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Final Participant Letter
Date:
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December 16, 2002
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To:
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Participants in the National Research Goals Conference
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From:
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The sponsors and organizers
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Re:
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A Quick Check-Up
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There is a bit less than a month to go before the National Goals Conference on January 6-8, 2003 at the Washington Court Hotel in Washington, D.C. We are all looking forward to this conference and deeply appreciate everyone's contributions in preparing for it. We are, of course, especially appreciative of the work of the group leaders. The response to this conference has been a bit overwhelming. As Paul Wehman noted, it is the "hot ticket in town." We may be pressed for space at one or two points during our time together, but we don't anticipate any major problems.
The conference will begin with a plenary session at 1:30 on Monday, January 6th and will conclude at about 2:15 on Wednesday, January 8th. Participants from out of town should by now have firm travel arrangements and hotel reservations. If you are unsure of either, please let us know as soon as possible. If you have any other needs please let us know.
When you arrive at the conference on Monday, you will find signs to direct you to the Grand Ballroom and the conference's first plenary session. There will be a registration desk just outside the ballroom door. The event has been planned to provide a host of information during the three days, so we'd appreciate your promptness, as sessions will begin on time Monday at 1:30 as scheduled.
We have attached a copy of the conference schedule. You will be receiving the latest draft of your group's discussion paper prior to arriving at the conference, in most cases on or before December 20, 2002.
On Monday evening, January 6th, at 6:30 pm there will be a reception for conference participants. We recognize that each group will be developing its own schedules and some may work through the reception. For those in attendance, the reception will provide a chance to meet old and new friends who may not be assigned to your group. Guests of honor will be the conference sponsors and the leaders of the individual topical groups.
On Tuesday evening, January 7th, there will be a screening of 3 recently completed documentary films related to the general theme of the conference. The first will be "The Collector of Bedford Street," an HBO-sponsored, Oscar-nominated film about a community's commitment to a neighbor with developmental disabilities. The second will be "The Community Imperative," a film narrated by Martin Sheen, which advocates rejuvenating and refinancing the community services movement in California under a renewed commitment to the "Community Imperative." The third documentary is entitled "In the Shadows of 9/11." It tells of the experiences of people with developmental disabilities and those who supported them on September 11, 2001, and in the months that followed. These films run an average of about a half-hour.
Self-advocates will hold an organizational session on Sunday, January 5th. That meeting will begin at 3:30 and will be held in the Hermitage Room on the lower level of the hotel.
Most of the progress made at the conference will happen in the smaller topical groups. We will be providing facilitation and will have available volunteers to take minutes of proceedings as requested by the topical group leaders. In many groups, individual group members will be fulfilling one or another of these roles. We know that everyone attending recognizes the importance of the different perspectives of participants. In the heat of discussion, we should remind ourselves of the importance of assuring that all are heard.
We have set high standards for our nation in terms of achieving inclusion, optimal development, maximum independence, good health, and full citizenship of people with cognitive, intellectual, and developmental disabilities of all ages and in all places. The gaps between these goals and our accomplishments are substantial. In many ways, our goals seem to advance more rapidly than our achievements. This conference will provide an opportunity to examine those gaps and how the generation and spread of knowledge can contribute to meeting our goals. It will, of course, also provide an opportunity to consider what the future will bring and how research can anticipate and respond to new challenges.
Once again, we are all extremely pleased with the opportunity the conference affords and we are grateful for your commitment. Please let us know if there are any ways that we can be of assistance. The conference organizer is Darcy Littlefield. Darcy can be reached 800-433-5233, extension 5475 or at 301-565-5475. Charlie Lakin is also available to answer questions at 612-624-5005.
Thank you again for your current and future contributions to this effort.
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