 When
is the 2008 conference?
What
topics will be covered at the 26th Annual Closing The Gap Conference?
Who
may attend the conference?
Where
is the conference held?
What
are the fees to attend the conference?
Are scholarships available?
Where
can I make hotel reservations?
What
is the off-site hotel shuttling schedule?
Who
can handle my travel needs?
How
can I receive academic credit?
How
can I receive CEUs?
How
can I register to attend?
How
can I become a presenter?
How
can I become an exhibitor?
How
can I receive a conference brochure?
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When
is the conference?
Preconference: Tuesday and Wednesday, October 14-15, 2008
Preconference workshops are full day workshops.
Conference: Thursday - Saturday, October 16-18, 2008
The Conference is a three-day event that includes over 200
one- and two-hour presentations, and an extensive exhibition
hall.
What
topics will be covered at the 26th Annual Closing
The Gap Conference?
Topics will cover a broad
spectrum of technology as it is being applied
to all disabilities and age groups in education,
rehabilitation, vocation, and independent
living. People with disabilities, special
educators, rehabilitation professionals,
administrators, service/care providers, personnel
managers, government officials, and hardware/software
developers will share their experiences and
insights at what has become known as the
most significant networking experience of
the year -- the annual Closing The Gap Conference.
The complete event includes two days (October
14-15, 2008) of day-long preconference workshops followed by
three days (October 16-18, 2008) of over 200 one- and two-hour
presentations, along with many commercial exhibitors.
Who
may attend the conference?
The conference is open to
anyone. All participants are required to
register to attend. Admission
to all presentations and other conference
activities is open only to those who have
registered and who are wearing a valid registration
badge. Admission to the exhibitions is by
valid registration badge.
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Where
is the conference held?
Sheraton Bloomington Hotel,
7800 Normandale Blvd., Bloomington, Minnesota
and the adjacent Hotel Sofitel, 5601 W. 78th
St., Bloomington, Minnesota are the official
hotels of the conference. All conference
activities are held at these two hotels located
just 10 minutes west of the Minneapolis-St.
Paul International Airport.
Limo, taxi, and mobility assistance
services are available. Hotel-airport shuttles available
for Sheraton Bloomington Hotel, Country Inn & Suites
Bloomington West and Crowne Plaza Minneapolis Airport
West.
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What
are the fees to attend the conference?
The registration fee
for the three-day conference (October 16-18) is $420
if received by Closing The Gap on or before September
11, 2008. Registrations received on or before June
30, 2008 qualify for a discounted early registration
fee of $385.
Groups of five or more
from the same organization may deduct $20 for each
registration (all registrations must be received
by Closing The Gap at the same time). Not applicable
after September 11, 2008.
Full-time students may register for $285. (Proof
of full-time student status must accompany registration
form.)
Parents may register for $285 (A letter describing your child's disability must accompany registration form.)
Presenters may register
for $285.
Exhibitors may register
for $285.
Late registration fee
(for anyone) is $455 if received by Closing The Gap
after September 11, 2008 and on or before October
2, 2008.
All registrations (for
anyone) received after October 2, 2008 will be $505.
A Certificate of Attendance
is available upon request at no additional fee.
Preconference
Workshop Fees
All-day preconference
workshops are scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, October 14-15, 2008 at
a cost of $270 per day. Some workshops carry an additional
fee for materials.
There is no additional
fee for the Closing The Gap-issued, presenter-signed
Certificate of Preconference Workshop Attendance.
Note: Some workshops fill quickly. Early registration is encouraged.
Academic Credit
Graduate-level academic
credit from Hamline University, St. Paul, Minnesota
is available for a variety of levels of conference
attendance. Click here
for more details and requirements regarding academic
credit.
CEUs
IACET CEUs
AAC Institute is an Authorized Provider of IACET (International Association for Continuing Education and Training) CEUs. CEUs will be offered for all conference learning sessions without charge. IACET CEUs that relate to the practice of speech-language pathology and audiology can be used for ASHA certification maintenance. RESNA accepts IACET CEUs for ATP/ATS credential maintenance. Most state licensure systems accept IACET CEUs or other forms of self-reporting. Pre-conference workshops are offered for up to 1.4 CEUs. The conference is offered for up to 2.0 CEUs. For additional information visit <www.aacinstitute.org/CEUs>.
