March, 2016
Convention Report
Ollie Seay, Ph.D., Texas State University
AAIDD Texas Chapter Convention Committee Chair
Is there life after 40? Absolutely! And AAIDD Texas Chapter is ready to show it in our 41st Annual Convention to be held in historic San Antonio at the Westin Riverwalk, July 19th through the 22nd. In keeping with the spirit of our host city and our organization, the theme for this year’s meeting is, “Take a Stand for Independence.” Our Convention Planning Committee has been hard at work lining up speakers and sessions that will serve to inform, inspire, and include all involved in supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities from self-advocates, to families, to direct care, to providers, and a wide range of professionals.
We are pleased to announce that our keynote speaker will be Archer Hadley, a remarkable young advocate who spearheaded a movement to raise money and install push button doors at his high school campus. He and other students produced a film about his journey that has achieved recognition from the White House and will be featured at this year’s SXSW Film Festival. Pre-convention workshops on aging and ethics will again be offered. Continuing education/professional development hours for Psychologists, LPCs, and Social Workers have already been approved for specific sessions meeting requirements of the Texas Psychological Association, and further approval for other sessions is being sought through Austin Travis County Integral Care.
We have extended the Call for Papers until March 25. We welcome your submissions and hope you will pass the word on to colleagues who may also wish to present. In addition, sponsors and exhibitors are always appreciated. If you, or someone you know, are interested in these areas, please contact our Exhibitors/Sponsors sub-committee chair, Debbie Youngblood, or any members of the Convention Planning Committee.
We look forward to seeing you in San Antonio!
40th Annual Convention Committee
Ollie, Seay, Ph.D., Chair
Program/Awards/Nominations
Texas State University – San Marcos
Eva Aguirre
Silent Auction/Exhibitors/Sponsors
The Center
Connie Cisneros, Chair
Chair, Local Arrangements/
Awards/Nominations
Tropical Texas Behavioral Health
Margo Childs
Awards/Nominations, Consumer Stipends/
Silent Auction/Exhibitors/Sponsors
MHMRA of Harris County
Pat Craig, Ph.D.
Chair, Consumer Stipends
Jermaine East
Awards/Nominations/Exhibitors/Sponsors
MHMRA of Brazos Valley
Steve Fitzner
Exhibitors/Sponsors
Spindletop Center
Austin Hubbard
Consumer Stipends
Center for Life Resources
Andy Griffin, Ph.D.
Program
Charlotte Kimmel, Ph.D.
Program/Local Arrangements
Melissa Rasco
Chair, Silent Auction/Local Arrangements
CALAB
Bernadette Richardson
Local Arrangements/Silent Auction
Kenmar Residential Services
Lisa Shelby
Program/Consumer Stipends
Austin Travis County Integral Care
Dion White
Chair, Local Arrangements
Center for Life Resources
Melissa Whitworth
Local Arrangements
Bluebonnet Trails Community Services
Debbie Youngblood
Chair, Exhibitors/Sponsors
Daybreak Community Services