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5th Annual Illinois Statewide Transition Conference
Welcome Reception | Conference Goals | Financial Support | Exhibitor Registration
NEW UPDATE: Presentations and Handouts are now available on the Program Information section of the web site in PDF!
If accessible formats are needed, please contact the conference planners.
The 5th Annual Transition Conference for high school aged students and young adults with disabilities, their family members and teachers, vocational professionals, caregivers, health care professionals, college students pursuing careers in special education and community advocates was held in Schaumburg, Illinois from November 8-10, 2009.
The conference, titled “Mission Transition: Destination Success”, was held at the Schaumburg Renaissance Hotel & Convention Center and will invite participants to imagine the possibilities for students with disabilities in the areas of independent living, education and training, employment, community integration, health care, and self-advocacy. Conference sessions were organized into 4 tracks: Education, Community, Employment and Health.
The November 8th pre-conference was structured to support longer sessions for topics that require more time and some shorter sessions offering information on best practices and innovative programs. This year the pre-conference was scheduled for Sunday afternoon to provide opportunities for those who may not be able to attend during the week. And for the first time in our conference's history, we offered an option for participants to register and attend only the pre-conference day. The Exhibit Hall will was open from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
On Monday, November 9th, conference attendees had the opportunity to take advantage of the one-day Internet Café and College & Health Fair. In addition, the Exhibit Hall was open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday, November 10th concluded the conference and highlighted multi-choice Plenary Sessions in the morning and break-out sessions in the afternoon. The Exhibit Hall was open from 8:00 a.m. to 12 noon. The conference concluded at 3:00 p.m.
Welcome Reception
A Welcome Reception was hosted on Monday, November 9th, to provide conference participants the opportunity to network with colleagues as well as meet new friends and associates. Appetizers and non-alcoholic beverages were offered from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Conference Goals
The goal of the 2009 conference was to increase understanding of how effective transition planning addresses all aspects of adult life for people with disabilities. Following the Taxonomy of Transition (Kohler, 2006) conference participants were able to obtain practical and evidenced-based strategies that addressed the following:
- Family involvement
- Student self-determination
- Interagency collaboration
- Effective program structures
- Student development
The Illinois Transition Conference online registration and payment system, managed by Complete Conference Coordinators, Inc., had information about conference registration, the complete program agenda, and information about fees and hotel accommodations. Printed copies of the registration and program information were available through Family Matters at their toll-free phone number (866-436-7842).
Target Audience
- Transition-aged youth/young adults who have a disability
- Family members
- Health Care Professionals
- Caregivers,
- Special Education educators and administrators
- Vocational Rehabilitation counselors and administrators
- Advocates
- Transition Planning Committees
Workshop Sessions:
The conference agenda was jam packed with informative sessions about best practices in transition planning, services, and outcomes. Participants selected from 10 different pre-conference sessions on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 8th. The November 8th pre-conference was structured to support longer sessions for topics that require more time and some shorter sessions offering information on best practices and innovative programs. This year the pre-conference was scheduled for Sunday afternoon to provide opportunities for those who may not be able to attend during the week.
On Monday, the conference offered more than forty different break-out sessions for participants. The conference also hosted exhibit booths as well as college and health fairs. Participants were treated to a luncheon motivational speaker, Jonathon Edison, who presented on The 5 A's of Success: Academics, Attitude, Attendance, Achievement & Asking for Help. Monday's conference offered a wide selection of afternoon break-out sessions including the opportunity to take advantage of the one-day Internet Cafe. Monday concluded with a Welcome Reception and an opportunity for networking.
Tuesday, Nov. 10th, the final day of the conference, offered more than twenty break-out sessions as well as concurrent plenary sessions for each conference track. Tuesday included an engaging luncheon presentation from Janice Flalka, nationally renowned speaker, who provided an inspiring presentation on The Dance of Partnership.
Financial Support:
A limited number of scholarships and financial assistance for students and parents were made available through the Statewide Independent Living Council of Illinois; call 217-744-7777 for more information.
Scholarships were also available through the Arc of Illinois Consumer Involvement Program; call 815-464-1832 for information about the Arc of Illinois program or visit their website at www.thearcofil.org.
Sponsor a Student!
$$$$ Can you Help Support A Student? $$$$$
Student participation is so very important for successful transition planning. Funding to support student participation has always been a struggle. If anyone is interested in making a donation to help sponsor a student at this year's or next year's transition conference, please feel free to send $10.00, $20.00 or whatever you can afford, payable to SILC, to the following address:
Marjorie Olson or Louis Hamer
Division of Rehabilitation Services
400 West Lawrence
Hay Edwards Building
Springfield, Illinois 62694-9429
Make checks payable to SILC.
Exhibitor Registration:
Do you want to reach over 800 participants who are interested in helping create active, productive lives for young people with disabilities? A limited number of exhibit spaces were available to allow you to reach students, parents, teachers, social service and healthcare professionals.
The 2009 Illinois statewide Transition Conference had general exhibits open from Sunday 11/8/09 at 1:00 pm through Tuesday 11/10/09 at 3:00 pm. Healthcare and College Exhibit spaces were available Monday 11/9/09 from 8:00 to 3:30 pm. Participants had to complete the 2009 Exhibitor Prospectus to become an exhibitor, sponsor, or advertiser.
Conference Sponsors:
Chicago
Public Schools
Children's
Memorial Hospital
Department
of Special Education/Illinois State University
Downers Grove South High
School
DuPage Center for
Independent Living
Family Matters Parent Training
and Information Center
Family Resource Center
on Disabilities
Healthcare and
Family Services/Health Benefits for Workers with Disabilities
IL Assistive Technology
Program
IL Chapter, American
Academy of Pediatrics
IL Department
of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
IL Dept of Employment
Security
IL Dept.
of Human Services
Division
of Rehabilitation Services
Division
of Mental Health
IL Network of Centers
of Independent Living
IL
Interagency Coordinating Council
Il
State Advisory Council on the Education of Children with Disabilities
IL State Board
of Education (ISBE)
Rehabilitation Institute
of Chicago
SIU Region
V Technical Assistance and Continuing Education (TACE) Center
Statewide Independent
Living Council of IL
UIC Division of
Specialized Care for Children
UIS Office
of Disability Services
University of Illinois
at Urbana Champaign
Conference Details:
November 8 - 10, 2009
Schaumburg Renaissance Hotel & Convention Center
1551 North Thoreau Drive
Schaumburg, Illinois 60173
For more information
contact Debbie Einhorn
at 866-436-7842 ext.116,
or via email at: deinhorn@fmptic.org
The Adobe Reader, available free from the Adobe web site, is needed to view and print the PDF files.
