There are so many exciting opportunities to connect with the community and discover what’s out there! Check out the full list of Convention Breakout Sessions below to plan out your big day on May 17th at Turf Valley Resort
Plenary Session
The Power of Disability Advocacy: Where We Have Been and Where We Are Going
10:00 to 10:50 AM
Why is our grassroots advocacy so powerful and how do we cultivate and nurture it so it will endure? The Arc began more than seven decades ago when family members and people with lived experience with a developmental disability came together to create the foundation for a brighter future. Over the years, our membership, network, and partnerships have expanded and evolved to create the powerful force for disability advocacy we know today.
Learn about the power of families in advocacy and the strength of having diverse perspectives in our movement as we work together to move the dial forward. Each of our four plenary panelists has been selected for their commitment to social change and their work in Maryland, nationally, and even worldwide, to effect change for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.
Health and Lifestyle Track
Healthy Body, Healthy Mind
11:05 to 11:50 AM
Having a healthy lifestyle is key to a fulfilling, well-balanced life! How can people with disabilities, their family caregivers, and/or direct support professional staff stay in tip-top shape? This session kicks off with ways that organizations can support and incentivize their employees to adopt healthy habits, recognize the importance of preventative care, and provide opportunities for staff to access fresh fruits and vegetables and exercise. The session follows with information, resources, and insights for inclusive, healthy exercise opportunities available for people with and without disabilities!
Sexuality, Intimacy, and Safety: Understanding Yourself and Others
2:00 to 2:45 PM
Sexuality and intimacy are natural, valuable, and important to human connection and quality of life. How can people with disabilities lead safe and healthy lives in the realm of sexuality and intimacy? This breakout explores safe social networking and dating practices, self-discovery, and having healthy relationships as a person with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Music and Rhythm for Life!
3:00 to 3:45 PM
Now more than ever before, building in opportunities to take a pause, care for yourself, and rejuvenate is so important. Everyone deserves the right to live a healthy lifestyle, and this session will give you some hands-on practice to live your best life! Jump out of the Convention and into the music studio! This interactive presentation gives you a chance to take a break and practice mindfulness through music.
Life In the Community Track
Tuning up and Dialing in: Adaptive Technology for Today
11:05 to 11:50 AM
One bright spot of the pandemic is that technology became a greater part of our lives. As much as we now know about technology to help aid our work and independence, there is still so much we can learn. There are some truly awesome pieces of technology available to help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities live better lives! For your needs at home and in the community, the Maryland Technology Assistance Program (MDTAP) has products and services to increase connectedness and communication. Assistive Technology encompasses a variety of items and techniques, from low-tech, such as a cane or adaptive spoon, to high-tech software operated through eye gaze. During this session, experiment (hands-on!) with some of today’s modern advancements in assistive technology that could lead you to greater independence!
Just Hired: Solutions to Create a Stable Workforce
2:00 to 2:45 PM
As the nation continues to recover from the ravages of the pandemic, some of our most impacted workforce members are those who provided essential healthcare services during this stressful time. In Maryland and nationally, we are experiencing a critical shortage of Direct Support Professionals (DSPs). Adult service providers are struggling to recruit and retain a qualified workforce which has a significant impact on service delivery, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and their families.
Hear an overview from the Executive Director of MACS, a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening agencies to better support people with developmental disabilities and their families in their own communities, and leaders in the field of Human Resources. They will share the climate, their creative solutions to combat the current workforce crisis, and ways in which they are working to support the community.
Finding a Place to Call Home
3:00 to 3:45 PM
For people to truly be in and of their communities, they must first have housing stability. Finding affordable, inclusive, and accessible housing in safe places takes time and, in many cases, assistance from others who know about resources and pockets of support. Housing means more than where you lay your head to rest at night. It is the foundation of stability: the place where you build natural support networks and memories with your loved ones! This session brings you resources and options for housing support around Maryland and provides information about the Housing Support Services available through the DDA Waivers, as well as financial assistance to explore.
Finding Your Voice Track
Advocacy in Annapolis: Wrapping up Maryland’s Legislative Session
11:05 to 11:50 AM
Join policy, education, and advocacy experts in a panel discussion on the outcomes of the 2022 Maryland Legislative Session. Learn about the Maryland state budget for developmental disabilities services and hear about the successes and disappointments of this past legislative session. There were a variety of fantastic bills passed in 2022 that have implications for people with IDD and their family members. This is your chance to dive into them!
Social Security vs. Employment, Marriage, and Savings? Think Again!
2:00 to 2:45 PM
Want to work more but worry that you will lose your supplemental security income (SSI) if you do? Want to better understand work incentives, income and asset limits, and available savings options? What is happening at the Federal level to reform Social Security so that people may marry and save for their futures without reducing or losing their benefits? This session will answer these questions and much more. Presenters will discuss recent movement at the federal level to reform Social Security and provide information about SSI and SSDI, including how you can participate in a variety of programs and initiatives so Social Security and employment WORK for you!
Empowering Partners: Maryland Grassroots Self-Advocacy
3:00 to 3:45 PM
Self-advocates are leading the charge to a better future across the state right now! Empowering Partners serves as the foundation for self-advocacy groups in Maryland, with guidance from The Arc Maryland, local chapters, experienced self-advocate facilitators, and program partners, including the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council and People On the Go of Maryland. Through the program, self-advocacy groups share centralized discussion topics, activities, and a unified movement to grow from and build upon. During this session, learn about the new wave of self-advocates lifting up their communities through their grassroots families!
Milestones Track
Work, Play, Live! Transition to Meaningful Days in Adulthood
11:05 to 11:50 AM
One of the most important milestones in life for a person with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) and their family is navigating the transition from high school to adulthood. During this breakout, take a look at how organizations assist families and organizations through the transition period and then support people with IDD to live fulfilling lives- through work, recreation, and continuing education. The journey from transition to post-secondary educational life can be daunting, but there are helpful people along the way to guide you through the journey!
Strengthening Our Families and Each Other
2:00 to 2:45 PM
What resources are out there for parents and family members of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities? There are a variety of resources around the state, including respite opportunities, parent and sibling support groups, and new parent mentorships. This panel-style session will explore individuals and organizations supporting strong families and provide attendees with examples of ways in which our network can connect to better support one another.