Call for Workshop Proposals: NCIL 2011 Annual Conference on Independent Living

Keeping Our Eyes on the Prize: Independence!
2011 Annual Conference on Independent Living
July 13-16, 2011; Grand Hyatt, Washington, DC
Call for Workshop Proposals

The Independent Living Community is strong and we have much to celebrate. But we all know we face widespread challenges to our independence… challenges to our independence as individuals, as organizations, and as a national program. If we are to achieve full independence, we must maintain our focus and commitment to our philosophy and mission. We all know and live the Independent Living philosophy, but we could all benefit from an opportunity to immerse ourselves in discussion and study of principles, services, and priorities. We should give new staff and advocates a chance to study the history of the Movement and learn about best practices in advocacy and other Independent Living services. And our experienced advocates should have an opportunity to discuss the future of our movement, advancing our services and philosophy, reaching out to underserved people and communities, and strategizing to win our legislative and advocacy priorities. We must not become distracted – we must remain united and “Keep Our Eyes on the Prize!”

To achieve these goals, the National Council on Independent Living seeks workshops for our 2011 Annual Conference on the following issues:

Achieving Independence for the Independent Living Program:
-Independent Living Administration
-Documenting Success in Independent Living

Learning and Advancing the Independent Living Philosophy
-History & Philosophy
-Consumer Control
-Cross-Disability Inclusion

Best Practices and Innovation in The Four (+) Core Services
-Information & Referral
-Independent Living Skills Training
-Advocacy & Systems Change
-Peer Support
-Community Transition / Deinstitutionalization

Recognizing and Improving Inclusion and Cultural Competence
-Cultural & Linguistic Competence
-Increasing Services to Underserved People & Communities
-Creating Inclusive Organizations

Addressing Conference Attendees’ Requests for Workshops
-Deaf Issues and Services
-Mental Health Issues and Services
-Succession Planning for IL Staff and Boards
-Center for Independent Living Board Roles & Responsibilities
-SILC Roles & Responsibilities

Please note:

Deadline for Submission is Friday, January 14, 2011. No proposals will be accepted after 11:59 p.m. Eastern time.
All proposals must be submitted electronically to be compatible with screen-reading software. If you are unable to submit your proposal electronically, please contact angela@ncil.org to make alternate arrangements.
We are returning to the Grand Hyatt Hotel again this year. NCIL’s block of sleeping rooms will open in late February 2011. Watch for your registration brochure with more details, coming in February!
The Conference Committee will review all proposals received by the deadline. The decisions of the Committee are final. Proposal presenters and facilitators will be notified by Friday, February 4, 2011 about whether or not they have been selected to make a presentation or facilitate a group at the Conference in July 2011.
This Call for Presenters is the only request for speakers, group facilitators, or poster presentations that will be issued.
NCIL is unable to pay travel expenses or honoraria to any to any presenter. We apologize for any inconvenience.

If you have any questions about this form or the work of the Committee, please contact Angela Rasmussen at angela@ncil.org.

* Required

Contact Person's Name: The contact person on this proposal is the only indvidual to be contacted regarding the conference. The contact person is responsible for notifying all other co-presenters or facilitators listed above. Please be sure that all co-presenters and facilitators agree to present and to the conditions set forth in this document. *

Street Address *

City *

State *

Zip+4 *

Organization

Phone *

Voice or TTY? *

Phone 2

Voice or TTY? (2)

Fax Number

E-Mail Address *

Possible Co-Presenters / Facilitators: Please be sure that all co-presenters and facilitators agree to present and to the conditions set forth in this document.

Presentation / Session Title: This title is to be used in brochure. *

Target Audience:

Front Line Staff and Consumers: Focus on building capacity among staff working with consumers or among consumers themselves. Advocates and Project Directors: Address the needs of managers / supervisors or those who work on issues of systems change. Executive Directors and Board Members: Meet the needs of those running a CIL or SILC, including development of board members.

