
• Registration closes on August 31, 2015 or sooner depending on space.
• Deadline to cancel and request a refund is August 24, 2015. Registration is transferable please contact tinac@tri-counties.org for more details.
• Payment can be made by PayPal or a major credit card. Click the registration link below for more details.
• Participants must be registered for Day 1 in order to attend Day 2.
• Lunch will be provided on day one, for day two restaurants are located in the surrounding areas.
• A limited number of scholarships are available for persons we serve and family members, on a first come first serve basis. To request a scholarship and the "Promo Code" to register contact Tina Calderaro-Mendoza at TCRC at (805) 823-2304 as soon as possible prior to registration.

Become a Sponsor

• A charitable contribution of $90 will provide registration a scholarship for one person 
• A charitable contribution of $200 will provide registration and one night lodging for one person
• Contributions will be acknowledged in the Gathering program 

Hotel Accommodations

A limited number of hotel rooms are available at a discounted rate. To receive the special group rate contact one of the hotels below and reference "California Gathering."

Courtyard Marriott, 4994 Verdugo Way, Camarillo CA 93012

To reserve rooms Courtyard Marriott in Camarillo near the event location please do so by August 18, 2015 by calling (805) 388-1020 or use the link below to electronically book your room at the group rate:

 Click here  to reserve a room at the Courtyard Marriott $120 per night without tax. Limited rooms available book prior to August 18, 2015.

Cancellation must be made 72 hours prior to arrival to avoid additional fees.

Hampton Inn & Suites, 50 West Daily Drive, Camarillo CA 93010 

To reserve rooms at the rate of $120 per night without tax contact the Hampton Inn & Suites in Camarillo by August 17, 2015 by calling (805) 389-9898 to book your room at the "CA Gathering" group rate or Click here

 Cancellation must be made 24 hours prior to arrival to avoid additional fees.

Guests are responsible for making their own reservations.  

The provision of meeting room space at the Ventura County Office of Education site does not imply endorsement or sponsorship of the services or products presented and/or promoted by their firm.

If you would like more information about upcoming Person Centered Thinking trainings please contact Tina at tinac@tri-counties.org

Register Now!