AACL's Annual Family Conference

EDMONTON, AB--(Marketwired - April 09, 2015) - The Alberta Association for Community Living (AACL) presents its 23rd Annual Family Conference April 10-11, 2015 at Fantasyland Hotel in Edmonton. The conference is a time for families, educators and service providers to deepen their knowledge and commitment to assisting children and adults with developmental disabilities to live fully inclusive and meaningful lives in their community. The Conference is the largest of its kind in the world with over a hundred children in attendance each day plus teens and adults with developmental disabilities along with their families

Registration is still open. Grants are available to those requiring financial assistance.

Conference highlights include:

2 full-day workshops on Friday, April 10^th:

• "Universal Design for Learning: The Three Block Model" with Dr. Jennifer Katz Developed by Dr. Katz, the Model has been shown to increase student engagement, achievement, critical thinking, self-concept, respect for diversity, pro-social behavior, and teacher satisfaction and self-efficacy for all students, including students with disabilities, students who are culturally and linguistically diverse, and students of Aboriginal descent. 
  
• "Creating Pathways to a Real Home" with John O'Brien, Ph.D
  John O'Brien is a leading thinker who has written widely in the field of disability. He is a pioneer and lifelong advocate of Person Centered Planning. In this workshop, individuals with developmental disabilities and families will share their journey to creating a real home including home ownership for some.

Other sessions include:

• Inclusive Post-Secondary Education: 30 Years Later
• Facilitating Community Membership
• Utilizing Family Managed Supports (FMS) to Create Employment
• Institutionalization: Why Everyone Should Still Care
• The Connection: FNMI/Aboriginal Education & The Three-Block Model of Universal Design for Learning
• Person Centered Planning 
• Trends, Opportunities and Advocacy Challenges: A look ahead 
• Promoting and Advancing Inclusion through Social Media 

Special Features:

• Childcare/Teen Club: AACL provides amazing childcare, so parents can immerse themselves in the conference worry free
• Youth Forum: opportunity for individuals aged 16-29 to join together to discuss making a difference in our communities through inclusion.
• President's Reception
• Family Dance Celebration

AACL invites the media to attend any portion of the conference that might be of interest. Friday night's President's Reception (7pm-10pm in the Fantasyland Hotel Ballroom) will feature municipal, provincial and federal politicians as well as the presentation of awards to individuals and organizations who have shown outstanding commitment to inclusion in the past year.

About AACL: Alberta Association for Community Living (AACL) is a family based, non-profit federation that advocates on behalf of children and adults with developmental disabilities and their families. Together, we share a dream of meaningful family life and community inclusion for individuals with developmental disabilities. As an advocacy organization we support families and individuals in their desire to be fully included in community life.

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