Sibling Leadership Network AUCD Pre-Conference: "Setting an Agenda for Advocacy, Research, & Policy"

Friday, November 9, 2007- Saturday, November 10, 2007
Location: Washington, DC

This event is the first-ever Sibling Leadership Network (SLN) pre-conference scheduled in conjunction with the AUCD Annual Conference & Meeting in Washington DC.

The Sibling Leadership Network Conference will be a conversation among siblings, researchers, people with disabilities, service providers, and policymakers. The goal of this event is to move the conversation into a plan of action. During this conference, we'll ratify the SLN's mission and values, discuss siblings' concerns with researchers and policymakers, and learn what current research reveals about brothers and sisters. Finally, we'll develop an action plan and a white paper on sibling issues, policy recommendations, and a research agenda. Please join us for this exciting, historic event!

Registration

• Cost: $75 until 10/19/07 and $90 thereafter
  
• Download the Registration Brochure and Agenda
  
• Questions: John Kramer (312-996-7988)

Accomodations

Renaissance Washington, DC Hotel
999 Ninth Street NW, Washington, DC

Ask for the AUCD conference rate of $215/night by 10/19/07
Reserve your room under the AUCD group rate

• Link to hotel information, online hotel reservations, and ground transportation options

Sponsors/Key Partners

• Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Aging with Developmental Disabilities at the Institute on Disability and Human Deveopment (IL UCEDD)
• the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN UCEDD)
• AUCD
• NIDRR
• the Arc
• the Ohio State Nisonger Center (OH UCEDD/LEND)
• the Sibling Support Project

 

About the Sibling Leadership Network

SLN is a community of adult siblings, researchers, and service providers committed to sibs' concerns. Our goal is to provide siblings of individuals with disabilities the information, support, and tools to advocate with their brothers and sisters and to promote the issues important to them and their entire families. We passionately believe that siblings with and without disabilities can effectively advocate for policies that will benefit people with disabilities and their families.

Despite the ever-changing roles they will assume in the lives of their siblings with special needs, there is relatively little research on siblings and their concerns. The Sibling Leadership Network is interested in research that investigates resilience, support opportunities, and life choices across the lifespan.

There are millions of siblings of people with disabilities in the United States alone. Despite the ever-changing roles they will assume in the lives of their siblings with special needs as they and their families age, there is relatively little research on siblings and their concerns. Relatively little is known about the reciprocal contributions of self-advocates to their sibling relationships, thus the Sibling Leadership Network is interested in research that investigates the perspectives of all brothers and sisters.