Inclusion Alberta's Annual Family Conference -- April 8-9, 2016 in Edmonton

EDMONTON, AB--(Marketwired - April 04, 2016) - Inclusion Alberta (formerly Alberta Association for Community Living) presents its 24th Annual Family Conference April 8-9, 2016 at Fantasyland Hotel in Edmonton. The conference is a time for families, educators and service providers to deepen their knowledge and commitment to assisting children and adults with developmental disabilities to live fully inclusive and meaningful lives in their community. The Conference is the largest of its kind in the world with over 600 people registered to date. Inclusive child care for as many as 80 children makes the Conference unique.

Registration is still open. Grants may be available to those requiring financial assistance.

Conference highlights include:

2 full-day workshops on Friday, April 8 ^th :

• The Future of Inclusive Education: From Policy to Practice
  -Roger Slee, Ph.D.
  This is a unique workshop and a rare opportunity to learn from one of the most highly respected and thought provoking leaders in the field of inclusive education. It will be of interest to all those committed to a more promising future for students with disabilities and other marginalized children.

• Friendship Matters: Strategies for Facilitating Relationships
  -Angela Novak Amado, Ph.D. 
  Workshop participants will learn 7 strategies to support relationships with community members as well as a set of tips and skills for community connectors, and skills and tips for frontline and supervisory staff specific to the services being provided. 

Other sessions include:

• Advancing Inclusive Education: From policy to practice
• Creating a Life Enhancing Vision: A pathway to action
• Youth Employment & Peer Mentors 
• Family Leadership: Developing new local family advocacy organizations
• Friendship Matters: Ideas for Facilitating Relationships
• Inclusive Recreation: As or more important than inclusive education?
• The Role of Social Media in Advocacy
• Trends, Opportunities and Advocacy Challenges: A look ahead

Special Features:

• Childcare/Teen Club: Inclusion Alberta provides amazing childcare, so parents can immerse themselves in the conference worry free
• Youth Forum: opportunity for individuals aged 16-29 to join together to discuss making a difference in our communities through inclusion.
• President's Reception
• Family Dance Celebration

Inclusion Alberta invites the media to attend any portion of the conference that might be of interest. Friday night's President's Reception (7pm-10pm in the Fantasyland Hotel Ballroom) will feature municipal, provincial and federal politicians as well as the presentation of awards to individuals and organizations who have shown outstanding commitment to inclusion in the past year.

Visit our website at www.inclusionalberta.org.

About Inclusion Alberta: Inclusion Alberta (formerly Alberta Association for Community Living) is a family based, non-profit federation that advocates on behalf of children and adults with developmental disabilities and their families. Together, we share a dream of meaningful family life and community inclusion for individuals with developmental disabilities. As an advocacy organization we support families and individuals in their desire to be fully included in community life.