National Down Syndrome Congress Secures Experts to Speak During National Convention

Leading medical professionals, researchers to share best practices and research findings during world's largest annual Down syndrome community gathering

press release from the NDSC:
The National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC), a leading provider of information, support and advocacy for individuals with Down syndrome and their families, today released the complete schedule of workshops and speakers for its upcoming Annual Convention, taking place July 19-22 in Washington, D.C. Considered the largest annual Down syndrome community gathering, the Annual Convention unites families, caregivers and individuals impacted by Down syndrome for a weekend of education and celebration.
The Convention will feature more than 70 breakout sessions and workshops throughout the weekend covering more than 50 topics. Each session will feature a leading Down syndrome researcher, medical professional or educational expert sharing key findings and "how to" strategies pertinent to the latest developments affecting the Down syndrome community in areas including education, pre-natal development and adult issues.

Featured sessions of the Convention schedule include:

• "Starting out with Language and Speech: Birth to Preschool" - Libby Kumin, PhD, CCC-SLP, Professor of Speech-Language Pathology and Author, Loyola University (Baltimore, MD)
• "A Plan for Educating All Kids" - Michael Remus, MS, Director of Student Support Services, Deer Valley Unified School District (Phoenix, AZ)
• "Promoting Health, Independence, Safety, & Community for Teens and Adults with DS" - Brian Chicoine, MD, Medical Director, Adult DS Center of Lutheran General Hospital (Park Ridge, IL)
• "Managing Behavior in Children with DS: How Understanding Leads to Intervention" - Mary Pipan, MD, Clinical Director, Trisomy 21 Program, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (Philadelphia, PA)

"As we celebrate our 40th Annual Convention and the achievements the Down syndrome community has enjoyed during that time, it's important that we also look ahead to what's next," said David Tolleson, executive director of the NDSC. "We are excited to welcome such an accomplished pool of speakers to this year's Convention, and look forward to their insights and strategies that will help improve the quality of life for individuals with Down syndrome and their families."
While pre-event registration for the Convention is closed, limited space is available on-site. The NDSC will be live streaming select sessions throughout the Convention weekend on its website for the first time in the event's history. For more information about the live streaming program, and to view a complete schedule of workshops and sessions available online, click here.
To view the complete list of speakers and sessions for the NDSC's Annual Convention, and to learn more about the event, visit http://convention.ndsccenter.org/.

About the National Down Syndrome Congress

Founded in 1973, the National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC) is the oldest national organization supporting people with Down syndrome, their families and the professionals who work with them. The NDSC provides information, advocacy and support for all aspects of life, and works to create a national climate in which all people will recognize and embrace the value and dignity of people with Down syndrome. For more information about the NDSC, visit http://ndsccenter.org/.
Website: http://ndsccenter.org/

NDSC General Convention Overview 7/20-7/22

from the NDSC:

The General Convention is a three-day program designed for parents, other family members, caregivers and professionals.  It kicks off Friday afternoon at 3:30 pm with a series of Sharing Sessions for moms, dads, grandparents and siblings.  These popular sessions, facilitated by family members, are informal opportunities to meet your peers and share your joys, concerns and strategies with others. Some sessions are also topic specific.  Please consider attending these sessions without your child with DS to allow parents to express their feelings with comfort and ease.

Friday at 6:30 pm, the first of two Plenary Sessions will officially launch the weekend events. Plenary sessions feature inspirational keynote presentations by self advocates and Down syndrome experts from around the world who present on topics of broad interest.
The General Convention also consists of five workshop cycles, three cycles offered on Saturday and two on Sunday.  Each cycle offers a selection of 14 workshops that registrants may attend based on their interest.  These interactive workshops are provided by the experts – from those who pioneered in early childhood communication, to those who redefined the K-12 classroom and are on the frontier of adult challenges.  Each workshop is 90 minutes in length.  Some topics are repeated to give flexibility to attendees.  A complete list of workshops can be downloaded from this page, as well as a workshop planner to use as a tool to help organize your selections.

The convention will close on Sunday at 12:30pm with the Grand Finale where self advocates commence the Convention’s celebration of 40 years.

Another entertaining component of the General Convention is the Film Festival,  The Film Festival is organized by Gail Williamson, executive director of the Down Syndrome Association of Los Angeles, and provides an opportunity to view the best films, film clips and documentaries featuring individuals with Down syndrome.  All films are shown during the workshop cycles.

There is also an Exhibit Area for vendors where you’ll find the latest in books, toys, teaching aids, apparel, software and more.

At registration, all registered attendees will receive the official program guide, called the Souvenir Journal.  The Souvenir Journal will detail the entire convention’s schedule and much more.  Volunteers are available on-site to review the Souvenir Journal for first-time attendees.