Home » Spring Conference

Spring Conference

Untitled Document

Spring 2013 Conference

About the Conference

The 2013 AHEAD in Texas Conference will be held at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas from April 17 -19, 2013. For the 21st Annual Conference the theme "On the Track to Success!", is focused on the transition from college to the workplace.

Preconference: April 17, 2013
Conference: April 18 - 19, 2013

CEU credits available for: LPC & RID & LMSW

Conference Logistics

The conference will be held on the Texas A&M University campus in the Memorial Student Center (MSC) on the second floor. Check-in will be outside the Gate's Ballroom (room 2400).

Hotels

The conference committee has selected two primary hotels for conference participants that are located next to each other. Both hotels offer free airport shuttles to Easterwood airport by pre-arranged reservation. Within our conference block room rates are $93 per night (state rate, even if you are not a state employee).

Hyatt Place - College Station
1100 University Drive East
College Station, Texas 77840

Reservations can be made:

  • By phone by calling 1-888-591-1234 and use the group code ATEX to book.
  • Or through the Hyatt Online booking service (discount is pre-loaded in the direct link web form)

Hawthorn Suites
1010 University Drive
College Station, TX 77840

Reservations can be made:

  • By phone by calling the hotel directly at 979-695-9500, ext 3. Please indicate that you are with the AHEAD group.

Other Hotels
Additional options for hotels or other housing accommodations can be found at the Bryan/College Station Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Directions & Maps

Bus Shuttles from Hotels

The conference committee is in the process of making arrangements for bus shuttles to run from the primary conference hotels to the Memorial Student Center since parking on campus can be limited.

More information about shuttles will be posted as logisitics are finalized.

Parking

The closest visitor parking areas to the MSC are located in the University Center Garage (UCG) & West Campus Garage (WCG). Full day rate in UCG is $13 per day and WCG is $12 per day.

Airport Information

The following airports serve the College Station area:

  • Easterwood Airport (CLL) - adjacent to TAMU campus (United & American only), 5 miles from hotels
  • Houston George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) - 74 miles from campus
  • Austin-Bergstron International (AUS) - 82 miles from campus
  • Houston Hobby Airport (HOU) - 91 miles from campus

Ground Transportation

  • Hotel Shuttles from College Station Airport - please make advanced reservations directly with hotel
  • GroundShuttle.com - serves Houston Airports to College Station
  • Taxi Service in College Station

Conference Highlights

Keynote Address:

Joe Bontke, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Joe Bontke is the outreach manager and ombudsman for the Houston District office of US. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Joe has been in the field of Human Resources & Civil Rights for the past 27 years and has experience in employment law and adult education. With a Bachelor's in Philosophy and a Masters in Education, he has been a Human Resources Director, a Training Coordinator for the American Disabilities Act (ADA) Technical Assistance Center for Federal Region VI, was appointed as Assistant Professor at Baylor College of Medicine and recently has been named Chair of the Governors' Committee for People with Disabilities by Governor Rick Perry. Using his entertaining style, Joe has educated groups throughout the country and most recently, his work at the EEOC has enabled him to empower employers and employees with the understanding they need to work effectively at their jobs. Joe's philosophy of education is - that 90% is knowing where to find the information ... when you need it.

Back to top

Exhibitors

Exhibitor applications are now being accepted. Please contact Kristie Orr (Local Program Chair) by email at kristieo@disability.tamu.edu or phone 979-845-1637 to request an application and for more information.

Back to top

Conference Schedule

Below is the draft conference schedule as of February 2013. This may be subject to change as logisitics and programs are finalized.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 2013

Time

Event
8:00 am – 4:30 pm Registration Desk Open
9:00 am – 4:30 pm All Day Preconference Sessions with break for lunch (included)
1:30 pm - 4:30 pm Half Day Preconference Session(s)
3:00 pm – 4:30 pm Exhibitor Material Drop off, if needed.
Evening Optional Social/Networking Activities

THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2013

Time

Event
8:00 am - 5:00 pm Registration & Resource Desk open
9:00 am - 10:45 am Welcome & Keynote Address: Joe Bonke
10:45 am – 5:00 pm Exhibitor Area Open & Silent Auction Open
10:45 am – 11:00 am Break
11:00 am - 12:15pm Concurrent Sessions
12:15 pm - 1:45 pm Lunch (provided) & AHEAD in Texas Business Meeting
2:00 pm - 3:15 pm Concurrent Sessions
3:30 pm - 4:45 pm Concurrent Sessions
Evening Optional Social/Networking Activities

FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2013

Time

Event
8:00 am - 12:00 pm Registration & Resource Desk open
8:00 am - 12:00 pm Exhibitor Area Open
8:00 am - 10:00 am Silent Auction Open
9:00 am - 10:15 am Concurrent Sessions
10:15 am – 10:30 am Break
10:30 am – 11:45 am Concurrent Sessions
12:00 pm – 12:30 pm Closing/Wrap Up Session
12:30 pm – 2:00 pm Optional Lunch Groups (on your own)

Back to top

Session Descriptions

Preconference Sessions

Alternative Format Production 101 (Full-day)
Tracey Forman, Texas A&M University – College Station
Jennifer Weir, Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi

If a student requested a book or other document in an alternative format (audio book, large print, electronic text or Braille) would you know what to do? This one-day workshop will review the resources, procedures and tools used to research, obtain and create materials in alternative formats.

Building a Mutually Rewarding Partnership (Half-day, afternoon)
Greg Mason, Giovanne Bell, Crystal Stark, and Sophia Strother
Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services

Representatives from the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) will present a strategic framework that can be used to partner with disability professionals from higher educational institutions so that both entities can better serve those students who are transitioning from college to employment.

Keynote Address:

Should I divulge my Disability in the age of Google? & other concerns for transition for School to Work

The risk of "being labeled by a disability" comes with the realization that accommodation requirements run the gamut from none to many. With the popularity of social sites like Facebook and Linkedin, employers can gain access to all sorts of information that would normally be "off limits" during an interview. Could this be creating a legal problem for employers? And another hurtle for the Transitioning Student. In this lively session EEOC's Joe Bontke will spell out the risks and offer some remedy for the new risk of social network "investigating" when an applicant has some "Google issues" while "On the Track to Success".

Concurrent Session Descriptions

Detailed Program Descriptions (PDF Format | MS Word Format)

Back to top

Registration Materials

Registration Costs

Pre-Conference Registration Fees

  AHEAD in Texas
Member
(Half Day/Full Day)		 Non-AHEAD in Texas
Member
(Half Day/Full Day)

Full-time Student
(Half Day/Full Day)
On or before March 8, 2013 $50 / $75 $75 / $100 $25 / $50
March 9 – April 1, 2013 $75 / $100 $100 / $125 $50 / $75
After April 1, 2013 $100 / $125 $125 / $150 $70 / $100

Conference Registration Fees

  AHEAD in Texas
Member
Non-AHEAD in Texas
Member

Full-time Student
On or before March 8, 2013 $175 $200 $100
March 9 – April 1, 2013 $200 $225 $125
After April 1, 2013 $225 $250 $150

One-day rates are not available.

Back to top

Stipend Application

Each year AHEAD in Texas offers stipends for current Texas disability service providers.

Stipends are available to those new disability service providers (2 years or less working in disability services at the postsecondary level) whose employers will not pay for part or all of their conference/travel costs. Each stipend is awarded for the cost of Conference Registration only, not to exceed $250. Only Texas disability service providers are eligible.

Stipend applications need to be postmarked no later than Friday, March 8, 2013. Your application must be accompanied by a letter from your employer stating that they do not have travel funds available to pay for your participation in the AHEAD in Texas Annual Conference.

Please apply early, as the number of stipends available is limited. Recipients will be notified prior to the Conference, and your check for the stipend will be given to you at the Conference. Please note that you have to pay for your own costs initially; the check will be given to you as a reimbursement when you arrive at the Conference.

Please contact Rhonda Rapp, (210) 436-3135, rrapp2@stmarytx.edu for more information.

Back to top

Silent Auction

Each year at the AHEAD in Texas Spring Conference, the organization holds a Silent Auction to raise money for our annual scholarships. Members play a vital role in this fundraising effort by donating items to the auction as well as bidding on items during the conference.

For more information, Contact Sandi Patton at 281-290-2708 or email: sandi.patton@lonestar.edu

Back to top

AHEAD in Texas Scholarship Application

Each Spring AHEAD in Texas awards academic scholarships to students with disabilities in the State of Texas. Students must be nominated by a current AHEAD in Texas member and submit an application, personal statement and copies of their academic transcripts as part of the review process.

Back to top

Contact Information

For all other questions about the spring 2013 AHEAD in Texas conference please contact:

Alan Russell, Conference Chair, 713-348-5841,
Gavin Steiger, Program Chair, 210-999-7411, gsteiger@trinity.edu
Kristie Orr, Local Committee Chair, 979-845-1637, kristieo@disability.tamu.edu
Tracey Forman, Registration and Payment inquiries, 979-845-1637, traceyf@disability,tamu.edu

Back to top

Home • Contact AHEAD • Accessibility • Privacy • Terms of Use • Site Map • Member Log in • Report a Site Problem