INVOLVE Conference
Fully embracing all intellectual abilities

Tuesday, February 11th, 2020 | 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Northwestern College, Orange City IA
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$60 | Full Day Conference | lunch included |  Credit Available: 1 License Renewal credit $50
$30 | Half Day Conference (11:00 am - 4:00 pm) | lunch included
$20 | Lunch and Learn Session | Noon - 1:00 pm 

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The  INVOLVE conference offers fresh insight into fully embracing individuals with disabilities in your community. How can you recognize their gifts and abilities, promote flourishing and foster their unique contributions? Learn how to create a pattern of inclusion in your classroom, church or work-place. Educators, school administrators, social workers, church leaders and anyone who works with differently-abled individuals will be inspired and equipped with practical application.

Hear from author and Professor of Practical Theology, Dr. Benjamin Conner as he shares his 20-year youth ministry career which included working with young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Breakout session topics

• Universal Design in Learning
• Behavior Strategies
• Person First Language
• Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities at Church
• Enhancing Service Delivery to Individuals with Autism
• Transitions and Adult Resources

Additional activities

• Virtual Autism-Reality Simulation 
• Resource Fair
• NEXT parent/student panel

Register individual Register group

 

Keynote

Benjamin Conner, Ph.D. Benjamin Conner, Ph.D., is Professor of Practical Theology, Director of the Center for Disability and Ministry, and creator and Director of the Graduate Certificate in Disability and Ministry at Western Theological Seminary in Holland, MI.  He worked in youth ministry for 20 years, several of those ministering to and with young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and currently serves on the Mission-Wide Board of Young Life Capernaum.  His writings include Practicing Witness: A Missional Vision of Christian Practices (Eerdmans, 2011),  Amplifying Our Witness: Giving Voice to Adolescents with Developmental Disabilities (Eerdmans, 2012) the only book on youth ministry and disability, and Disabling Mission, Enabling Witness: Exploring Missiology through the Lens of Disability Studies (IVP Academic, 2018).  He is also an occasional horse-leader, side-walker, stall-mucker, and general support for his wife, Melissa, who runs Renew Therapeutic Riding Center.

Breakout Session Options

	Pam Woelber  Parent Educator Connection Coordinator  NWAEA	Transition planning, resources and adult services  Session Description Needed
	Miranda Smalley  Clinical Director  The Pier Center for Autism	Behavior strategies and management  Session Description Needed
	Jodi Sears and Trudy Weber Hope Haven	Behavior strategies for teens  Session Description Needed
	Samantha Martin NEXT Program  Northwestern College	Person First Language  Session Description Needed
	Josh Cobbs Rehabilitation Counselor Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation	Transition - It Starts at Diagnosis  Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services will discuss transition planning and services that can be utilized for differently-abled youth when accessing our services. Vocational Rehabilitation will also discuss inclusion strategies that we are utilizing with employers to aid in successful employment outcomes.
	Dan DeVries  Religious Services Coordinator Hope Haven	Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities at Church  Session Description Needed
	Dr. Benjamin Conner  Professor of Practical Theology Western Theological Seminary	Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Toolbox  Come to consider some simple ways to begin incorporating UDL in your context.
	Kelly Van Gelder ???  Special Education Strategist  NWAEA	*** Still working on filling this session *** Session Description Needed

 

Schedule

8:00 a.m. DeWitt Learning Commons	Full-day Check-in
8:30 a.m. Vogel Community Room	Welcome
8:45 a.m. Vogel Community Room	Opening keynote -  Disabling Education: A First Step toward Universal Design in Learning Dr. Benjamin Conner
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.	Virtual Autism-Reality Simulation created by Northwestern College faculty and students
10:10 a.m.	Breakout Sessions Transition planning, resources and adult services with Pam Woelber, Vogel Community Room Behavior Management and Strategies with Miranda Smalley, Ramaker Center, Fireside Room
11:10 a.m.	Breakout Sessions Behavior Strategies for Teens with Trudy Weber and Jodi Sears, Vogel Community Room Person First Language with Samantha Martin, Ramaker Center, Fireside Room Ways We Witness, join NWC students, faculty and staff in chapel for a message from Dr. Benjamin Conner
11:30 a.m.	Check-in for lunch and learn and half day conference
Noon Vogel Community Room	Lunch and Learn - Disabling Mission, Enabling Witness Dr. Benjamin Conner
Noon - 3:00 p.m. Ramaker Center Lobby	Resource Fair
1:00 p.m. - 1:50 p.m.	Breakout Sessions Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities at Church with Dan DeVries, Vogel Community Room Enhancing Service Delivery to Individuals with Autism with Josh Cobbs, Ramaker Center, Fireside Room
2:00 p.m. - 2:50 p.m.	Breakout Sessions Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Toolbox with Dr. Benjamin Conner, Vogel Community Room SESSION TO BE FILLED???
3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Vogel Community Room	NEXT parent/student panel led by John Menning and Samantha Martin
4:00 p.m.	Closing Remarks