ICI Co-sponsors Two Major Twin Cities Conferences in June

Next month, one of the largest national conferences in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) is coming to the Twin Cities and ICI’s Research and Training Center on Community Living is co-sponsoring it. The 2019 AAIDD (American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities) Annual Meeting will take place June 24–27 at the InterContinental St. Paul Riverfront Hotel. Founded in 1876 and now counting more than 5,000 members in the U.S. and 55 other countries, AAIDD is the oldest and largest interdisciplinary organization of professionals and others who advocate for the quality of life and rights of people with IDD. The AAIDD annual meeting provides researchers, clinicians, practitioners, educators, policymakers, government agencies, and advocates with cutting edge research, effective practices, and valuable information on important policy initiatives. The conference theme this year is Knowledge Translation: Power Through Research, Policy, and Practice. ICI’s Barb Kleist is co-chair of the conference’s Local Arrangements Committee that also includes Jerry Smith, Lynda L. Anderson, Beth Fondell, and  Amy Hewitt. Kleist's co-chair is Justin Kuehl from the Wisconsin Chapter of AAIDD.



“Knowledge translation is incredibly important in our field—it connects people’s stories with data to improve the lives of people with IDD,” says Kleist. “Together they inform policy and system change for community living. This year’s conference will continue moving us forward by showcasing best practices in supporting people with IDD and their families.”



ICI is also co-sponsoring the 2019 National Sibling Leadership Conference, which occurs on June 22–23 (the weekend before AAIDD), at the same hotel in St. Paul. This conference provides an opportunity for siblings of people with disabilities from across the nation to connect with each other. Siblings will share stories, network, hear from national experts on sibling services and supports, learn about new research initiatives, and gain insight on sibling experiences. Kleist and Sarah Hall will attend the Sibling Leadership Conference and will share ICI’s work with other siblings. Hall will help facilitate the Minnesota Chapter Development Session.