2018 Together for Choice Conference
October 17-19, 2018
Join us to advance the rights of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live, work and thrive in quality communities and settings of their choice!
Registration is now open. See the Together for Choice Conference Page
Please note that this is a busy convention season in Chicago, so reserve your hotel early. We have a limited block of rooms reserved at the Hilton Chicago, which are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. We will provide transportation between the hotel and conference venues on Wednesday, October 17 and Thursday, October 18. We will offer transportation only to the conference at Misericordia Home on Friday, October 19.
If you need assistance reserving a room at a hotel other than the Hilton Chicago or have other conference inquiries, please contact Jonathan Neidorf at jonathann@misericordia.com or (773) 273-4716.
Together for Choice is a national grassroots advocacy organization formally incorporated in 2017 with over 800 members in 47 states. Our mission is to protect and advance the right of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) to live, work, and thrive in communities and settings of their choice. We work with national networks, self-advocates, families, and service providers to advance choice, quality, and increased resources for the I/DD population. Since our incorporation, we have been educating the public and governmental officials on the need for Medicaid funding of choice-based housing and employment/developmental training models, as well as increased resources at the federal and state levels to ensure quality services. Our continued focus is to develop policy reform initiatives addressing the myriad of I/DD community needs.
We look forward to seeing you in October!
Together for Choice Team
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Preliminary agenda:
Wednesday, October 17: Opening Reception in Downtown Chicago (venue to be announced)
At our opening reception, you will enjoy a light dinner and cocktails while networking with other advocates of choice for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Transportation will be provided to and from this venue for those staying at the Hilton Chicago.
Thursday, October 18
Full Day of Conference Programming at Misericordia Home
You are invited to a full day of conference programming on Misericordia Home's campus in Chicago. The day's programming will be an opportunity for participants to hear from and engage in lively conversation with like-minded advocates for residential, work, and day programming choice for individuals with I/DD. Topics of discussion will include regulations around Home and Community Based Services (HCBS), as well as the future of specialized wages under Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
We will also offer tours of Misericordia Home's campus, which provides a unique array of services designed to support a broad spectrum of needs.
David Axelrod will be our keynote speaker during lunch. Mr. Axelrod, a 40-year veteran of American politics, is the former Chief Strategist and Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama. He currently serves as the director of the University of Chicago's non-partisan Institute of Politics, as a senior political commentator for CNN, and as the host of The Axe Files, a top-rated podcast jointly produced by CNN and his Institute.
You will have the opportunity to hear from Together for Choice board members, all of whom have worked extensively to improve the lives of individuals with I/DD, both professionally and for their loved ones. They will discuss recent developments in their work and the direction of Together for Choice.
This session will be followed by a cocktail hour, entertainment by Misericordia's HeartBreakers dance team, and dinner on Misericordia Home's campus with more opportunities for networking. Transportation will be provided from the Hilton Chicago to Misericordia Home in the morning and back after dinner.
Friday, October 19
Half Day of Conference Programming at Misericordia Home
Friday’s conference at Misericordia Home will offer an opportunity for presenters and conference attendees to share best practices related to housing models, micro-enterprise work opportunities, and the DSP workforce crisis. A wrap-up discussion will take place at noon followed by lunch. We will offer off-campus tours of Misericordia Home's group homes in the afternoon.
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