March 20-22, 2018
Marbles Kids Museum
Raleigh, North Carolina
Thank you so much to everyone who made POP 2018 possible! Attendees, presenters, volunteers, sponsors; we couldn't have done it without you!
If you missed the conference, be sure to check out the blog for a full recap. And we can't wait to see you next year!
Is Power of Play Right for Me?
Our goal with the Power of Play Conference is to provide youth-serving organizations with the framework and resources they need to become fully inclusive and serve ALL children in their communities.
The conference is designed for and beneficial to:
- Recreational professionals
- Specialists (Speech-Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, etc.)
- Managers of play-based facilities (museums, zoos, etc.)
- Educators
- Advocates
- Community Leaders
- Parents
- Students
Through hands-on training, breakout sessions, networking opportunities, presentations and—of course—plenty of play, attendees have ample opportunity for professional development and personal growth.
No matter where you are on your inclusion journey, the Power of Play is your chance to make your move to the next level.
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Kathie Snow
Opening Keynote
Kathie Snow is an author, public speaker, trainer, and consultant. Her interest in disability issues began in 1987 following the birth of her son, Benjamin, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at four months. Like most parents, she was bewildered and somewhat frightened; and, like most parents, she eagerly entered the world of disability services and interventions. She listened to what doctors recommended, she went along with all of the therapies. But then, when Benjamin was three, Kathie participated in the Texas Partners in Policymaking program and the experience was life changing. She learned many valuable life lessons, especially from the self advocates. She discovered that families of children with special needs could enjoy regular lives. Thus, when Benjamin was six, Kathie decided she didn’t want their life consumed with therapies anymore and called it quits. Since that time, Kathie has become a fierce advocate for the fact that disability is a natural as gender expression, ethnicity and and the many other traits that make us all human. The third edition of Kathie’s book, Disability is Natural: A Revolutionary Common Sense for Raising Successful Children with Disabilities, has recently been released.
Dr. Laura Klinger
Keynote
Laura Grofer Klinger, PhD, is the Director of the UNC TEACCH Autism Program; an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry; and Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of School Psychology at UNC.
Dr. Klinger has authored or co-authored over 30 manuscripts, books, or chapters on ASD. Her research includes the study of learning differences in individuals with ASD and the development of community-based intervention programs to promote successful adult outcomes.
She also consults for school systems and employment programs internationally about best practices for supporting the transition to adulthood. She serves on a variety of community advisory boards including Sesame Street (initiative to increase ASD awareness), Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (supporting their development of an insurance policy for individuals with ASD), Government Accountability Office (adult transition), and Extraordinary Ventures (an employment program for adults with ASD).
Kat Holmes
Closing Keynote
There are a growing number of inclusion experts in the world. What makes Kat Holmes unique is her level of hands-on experience applying inclusion strategies to mass-scale consumer technology. Kat's extensive background includes advising companies on inclusive design methods--which she pioneered while in her role as Director of Inclusive Design at Microsoft. Her product development approach emphasizes human diversity and results in adaptive experiences, inclusive growth, and reduced customer churn.
In 2017, Kat was named one of Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business. She led the development of Microsoft’s award-winning Inclusive Design Toolkit. This toolkit is widely recognized as a “radical” evolution of design thinking and practices, including honors from the Interaction Design Association (IxDA) and Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas.
Learn more at LinkedIn at Kat Holmes. A full summary of experience and recognition is located at Kat Holmes Design.
What people are saying about the Power of Play Conference
"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."
Interested in being a sponsor?
To find our more about our sponsorship packages, email us!
Want to Volunteer At The Conference?
We’d love to have you! Email Aron Hall if you are interested in helping out.
Thank you to our Boardwalk-level sponsor, the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities
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!