Who should attend the conference?
The conference is aimed at the informational needs of parents, caregivers and professionals who have the responsibility to plan and provide care for adults with autism and related developmental disabilities. For adults who are independent self-advocates we recommend looking into the Stanford Neurodiversity Project, which hosts several conferences.
What is the conference format?
The main hall will feature a resource fair to facilitate learning and networking, and a variety of lectures and workshops will be held concurrently in the classrooms. Registration opens at 8.30am, with morning sessions at 9, 10, and 11am. We break for lunch (resource fair open) and continue with afternoon sessions at 1, 2, and 3pm.
What are the main topics?
Topics include: legal planning, financial planning, public benefits, regional center services, housing, medical and dental care, psychiatric care, behavior and communication therapy, recreation and social growth, family and parent wellness, staffing, advocacy and policy, and other topics that relate to the quality of life of these adults.
When do tickets go on sale?
Tickets go on sale in mid-August (don’t worry, we’ll have another newsletter with that announcement), and will be approximately $65 each, including conference talks, resource fair, morning coffee and bag lunch. Based on past conferences, this event will likely sell out so we encourage early registration. Parking is free (allow 10 minutes for parking and walking to the venue). We may need to find new venue next year if it seems we have outgrown Stanford’s LKS Center.
Will the regional center reimburse the cost of my ticket?
We are working on this so that your ticket can be reimbursed by your regional center. Some additional scholarships will also be available.
I want to present and have a resource table! What should I do?
Thanks! We very much want to maximize the number of vendors and presenters. Please visit our speaker/vendor/sponsor portal here and submit your interest form no later than August 25, 2023 at 5pm. We will make some selections on a rolling basis but in any event will get back to you no later than September 15, 2023. We encourage you to submit as early as possible and cannot guarantee space to any applicant. Thank you for supporting our community by sharing your expertise.
Why is SFASA charging for vendor tables in the resource fair?
The conference is enormously expensive. We need to charge to recoup part of our costs. Tables are $300, but $150 for non-profits.
Will there be a virtual option?
No, not this year. But we hope to record some of the lectures held in the classrooms.
Are you still accepting artwork submissions?
No. Thanks to all the artists who submitted. We will get back to you soon.
What are the sponsorships levels?
They are $500, $1000 and up. We very very very much need sponsorships to help keep our ticket prices affordable. The conference is very expensive for us to run this year. Your logo will be shared in materials and slides, and the sponsorships include free tickets. A huge thanks to all individuals and organizations signing up to sponsor!
I want to learn more!
Please join our new SFASA Facebook discussion group on adult autism/DD. It will be an adjunct to our conference, with additional information about topics and speakers. We will also circulate regular updates in our newsletters. The conference webpage should go live in mid August. |
