
February, 2018
Convention Report
Melissa Whitworth
AAIDD Texas Chapter Convention Committee Chair
Here we go again!
The AAIDD Texas Chapter Convention Committee has already been working to host another great convention this year. This year’s event will be held July 24-27 at The Omni Corpus Christi, in beautiful Corpus Christi, Texas. With so many great informational sessions, a week of relaxation and learning this summer, down on the Gulf. Come join us if you’re looking to enhance your career goals, more strongly advocate for a friend or family member, or just want to brainstorm and network with some top experts in the field.
Our Planning Committee includes our Texas Chapter Board members and other creative members of this organization. We’ve taken your suggestions from past conventions and are putting them to good use in our planning sessions. This year you can look forward to some great additions to the programs including “hands on” trainings you or your direct support professionals can put to use in everyday situations. You can also look forward to real life stories from family and self-advocates thriving in our communities and breaking down barriers along the way. We’ll provide some great take home items you can use to educate teams and families in the future. Upon conclusion of the Convention, you can also count on a direct web link for all presentations.
The Convention theme this year is: Recover. Rebuild. Rejuvenate. Because our great state of Texas experienced so many disasters and changes last year, we want to take this time to reflect and build on things learned over the past 12 months. Recover. Rebuild. Rejuvenate. Three little words have come to mean so much, for all of us. Some things that won’t change are our commitment to the pre-convention ethics workshop, those informative billing and training sessions you’ve come to value, as well as the great networking opportunities during the week.
The Call for Papers has been released and the Convention Committee ask for your support by submitting presentations and/or recommending to your colleagues and friends to share their research, best practices, and expertise in the IDD field. We need you! If you aren’t able to present, please consider one of the many levels of sponsorship. For sponsorship opportunities, please contact any member of our committee or board for more information. We could not do this without our great presenters and sponsors!
Whether you’re a family member, a self-advocate, a direct support professional or a licensed clinician – you’ll gain something from this year’s convention! Get registered early and plan to join us this summer in the fun and the sun! There’s something for everyone! We can’t wait to see you!
Looking forward to seeing each of you!
43rd Annual Convention Committee
Melissa Whitworth, Chair
Program, Awards/Nominations, Consumer Stipends
Bluebonnet Trails Community Services
Justin Botter
Mosaic South Central Texas
Margo Childs
Silent Auction
The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD
margo.childs@theharriscenter.org
Connie Cisneros
Chair, Local Arrangements
Tropical Texas Behavioral Health
Pat Craig, Ph.D.
Chair, Consumer Stipends, Awards/Nominations
Ashley Cupples (John Harper)
Silent Auction, Consumer Stipends
Lawrence Davis
Exhibitors/Sponsors
Unicorn Centers, Inc.
ldavis@mrmsat.org
Steve Fitzner
Exhibitors/Sponsors
steve.fitzner@stctr.org
Charlotte Kimmel, Ph.D
Local Arrangements
cmkimmelphd@att.net
Cheryl Petty
Chair, Silent Auction
Integral Care
cheryl.petty@integralcare.org
Ollie, Seay, Ph.D.
Awards/Nominations
Texas State University
ollieseayphd@austin.rr.com
Lisa Shelby
Consumer Stipends
Integral Care
lisa.shelby@integralcare.org
Dion White
Chair, Exhibitors/Sponsors, Silent Auction
Center for Life Resources
dion@cflr.us