CEU details and documentation will be available at the Closing The Gap registration desk located on the second floor of the Sheraton.
Confirmation
All who register by
October 2, 2008 will receive confirmation by mail.
Cancellation
Policy
Cancellations must be
received in writing by Closing the Gap on or before
October 1, 2008. All cancellations are subject to
a $50 cancellation handling fee.
Replacements are welcome and must be submitted in writing. No refunds after October
1, 2008. Unpaid balances are due in full.
Conference
Directory
The official Closing
The Gap Conference Directory will be given to registrants
at the conference site; many of the conference details
will be posted on Closing The Gap's Web site.
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Where
can I make hotel reservations?
Hotel reservations can
be made by contacting the conference-site and off-site
hotels directly. Please refer to the "Closing The
Gap Conference" when making your reservations to
receive conference room discounts when and where
applicable. All noted hotels have a limited number
of handicapped accessible rooms. If required, state
your needs when making your reservations and reserve
your room early to better insure a room that will
best accommodate you.
Cancellation
policy for all hotels: A deposit of one night's room rate plus tax is required to reserve a guest room for the Closing The Gap Conference. Guest rooms may be cancelled up to September 11, 2008, with no cancellation penalty and your total deposit refunded to you. Any guest room cancelled after September 11, 2008, will be subject to forfeiture of the entire deposit.
The
conference site hotels:
Sheraton Bloomington
Hotel
Phone 952-835-7800
Fax 952-893-8419
7800 Normandale Blvd.
Bloomington, MN 55439
Rates: $149-single occupancy (South Tower); $159-double occupancy (South Tower)
Click
here for online reservations Hotel Sofitel
Phone 952-835-1900
Fax 952-835-0545
5601 W. 78th St.
Bloomington, MN 55439
Rates: $175-single occupancy; $185-double, triple, or quad occupancy
Online reservations not available at this time
The
conference off-site hotels:
Country Inn & Suites Bloomington West
Phone 952-831-9595
Fax 952-835-5909
8000 Bridge Rd.
Bloomington, MN 55437
Rates: $139-single or double occupancy
(In the check rates and availability section, click on "more search options"
and enter GAP08 in the "promotional code" field)
Click
here for online reservations Crowne
Plaza Minneapolis Airport West
Phone 952-831-8000
Fax 925-831-8426
5401 Green Valley Dr. (I-494 & Hwy 100)
Bloomington, MN 55437
Rates: $142-single or double occupancy
(Click on the "Corporate, Group & IATA Identification icon", and enter CTG
in the "group booking code" field)
Click
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What
is the off-site hotel shuttling schedule?
The off-site hotels - Country Inn & Suites
Bloomington West and Crowne Plaza Minneapolis Airport West will provide shuttling services during specified
conference hours, to and from the conference site.
The shuttling procedures and schedules
will be posted at all off-site hotels and near the
Closing The Gap registration desks at the Sheraton
Bloomington Hotel and Hotel Sofitel.
The shuttling schedule will be posted on the Closing The Gap Web site at a later date.
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Who
can handle my travel needs?
Closing The Gap
has arranged for Northwest Airlines to handle air
travel needs for the conference.
For the lowest
possible air fares, in the United States and Canada,
call Northwest at 800-328-1111 and ask about special
Closing The Gap fares (I.D. code NYVNX). Northwest
hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 am - 7:30
pm Central Daylight Time.
Click here for online
reservations.
Accessible
Transportation
To arrange for accessible transportation
while visiting the Minneapolis area, have your ADA
certifying agency fax your certification information
along with the address where you will be staying
and dates you plan on being in Minneapolis to 651-602-1660
four weeks prior to your arrival date.
Riders must
be ADA certified in the state in which they live.
For questions regarding certification, call Jim Nieman;
651-602-1665. If you are not ADA certified, call
Airport Taxi at 612-331-8294 (special assistance provided
if requested).
