Wednesday September 16, 2015 from 9:00am to 4:00pm
Thursday September 17, 2015 from 9:00am to 4:00pm
Attending Day 1 only: $65.00
Attending Both Days: $85.00
Register early to take advantage of this registration rate, as the cost of registration will increase after August 3, 2015.
Please arrive no later than 8:45am for registration on both days. Advanced registration is required. Participants must be registered for Day 1 in order to attend Day 2.
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:
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
Highlights:
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
Become a Sponsor
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