Target Audience *

Knowledge Level

Newcomer: Someone who is new to the Independent Living or Disability Rights Movement, including: consumers, individual advocates, a new CIL staff or board member, a Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) member, or a state agency representative unfamiliar with CILs, SILCs or Independent Living concepts. Newcomers typically have less than two years of experience in the movement; or, Experienced: This person is someone who has worked in a Center or who has a disability and has been active in promoting disability rights, or someone who is directly involved in the administration of CILs or SILCs.

Knowledge Level: *

Type of Presentation

Roundtable Discussion: A facilitated discussion group that centers on a series of CIL and SILC issues related to Advocacy, Best Practices, Enforcement/Implementation, or "The Missing Links." Training Workshop: An experiential learning opportunity with specific training objectives for workshop participants; focus on building new skills, changing attitudes, or increasing values. Best Practice Symposia: An intense examination of "best practice(s)" in independent living; presented by an individual or panel with the audience sharing and analyzing successes and failures, best practice symposia are expected to produce a summary of what was found in their examination. Lecture: A speech or presentation by an individual or a panel, allowing time for questions and answers. Uses a variety of media, such as flip charts, overhead transparencies, slides, film, videotape or handouts. Posters: Posters should visually present a program, success, or problem. Posters may not exceed 4 feet in width or length; personnel need not be available. Posters should "speak for themselves," needing no explanation. Poster sessions are encouraged.

Type of Presentation *

Audio-Visual Aids: NCIL will provide two microphones for each workshop; flip charts will be provided only upon request. Other audiovisual equipment is available at the presenter’s expense. NCIL will pay half of the cost for a projector and screen. Audio/Visual requests will be due May 8, 2011. After the conference concludes, NCIL will follow up with an invoice.

What will participants gain as a result of attending your proposed session? I.E., what are the "learning objectives" of your proposed session? *

Describe the purpose and nature of your proposed session. Be specific about how you will lead the session, including what topics will be covered: *

Why are you the best person to conduct this proposed session? Describe your history, involvement and/or experience in the Independent Living Movement and why you think you would be a good presenter or facilitator: *

Describe how your session will be interactive. How will you engage your participants so that they will be active participants in the session? *

Please provide a brief summary of your workshop. If accepted, this summary will be printed in the conference program to advertise your workshop to our attendees. (100 words or less) *

Time: Workshop sessions run for one hour and fifteen minutes. If your presentation will take longer, you must apply for a series of workshops.

Due to the growing number of participants at the NCIL conference, we can no longer offer a maximum attendee cut-off. Nor can we offer to have rooms set any other way than theatre style. We regret any inconvenience that this may cause to your presentation should it be accepted and ask that you keep this information in mind when submitting your proposal.

Important Information for Presenters:

1. PRESENTERS AND FACILITATORS ARE NOT EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION FEES. PRESENTERS MUST REGISTER AND PAY FOR ALL DAYS THEY PLAN TO ATTEND; PRESENTERS THAT ONLY ATTEND THEIR PRESENTATION AND NO OTHER EVENTS DO NOT NEED TO PAY. 2. NCIL IS UNABLE TO PAY TRAVEL EXPENSES OR HONORARIA TO ANY PRESENTER. 3. IN PREVIOUS YEARS, MANY OF OUR ATTENDEES HAVE NOTED THEIR DISAPPOINTMENT IN THE LACK OF HANDOUTS IN WORKSHOP SESSIONS. TO INCREASE EDUCATION AND THE APPLICATION OF CONCEPTS, WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE PRESENTERS TO PROVIDE AT LEAST ONE HANDOUT. ALL HANDOUTS MUST BE AVAILABLE IN ACCESSIBLE FORMATS; INFORMATION ON PREPARING ACCESSIBLE FORMATS IS AVAILABLE FROM NCIL. ACCESSIBLE FORMATS INCLUDE: BRAILLE, LARGE PRINT (18 pt. bold), AUDIO (CD or Tape), AND ELECTRONIC (CD or USB Drive).

Your name below indicates your understanding of all that has been presented above and certifies that you are the contact person for the session title you have proposed. *

Date *