When it comes to inclusion, there's ups and downs, there's fear and fun. There's making the choice to get on and enjoy the ride.
Join us for the ride of your life at NIP's Power of Play Conference! Get the scoop on the latest inclusive practices, network with like-minded professionals from a wide array of industries, and have tons of FUN doing it! And when we say fun, we mean it. Children learn best through play, so come release your inner child and experience the real Power of Play.
Watch this space! There are new and exciting changes in store for POP this year!
ALL ABOUT POP
Power of Play aims to provide youth-serving organizations with the framework, training, and resources they need to become fully inclusive and serve ALL children in their communities.
Who is the Conference for?
- Recreation professionals
- Disability/inclusion advocates
- Therapeutic practitioners (OT, PT, etc.)
- Educators & students
- Community program administrators
- Anyone with a desire to ensure no child sits on the sidelines
What you can expect
- Hands-on training
- Breakout sessions
- Networking opportunities
- Keynote presentations by leading inclusion experts
- Industry updates and best-practices
- Fun, fun, and more fun!
GET TO KNOW LAST YEAR'S SPEAKERS
OPENING KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Lex Gillette
Lex Gillette is a globally recognized Paralympic track and field athlete for Team USA. Competing primarily in the long jump, Lex has amassed four Paralympic medals, three world champion titles, and he is the current world record holder in the event. He is the only totally blind athlete on the planet to eclipse the 22-foot barrier in the long jump. He is currently training for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games were he aims to bring back gold for the United States of America.
Off of the field of play, Lex devotes his time to positively enhancing the lives of children nationwide. He serves as an athlete mentor for Classroom Champions, an organization that pairs Olympians, Paralympians and professional athletes to K-8 students of schools in underserved areas within the United States and abroad.
CLOSING KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Amanda Lukoff
Filmmaker Amanda Lukoff grew up advocating for her sister Gabrielle, especially whenever she heard the word retard(ed). With her new film The R-Word, she unravels the history and lasting effects of this word through the lens of the sibling experience, captivating animation sequences, and self-advocates speaking truth-to-power – ultimately making the case for why the conversation surrounding people with intellectual and developmental disabilities needs to change.
Amanda worked for many years in communications-related positions in the non-profit & private sector, as well as doing on-camera and voice-over work, before deciding to focus her energy & passion on film and TV production. Amanda and her husband founded Thorough Productions, a full-service production company based out of the DC metro area with a special focus on marginalized communities. In her spare time, Amanda enjoys running after her two young children.
What people are saying about the Power of Play
"As a professional who has been attending conferences for over 20 years, I must say that I received more relevant information during this conference than any other I’ve been to. I returned feeling enthusiastic and empowered!"
"It was very helpful to learn practical skills that can be directly applied in my work, ie, preventive strategies for working with children with autism (visual aids), as well as useful ice breakers that not only help in getting to know each other, but also help one in seeing how it might feel in someone else’s shoes."
"It was so beneficial to learn that other organizations share similar challenges as we do as well as to hear from those who’ve had good success in areas where we may not have the same resources. I am amazed by the overall enthusiasm everyone had for both the conference and their own programs."
"I came away with a better perspective of what inclusion truly is and ways to present it to my staff."
Everybody Participates Everybody Belongs
There are many ways to support our mission. One of them is through donating.
Whether it's a little or a lot, it all helps and it all matters!