Hotel Reservations

Group rates are available at the Sheraton Kansas City Sports Complex Hotel through May 26, 2009, by using the following link:

http://www.starwoodmeeting.com/Book/buildbtrtom

Address for the Sheraton is:
9103 East 39th Street. Kansas City, MO 64133

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The 2nd annual Building a Better Tomorrow conference will be June 9, 10, and 11, 2009.

We are thrilled to announce that we will be back for 2009 and will be posting more information about the conference in the coming months. Check back for more information soon!

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Keynote speakers have been announced.

Tamar Heller, Tim Piccirillo, and Tom Pomeranz will be giving the keynote addresses during the 2009 conference. Don't miss the chance to hear these dynamic and compelling speakers!

For more information, check the links at the left.

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The Building a Better Tomorrow: Best Practices in Supporting People with Developmental Disabilities conference was held in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 10-12, 2008, at the Sheraton Kansas City Sports Complex. This was an outstanding, reasonably priced opportunity to network, learn from one another and share what is working well. The conference provided participants with the opportunity to professionally rejuvenate while learning new and better ways to do the meaningful, important work in which we all engage.

We enjoyed seeing you, sharing our experiences, and learning what best practices you are using in supporting people who experience intellectual disabilities as we all work together to build a better tomorrow.

Dave Skinner, Director of Training
Kansas Neurological Institute

Comments from participants at the 2008 conference:

"Some wonderful speakers and a great chance to speak to and learn from others in the field. It was interesting to see how other states do things. Lots of different choices in classes to go to."

"Good speakers, sparked my passion again."

"A lot of the presenters were great and knowledgeable on the topics they spoke on. The attendees were very friendly and great networks for me as a parent."

"We go to these conferences to improve everyone else. It was nice to help improve ourselves. Overall the best conference I have been to."

"Location nice, activities like the baseball game and opportunity for water park very nice, things ran smoothly, seemed very well planned."

"Excellent presenters, nice variety of topics to attend. Conference planners and host were all very helpful. Nice job!"

About our keynote speakers, participants had this to say:

NORMAN KUNC and EMMA VAN DER KLIFT
"... very charismatic and told some very interesting and funny stories."

"...truly opened my eyes."

"...hits straight to the heart of what matters to individuals."

"I saw them a few years ago and was so glad to see they were going to be here. Nice way to kick off this conference."

KATHIE SNOW
" Kathie Snow was fabulous in pushing the boundries."

Kathie has hit upon the frustrations I experience as I try to coach "case managers" to express the person's desired outcomes in their life that meet medicaid requirements and also meet the person's requirement."

"...the rock bottom truth of it all!"

"...relevant, informative, funny, enlightening."

BRIAN BLACK
"Brian Black was very inspirational."

"What a wonderful way to end the conference, very funny, very honest."

"...encouraging, dynamic, practical, lots of fun."

"I am totally renewed and ready to shine. Thanks so much. You are awesome!"

A few photos from the conference. Click on a thumbnail to view.

Photos from the 2008 conference