For the second year in a row, Northern Arizona University’s Institute for Human Development (IHD) will sponsor the 2018 Evidence for Success conference, an educational event that discusses assistive technology, American Indian vocational rehabilitation and evidence-based practice in disability disciplines.
The conference is designed to give anyone who works with or supports those with disabilities the knowledge and skills necessary to facilitate access, change attitudes and promote inclusion to allow people with disabilities to fully participate in all life experiences.
“Our individual programs have been hosting their own annual conferences for many years. Last year, as a celebration of IHD’s 50thanniversary, we decided to combine three content-area conferences into one mega event. The results were so successful that we are continuing with this structure again this year,” said IHD executive director Kelly Roberts. “Our hope is that our conference, which now delivers more diverse educational content and networking opportunities, will become Arizona’s premier disability-focused conference and help further our mission of changing attitudes and promoting access and inclusion for people with disabilities.”
More than 65 educational sessions will be presented by nationally and locally recognized experts in the field. The conference will also include an expansive exhibit hall showcasing state of the art assistive technology products as well as non-profit and state agency programs. Attendees typically come from a wide variety of disciplines including educators, vocational counselors, therapists, students and consumers.
Conference attendees will be able to earn up to 18 hours in continuing education credits. Pre-conferences will also be held by American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation and Training Center and the University of Arizona Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) programs. Regional training for American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation Service programs will offer CRCs for this one-day session. The LEND program focusing on diagnosing autism will be offered primarily for physicians and will provide CME credits if desired.
The conference will be held July 8-10 at Ft. McDowell Nation’s We-Ko-Pa Resort & Conference Center in Scottsdale. The exhibit hall will be open to the community for free from 1-6 p.m. on July 9. Early-bird registration runs through June 8 at $250 for the two-day main conference, $125 for the pre-conference workshops or $350 for both. Participants will have breakfast and lunch provided each day, be able to attend a networking reception and receive free raffle tickets for 30-40 door prizes.
For more information about the conference and to register, visit the Arizona Technology Access Program website or contact Jill Pleasant at (602)-728-9532 or at jill.pleasant@nau.edu.
About the Institute for Human Development
IHD is one of the nation’s premier centers focused on advancing vision that foresees a nation in which all Americans, including Americans with disabilities, participate fully in all life experiences. The Institute is a dynamic, multi-faceted environment staffed with faculty and professionals representing a range of human service disciplines and offering a broad spectrum of resources and programs for both students and members of the community all aimed at advancing its vision of an inclusive society. IHD is home to a wide range of interdisciplinary programs whose efforts collectively support its mission of facilitating on-going improvements in access, attitude and inclusion for people with disabilities. As reflected in the Evidence for Success Conference, some of IHD’s programs provide direct services to the community, while other IHD programs focus on research initiatives, training and academic programs, and/or information dissemination about disability-related topics.