2008 Conference Home
This year's Reinventing Quality Conference on developmental disabilities services was held in Baltimore, MD on August 10-12. It featured numerous agencies that have implemented person-centered planning and individualized support structures to assist people in living the lives they desire. Featured were agencies that have converted from congregate to individualized services, those which have been specifically designed for individualized support, and those that have assisted individuals to experience true community membership. One highlight was individuals who have developed their own micro-enterprises. In addition, innovations in policies, systems issues, and quality assurance methodologies were presented.
Keynote Address
As with all Reinventing Quality Conferences, this year's goal was to provide useful information, new ideas and active discussion about promoting and achieving support that improves the quality of life and citizenship for all. The conference showcased innovative services, programs and practices that effectively support people to live valued lives and community systems of support focused on participation, quality and accountability.
"A Good Story Never Hurts: Waddie Welcome and the Beloved Community"
by Tom Kohler
by Tom Kohler
How do we continue our quest for quality when the drone of email, the bulge of paperwork and mountains of meetings begin to overwhem us? Sometimes a good story can help. Tom Kohler told a story about people, people who live in his town of Savannah Georgia. You would recognize some of them -- they live in your town as well. It's a story of triumph and transformation, of making community stronger, a story to pull us back to our center and ignite our hearts.
This conference is for people with developmental disabilities, family members, direct support professionals, administrators of community support agencies, advocates, state and federal officials. Themes and sessions were designed to support state and local efforts to develop a lasting structure to implement and sustain innovations in person-centered supports.
Conference Organizers, Partners, and Sponsors
For the past eight years, the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services, the Research and Training Center on Community Living at the University of Minnesota and the Human Services Research Institute have joined with partners in host states to hold a national conference on "Reinventing Quality" in developmental disabilities services. This year's conference was co-sponsored by the National Leadership Consortium on Developmental Disabilities at the University of Delaware. This year's conference partners included ANCOR, The Arc of Central Chesapeake Region, The Arc Northern Chesapeake Region, The Arc of Frederick County, The Arc of Maryland, Maryland Administration on Developmental Disabilities, Maryland Association of Community Services, Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council, Maryland Disability Law Center, and NADD.
Special thanks to these sponsors: Administration on Developmental Disabilities, The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), College of Direct Support, The Columbus Organization, Liberty Healthcare Group, The MENTOR Network, Navigant, PrecisionCare, Inc., Antone Aboud Associates, Inc., Therap and APS Healthcare.
For the past eight years, the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services, the Research and Training Center on Community Living at the University of Minnesota and the Human Services Research Institute have joined with partners in host states to hold a national conference on "Reinventing Quality" in developmental disabilities services. This year's conference was co-sponsored by the National Leadership Consortium on Developmental Disabilities at the University of Delaware. This year's conference partners included ANCOR, The Arc of Central Chesapeake Region, The Arc Northern Chesapeake Region, The Arc of Frederick County, The Arc of Maryland, Maryland Administration on Developmental Disabilities, Maryland Association of Community Services, Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council, Maryland Disability Law Center, and NADD.
Special thanks to these sponsors: Administration on Developmental Disabilities, The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), College of Direct Support, The Columbus Organization, Liberty Healthcare Group, The MENTOR Network, Navigant, PrecisionCare, Inc., Antone Aboud Associates, Inc., Therap and APS Healthcare.