Contact
Kerry Mahoney
The Arc of Massachusetts
781-891-6270 x109
mahoney@arcmass.org
Statewide Transition Conference for Parents
This full-day statewide Transition conference has been specifically planned for parents of children with disabilities between the ages of 14 and 22 who are transitioning from school to the adult world.
8:00am – 9:00am Registration, Networking and Resources
9:00am – 4:00pm Program
Registration is $75.00 per person (fee includes continental breakfast and lunch buffet. Gluten free and vegetarian options will be available)
Registration deadline is October 27, 2017.
For Workshop Descriptions, click here.
The Conference program will include:
- An opportunity to learn about state-of-the-art best practices around transition, covering topics focused upon creating seamless, successful transitions into the adult world.
- Keynote presentation by Michael Wehmeyer, PhD. - Self Determination: A Family Affair
- 26 workshops, offering 8-9 in each session. It is important to select your workshop preference for each session when you register. See the workshop description link above. Two sessions will be offered in Spanish and headsets are available for other languages.
- Over 50 exhibitors offering information on programs and services
Schedule
8:00 - 9:00 AM: Registration and Exhibit Tables
9:00 - 9:20 AM: Welcome from The Arc of Massachusetts in Ballroom
9:20 - 10:15 AM: Keynote Michael Wehmeyer, PhD
10:15 - 10:45 AM: Break and Exhibits
10: 45 - 12:00 PM: Workshop Session 1
12:00 - 1:15 PM: Lunch Buffet and exhibit tables
1:15 - 2:30 PM: Workshop Session 2
2:30 - 2:45 PM: Break
2:45 - 4:00 PM: Workshop session 3
Keynote presentation by Michael Wehmeyer, PhD
Self Determination: A Family Affair 
Families are the most important support a young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism, needs to become a self-determined young people. This keynote session will explore the family’s role in ensuring positive transition outcomes by supporting a young person’s self-determination. The session will explore what is meant by self-determination and how self-determination applies to all youth and young adults, including youth and young adults with more extensive support needs. The session will also look at the important role of the family movement in creating and sustaining the ‘self-determination movement”.
Michael L. Wehmeyer, Ph.D. is the Ross and Marianna Beach Distinguished Professor in Special Education and Director of the Beach Center on Disability at the University of Kansas. Dr. Wehmeyer has written and presented extensively about issues pertaining to self-determination and the application of positive psychology to the disability context. He is a fellow and past-president of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities; a fellow of the American Psychological Association, Division 33 on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, and past-president of the Council for Exceptional Children’s Division on Career Development and Transition. He recently received the American Psychological Association Distinguished Contributions to the Advancement of Disability Issues in Psychology Award and the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Award. From 1990 to 1999 he was with The Arc of the United States and directed the Bill Sackter Center on Self-Determination there, and in 2013 received The Arc of the United States Distinguished Research Award.
Overnight Accomodations
A block of rooms have been reserved for Friday, November 3rd and Saturday, November 4th at the Holiday Inn Express, 110 Summer Street, Worcester for those seeking overnight accomodations. To make a reservation call 855-914-9635. Make sure to ask for The Arc of MA Transition Conference. The rate is $109.00 plus tax and a credit card is required. Please note that The Arc is not responsible for any charges. You must contact the Holiday Inn Express directly by October 14, 2017 to receive this special rate.
For scholarship information or questions about this event, contact Kerry Mahoney by October 27, 2017 via mahoney@arcmass.org.
Conference Supporters and Sponsors
SILVER
BRONZE
CHAPTERS
