2018 State Convention & Awards Banquet

The Arc Maryland's 2018 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 Deb Wisniewski!

"Let's explore what it means when we go beyond settling for what's available in our communities and dream about what could be possible."

Deb is a committed connector who believes that our communities are stronger when we are all supported to share our gifts and talents. She has worked with a wide variety of groups and organizations – from grassroots groups creating change in their communities to organizations who are learning to lead by stepping back. She is a faculty member with the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) Institute located at DePaul University, and co-founder of ABCD in Action, an online community with over 2000 members 
from more than 75 countries. 

 In addition, we will have breakout sessions throughout the day, the schedule is as follows:

8:00 am Registration Opens
8:30am-9am Breakfast & Networking
9:00am-10:00am Breakout Session 1

• Building CommUNITY Awareness through Police Training and Police Outreach
• Beyond the Doctor's Visit: Supporting People with I/DD to Lead Healthy, Safe, Fulfilling Lives in the CommUNITY
• Transition Services: Engaging the Student, Family, School, and CommUNITY for Success
• A Place at th Table: Partnerships on Our Faith Journey

15 Minute Break

10:15 am-11:00 am Breakout Session 2

• Inclusion Is Not a Place
• Recreation Rocks! Recreations & Parks CommUNITY Programs Panel
• Advocacy in Directing Your Person-Centered Plan
• Accessing Affordable Housing

15 Minute Break

11:15 am -1:15 pm Awards Banquet and Plenary: As Easy as ABCD: what is Asset-Based Community Development and Why Should We Care? by Deb Wisniewski from the Asset Based Community Development Institute (ABCD) at DePaul University.

15 Minute Break

1:30 pm - 2:15 pm Breakout Session 3

• The Power of Parents: Advocacy in Action
• Creating Positive Employment Outcomes through CommUNITY Partnerships
• Speaking for Ourselves: Growing your Self-Advocacy Skills & Training Others
• Asset-Based Community Development: The Nuts and Bolts of ABCD

15 Minute Break

2:30 pm - 3:15 pm Breakout Session 4

• Trauma-Informed Care for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities 
• "Charting the Course" Lifespan Planning
• 2018 Legislative Wrap Up
• Asset-Based Community Development: Getting Beyond Interested

15 Minute Break

3:30 pm - 4 pm Closing Plenary: The Arc: Unity in Motion by Peter Berns, CEO, The Arc of the United States

4pm-4:45pm The Arc Maryland Annual Meeting

Don't wait. Register today!

Register Now!                      

This year, The Arc Maryland has a limited number of Convention Scholarship we would like to make available to those who need them in order to attend the Convention. Please click here for the application form. 

Approvals will be made according to availability of funds, with preference given to self-advocates and family members. Applications are due by May 1st for consideration. Applicants will be notified by May 10th.  For more information please contact Lisa King at 410-571-9320.