American Society for Deaf Children (ASDC) 2011 Conference
Parent Choices: Keys to Your Child’s Future
JUNE 22-26, 2011
Location: Maryland School for the Deaf
Crucial information and resources to help families
understand and successfully raise
deaf and hard of hearing children.
Conference objectives are to:
* Increase parents’ awareness and knowledge of key issues related to raising
a deaf child.
* Support parents’ ability to make choices that positively impact their
child’s development.
* Provide information and experiences that strengthen relationships and
promote understanding and acceptance among parents, hearing siblings, and
deaf children.
Planned and hosted by Maryland School for the Deaf (MSD), it is the biennial
conference of The American Society for Deaf Children (ASDC).
About ASDC and MSD
ASDC is the primary independent non-profit organization in the U.S. that
supports and educates families with deaf or hard of hearing children. More
information can be found at http://www.deafchildren.org .
MSD is an independent state agency and Maryland’s center of knowledge and
experience in the education of deaf and hard of hearing children from birth
to age 21. More information can be found at http://www.msd.edu .
Who Should Attend
Any parent of a deaf or hard of hearing infant, child, or teenager will
benefit from this conference and is encouraged to attend. More than 500
participants are expected. Over half will be parents, both hearing and deaf.
Many will bring their children. Families that have attended a previous
conference often return to continue to benefit from conference activities.
They are mentors and role models for new participants.
Parent Choices: Keys to Your Child’s Future
This theme reflects Frederick area history and examines opportunities and
choices in five key areas of critical importance to families with deaf
children—Family, Communication, Education, Extracurricular Opportunities,
and Community. Participants will learn from professional experts in relevant
fields and benefit from meeting and networking with local, regional, and
national service providers, exhibitors, and other families.
Conference Schedule
Wednesday Registration and the Opening “Sample Our City” Family Fun Night!
Families will sample menu items from Frederick area restaurants, learn about
Frederick cultural venues, shop at local merchant booths, and enjoy
activities such as face painting, a petting zoo, games, and more.
Thursday through Saturday – Activities include:
Daytime Activities: Include Keynote Speakers, Parent Workshops, and the
Children’s Program
Parent Workshops: Three full days of concurrent workshops on issues,
choices, consequences, and the many available resources that can profoundly
impact the development of deaf or hard of hearing children. Professionals
will present in each of the five key areas covering such diverse topics as
family dynamics, cochlear implant effective use, language development,
secondary conditions, education choices, community support options and
access, and many more.
Children’s Program: A comprehensive three-day program of planned, supervised
activities for children and teens ages 0 to 21 in four age groups. The
informational needs and unique experiences of deaf youth and siblings will
be addressed through art, drama, and team building activities; sibling
workshops; and games, field trips, and more.
Evening Activities: Family oriented activities each evening offer family
and social time. On one evening, participants will explore Frederick’s
sights, shops, galleries, and parks; enjoy dinner on their own; and
experience living history through Ghost Tours.
Exhibit Hall: Sponsors, businesses related to any of the conference key
areas, educational institutions and organizations, and local agencies and
vendors will display information and products in the Exhibit Hall.
Museum: MSD’s Bjorlee Museum is packed with historic information and
artifacts relating to the school, Frederick, the Hessian Barracks, multiple
wars, and more.
Sunday morning – Final breakfast and Conference Wrap-Up; airport
transportation provided.
Lodging and Transportation
Two Frederick hotels have blocked rooms at special rates. Contact these
hotels and mention you are booking rooms for the American Society for Deaf
Children Biennial Conference before May 20th to ensure conference room block
rates!
Best Western: Reservation Line (301) 695-6200
Sleep Inn: Reservation Line (301) 668-2003
Limited on-campus housing is available in MSD dormitories on a first-come,
first-serve basis.
Registration
Conference registration includes all activities and meals from Wednesday’s
opening evening through Sunday morning, except for Thursday’s “Explore
Frederick” and dine out evening.
Registration and other forms can be found online at http://www.msd.edu by clicking
on the ASDC tab on the bottom left of the home page and at
http://www.deafchildren.org by clicking on “Conference” on the home page.
For Additional Information Contact:
Erin Buck, Conference Co-Chair: [email protected] or 301-360-2054 (Voice)
Lori Bonheyo, Conference Co-Chair: [email protected] or 866-729-7602
(VP/Voice)