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2024 Western Region
Self Advocacy Conference
Thursday June 6th & Friday June 7th Hyatt Regency Hotel 125 E. Main Street Rochester, NY 14604 Artwork by Zachary Mogavero
We are really looking forward to seeing you this year in Rochester!
Here is what you need to know about the WNY region self advocacy conference. To see all the info, scroll down through the different sections.
Schedule
Thursday, June 6th
3:00pm Register and Check in to Hotel
T-shirts will be available for purchase at the conference for $15.
4:00 - 4:45 pm Get to Know You - Hosted by Carl Grayson
5:00 - 5:45 pm Speed Dating/Speed Friendship - Hosted by Rick Banner
4:00 - 4:15 pm Selling Candy Bars - Don Solberg
4:15 - 5:00 pm Rights - LEADERS SA Group
5:15 - 5:45 pm Speaking Up for Yourself Skits- SAGE SA Group
Come Early and Explore Downtown Rochester! The hotel is right on the Genesee River, with a walkway along the river.
6:00 pm Dinner Banquet and Keynote
James Cuirca, Keynote - Hard Work Payoff
Dinner: Garden Salad, 8oz Beef Sirloin Steak, Heirloom Carrots & Garlic Mashed Potatoes, and Chocolate Cake
8:00 - 9:00 pm Dance with The Dapper Rats (Live Band)
9:00 - 10:00 pm DJ Jammin Joe
9:00 - 9:30pm Meet and Greet
Meet the conference planning committee and find out if being a part of planning the regional self-advocacy conference is for you!
9:00pm - 10:00pm Film: A Good Life
Life is full of joys and challenges for us all but the experiences of people living with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities is something that not everyone understands or appreciates. A Good Life takes an intimate look into the lives adults living with I/DD and their families. The film shares the challenges and opportunities they face, while leading experts in the field offer insight. From WXXI: Move to Include
8:00 - 10:00pm The Street Craft Kitchen and Bar is open for drinks and socializing
Friday, June 7th
7:45 - 9:00 am Registration
For those attending Friday only- check in and get your name tag and program
8:00 - 9:30 am Sit-Down Breakfast
Freshly Scrambled Eggs with Smoked Bacon
Served with Roasted Fingerling Potatoes, Caramelized Onion & Sautéed Tomato, includes Chilled Orange Juice, Fresh Bakeries with Butter & Preserves, Coffee & Tea Selection.
9:15 - 9:45 am Opening Ceremony
10:00 - 10:45 am Workshops Session A
1) Art of Advocacy - BJ Stasio & Max Donatelli
2) Transportation - Stephanie Speaker, Russell Johnson & Mike Rogers
3) LGBTQ in a Disabled World - Matt Maclean & Shawn Stevenson
4) Be Kind: Diversity, Equity, Advocacy & Inclusion - Cynthia Gilchrist, Allen Fontaine, & Justin Wright
5) Women's Empowerment Panel - Robin Ripple, Hannah Brecher, & Courtney Deuro
6) Southern Tier SANYS Board Candidate Speeches
11:00 -11:45 am Workshops Session B
6) Self Advocacy Group Officers & Advisors - Allen Fontaine & Mike Rogers
7) How I Advocated for Myself - Marie Malinowski & Sheila Bush, I VOICE SA Group
8) Depression & Mental Health - Kristin Plummer, Self AdvoCatts of Catt County
9) Sexuality and Healthy Relationships Videos - Jessica Levesque, Matt Maclean, Eric Bisantz & other actors
10) Accessing Higher Education & Alternative Education Pathways - Azure Showers, Accessible Academics
12:00 - 1:45 pm Lunch Banquet
Keynote: Carl Grayson - My Wild and Crazy Life
Lunch: Garden Salad, 8oz Trio Burger (Well done ground chuck, short rib, brisket burger, lettuce, bacon, cheese), and a Lemon Bar as dessert.