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Are scholarships available?
A limited number of scholarships are available for persons with disabilities or parents/guardians of children with disabilities. These scholarships cover registration fees for the conference only (Thursday – Saturday), and do not cover preconference workshops, food, lodging or travel. Scholarships are awarded on a first come, first served basis and one time only per person. Persons that have previously received a scholarship from Closing The Gap are not eligible.
To apply, complete a conference registration form, indicating your scholarship request. Submit the form and attach a letter describing your/your child’s disability and telling us why you would like to attend the conference.
Applicants will receive written notification of acceptance or denial.
How
can I receive academic credit?
Graduate-level academic credit from Hamline University,
St. Paul, Minnesota is available for a variety of
levels of conference attendance.
Participants have the option of one, two or three full semester credits, each requiring
specific contact hours and an outside assignment. The contact hours for the desired
credit(s) can be met by preconference workshop participation, conference participation,
or a combination of the two.
12 contact hours plus an outside assignment = one full semester credit
(This one credit option requires one preconference workshop and conference participation;
two preconference workshops; OR conference participation only.)
24 contact hours plus an outside assignment = two full semester credits
(This two credit option requires one preconference workshop (minimum) AND conference
participation.)
36 contact hours plus an outside assignment = three full semester credits
(This three credit option requires two preconference workshops AND conference
participation Thursday - Saturday.)
One semester credit is $115; two semester credits
are $230; three semester credits are $345.
In addition to the contact hours, an outside assignment will be required and
will need to be turned in to Closing The Gap by November 15th, 2008. Within a
few weeks, grades will be issued and then maintained by Hamline.
To register for academic credit, please indicate your preference as to one,
two or three semester credits on the registration form, pay the appropriate fee, and complete
and return the Hamline academic credit form when received in the mail with your
confirmation letter.
Any questions regarding academic credit and the procedure involved should be
directed to Closing The Gap’s registration
department.
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How
can I receive CEUs?
IACET CEUs
AAC Institute is an Authorized Provider of IACET (International Association for Continuing Education and Training) CEUs. CEUs will be offered for all conference learning sessions without charge. IACET CEUs that relate to the practice of speech-language pathology and audiology can be used for ASHA certification maintenance. RESNA accepts IACET CEUs for ATP/ATS credential maintenance. Most state licensure systems accept IACET CEUs or other forms of self-reporting. Pre-conference workshops are offered for up to 1.4 CEUs. The conference is offered for up to 2.0 CEUs. For additional information visit <www.aacinstitute.org/CEUs>.
CEU details and documentation will be available at the Closing The Gap registration desk located on the second floor of the Sheraton.
RESNA Certification Exam
RESNA will be hosting the ATP/ATS/RET certification exam in conjunction with the Closing the Gap Conference at the Sheraton Bloomington Hotel on Monday, October 13, 2008 from 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm.
For more details about the certification program or about RESNA, please visit the RESNA Web site at <www.resna.org>.
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How
can I register to attend?
Click here to register online.
Download a PDF
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How
can I become a presenter?
Closing The Gap will consider
proposals for one-hour or multiple-hour sessions that describe
and/or demonstrate successful applications of computer technology
for persons with disabilities. Proposals are invited that report
results of current applications, research, development of computer
hardware, software, or adaptive devices, model programs, or
procedures used by and for persons with disabilities. Proposals
for sessions that demonstrate the use of software programs,
adaptive devices, or the innovative use of standard computer
technology are highly encouraged. Proposals should focus on
practical applications rather than theoretical discourse. Proposals
for open forums in which participants discuss, comment openly,
and share ideas and opinions relevant to a primary subject
or focus are also encouraged.
Submission Deadline- 2:00
pm Central Daylight Time on Thursday, May
1, 2008.
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How
can I become an exhibitor?
Exhibiting
opportunites are availabe for what
has become known as the most significant
networking experience of the
year -- the annual Closing
The Gap Conference. Companies with
a focus on computer and assistive
technology for persons with disabilities
are invited to apply for exhibitor
space.
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How
can I receive a conference brochure?
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