Expanding 21st Century Deaf Advocacy, Education, and Technology

68th Biennial Conference of the      Empire State Association of the Deaf

June 23-26, 2011

Buffalo, New York    

Hosted by the                              

Buffalo Civic Association of the Deaf

Hilton Garden Inn                          Buffalo Airport                            

4201 Genesee Street                         Buffalo, New York 14225

 

 

 Workshops—Friday, June 24, 2011

 

Session I (choose one)

· “Recognizing Investment Schemes and Scams”        presented by John Clouden, financial planning associate for Sgroi  Financial, LLC.  Learn about various fraudulent money-making schemes, scams, and how to protect       yourselves.

· “Deaf Refugees and Immigration” presented Pam Kefi, Jason Goldstein, Tony Brucato, and Liana Godzik from  Deaf Adult Services, Inc. of WNY.  This workshop will    address the linguistic, cultural, and historical issues related to being a Deaf refugee in the world and in America. Learn about additional barriers to services faced by this population and successful programming to create access and support of America’s newest Deaf community members.

 

Session II (choose one)

· “Navigating Today’s Health Care System” presented by Christene Amabile, FNP. Learn about the roles of many different health care providers in today’s health care system.  Learn about where to go for assistance; how to advocate for yourself and get the health care you need; how to prepare for a medical appointment; and many more.

· “State of Deaf Education in New York and Nationwide” presented by Tim Kelly, Superintendent of St. Mary’s School for the Deaf and Harold Mowl, Superintendent of Rochester School for the Deaf. Learn about current challenges with keeping schools for the Deaf open in New York; what is happening in other parts of the country with other schools struggling to stay alive and what has led to various schools to close.  Learn about various legislation and funding that supports Deaf Education

 

Session III

· “Emergency Preparedness” presented by Claude Stout, Executive Director of TDI (formerly known as                  Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc). Find out what the Deaf or Hard of Hearing consumer’s role and responsibilities are in four key stages of emergency preparedness—mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery; how the consumer can best address related     issues and needs with others in the community in           collaboration with industry and government.

 

Workshop—Saturday, June 25, 2011

 

· “Video Relay Services Consumer Association”         presented by Geraldine Francini, Eastern Representative for the VRSCA.  Discuss issues related to Video Relay Services and how to encourage the Federal Communications      Commission (FCC) to improve VRS Services.

 

 

Workshops and Meetings

Vendors

Banquet Event

Chinese Auction

ASL Comedy Performance

 

Hilton Garden Inn

 

Most of the Conference events will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn hotel, 4201 Genesee Street, Buffalo, NY 14225; (716) 565-0040. This new hotel is situated across the street from the Buffalo Niagara International Airport.  Double beds and King Rooms are available at the  Hilton Garden Inn on Thursday, Friday, and        Saturday at the rate of $129.00 per night (not including sales and occupancy taxes) using the reservation code: ESAD2011.   Reservations must be made by 6/14/11; thereafter, reservations will be taken on a space      available basis only.

 

The Area

 

In addition to the 68th Biennial Conference of the Empire State Association of the Deaf, there are many other exciting places to visit in Buffalo.  Buffalo has many   local culinary delights such as beef-on-weck, charbroiled hot dogs, and it is the birthplace of the chicken wing.  Visit the Roycroft campus in East Aurora where the arts-and-crafts movement began. Visit and enjoy attractions such as the Buffalo Zoo, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Darwin D. Martin House, Albright-Knox Art Gallery, the funky shops of Elmwood  Village, and Erie Canal Harbor.  See one of the wonders of the world only 30 minutes away in     Niagara Falls along with casinos and entertainment on the American and Canadian side of the Falls.

 

There are various other hotels and motels available around the airport where the Hilton Garden Inn is      located.  There are many restaurants close by and the Walden Galleria Mall is just a few miles away. 

 

Contact Information

 

BCADeafWNY@yahoo.com

 

ESAD Website

 

www.esad.org

 

Join ESAD’s Facebook Page!