Awards Ceremony
2:00 -2:45 pm Workshops Session C
11) Podcasting 101 - Engelic Everett & Jim Jowsey
12) Why Vote? - Joseph Damiano, BJ Stasio, & Helen Hellmuth, DRNY
13) Writing, Illustrating and Publishing a Children's Book - Jennifer Machucki & Janet Harrison
14) Cooking with Carl - Carl Grayson
15) Technology + Online Self Advocacy Groups - Sam Mattle & Mike Rogers
16) Western SANYS Board Candidate Speeches
Conference T- Shirts
Congrats to our design winner Zachary Mogavero! (to learn a little bit about Zachary see this news story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sJ-d33a-FA The video of his song has over 2.2 million views on TikTok! )
You can buy a t-shirt at the conference for $15.
To buy a t-shirt at the conference, bring $15 with you. You do not need to pre-order.
Hotel Info
If you would like to stay in the hotel overnight, please make reservations directly with the hotel.
Hyatt Regency Hotel
125 E. Main Street
Rochester, NY 14604
$159 per night plus 14% Tax
The above rate is guaranteed for reservations made by May 9th.
This hotel has spacious rooms with views of the city and Genesee River, a 24-hour Gym with the latest training equipment, an Indoor heated pool, an outdoor patio with a view, a bar and multiple restaurants.
To reserve go to: https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/group-booking/ROCHE/G-SANY
Or call: 1-585-546-1234 Mention the code G-SANY
Public Transportation
The Rochester Transportation Center is a 15 minute walk or 3 minute taxi ride around the corner from the hotel.
Flix/Greyhound prices are as low as $13 one way between Buffalo and Rochester, and also stop in a surprising number of small towns in our region. The Amtrak train station is also a 13 minute walk from the hotel. See their websites for options:
Greyhound Bus Lines: https://www.greyhound.com
Flix Bus: https://flixbus.com/
Amtrak: https://www.amtrak.com
Here is where you can find information at about public transportation within the city of Rochester:
Regional Transit Service (RTS): https://myrts.com/
Meals
Thursday Dinner Banquet
Garden Salad, 8oz Beef Sirloin Steak Au Poivre (Medium Done), Heirloom Carrots & Garlic Mashed Potatoes, and Chocolate Cake with white whipped cream as dessert.
Vegetarian option will be Butternut Squash Risotto.
Friday Sit Down Breakfast
Freshly Scrambled Eggs with Smoked Bacon
Served with Roasted Fingerling Potatoes, Caramelized Onion & Sautéed Tomato, includes Chilled Orange Juice, Fresh Bakeries with Butter & Preserves, Coffee & Tea Selection.
Friday Lunch Banquet
Garden Salad, Astors 8oz Trio Burger (Well done ground chuck, short rib, brisket burger, lettuce, bacon, cheese), and a Lemon Bar as dessert.
Vegetarian option will be a Beyond Burger meatless hamburger.
For all Meals: Check the box on your registration if you need a Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian, Dairy Free, Pork Free, or Pureed meal.
Registration
Both Days: $169
Friday Only: $108
Thursday Only: $113
We do have a limited number of partial scholarships to help people attend. To get a full or partial scholarship, please speak to Sophia at 716-560-9307 or Sue at 585-738-4687 before you register.
Registrations are due by May 10th, 2024
Award Nominations
Do you or someone you know deserve an award for hard work and dedication?
Does your group or support agency deserve an award for the things they are doing?
Does your Group Advisor deserve an award for staying with you and doing a great job?
Do you have an awesome Direct Support Person who goes above and beyond?
Consider nominating them for an award!
Nominations have closed. We are excited to announce our winners soon!
Thank you to our Sponsors!
Diamond Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
Marie Malinowski
Russell Johnson
Elizabeth Walker
Brockport Ambulance
DDAWNY
People First Mobility
OTHER WAYS YOU CAN SUPPORT THE
Advocacy Is Our Thing!
Become A Sponsor
Show folks your values by sponsoring our conference!
Call Susan O'Hearn at 716-738-4687 to become a sponsor
WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU!
Thank you for registering to join us at the WNY/FL Regional Self-Advocacy Conference, Advocacy is Our Thing! A purchase receipt will arrive in your inbox shortly.
If you are paying by check, the automatic invoice you receive will be incorrect. You will need to send in the amount you owe postmarked by May 18th to be considered fully registered. Send your check or money order to:
SANYS Conference
1021 Broadway Street, 4th Floor
Buffalo, NY 14212
Please take note of our phone number to call if you have any questions: 716-463-5035.
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