Conference Schedule

Registration check-in will be open at noon on Thursday, June 25 in the Mesa Verde Foyer, on the first
floor of the Hyatt RDTC. The conference welcome and the first general session will begin at 1:00 pm in
room Mesa Verde AB. On Friday, June 26 we will begin with an Early Bird session from 7:30-8:30 am,
followed immediately by a general session, beginning at 8:30 am. Friday’s activities will end with a
reception at the Denver Art Museum from 5:00-7:00 pm. Saturday, June 27 we will begin with a general
session at 8:30 am. The conference will close on Saturday, June 27 at approximately 1:00 pm.

Exciting Features of the 2009 Region 5 Parent Centers Conference

Because there will be a strong emphasis on technology at this year’s conference, we encourage each of
you to bring your laptop computers if you have them. There will be computers available to use in the
technology lab, but there will be opportunities for you to access online resources during many of the
conference sessions.

The Region 5 PTAC Team is currently developing a new website for use by all Region 5 Parent Centers.
The website will be live June 22, 2009 (URL to follow). All conference handouts will be available to view
and download during the period of June 22-July 13, 2009. Additionally, select conference sessions will
be streamed onto this website for staff of all parent centers to view live, and will be exclusively available
to parent centers in Region 5 (accessible only by password) after the conference.

Weather Information

June weather in Denver is typically warm with high temperatures ranging from 70-90 degrees. Afternoon
showers are common and the temperature cools quickly when the clouds move in, and during the
nighttime. Also, hotel air conditioning can often keep meeting rooms cool. So remember to come
prepared with a sweater or jacket for walking around in the evenings, a raincoat or umbrella, and
sunscreen if you plan on being outside. It will be important to drink plenty of water during your stay in
Denver, due to the altitude. And, bring your swimsuits if you plan on enjoying the Hyatt RDTC’s indoor
pool or hot tub.

Denver Activities

If you are interested in what Denver has to offer, visit www.visitdenver.com or www.denver.org. Both
websites have city attractions and highlights with links to summer calendars of events. The Region 5
PTAC team will be sending you some specific fun Denver events happening the weekend of the
conference very soon.

We are excited about this year’s conference, and are planning to bring a unique flare to all aspects – get
ready! Please contact Patricia or Bronwen at the PEAK office, (719) 531-9400, if we can help with any of
your conference plans. For a preview of the sessions planned for the conference check the current
edition of the Take 5 Region 5 Newsletter which was emailed to you on May 29, 2009.

See you in a few weeks! Don’t forget to book your hotel by Thursday, June 11 if you haven’t already.

The Region 5 TA Team

Barb, Beth, Jacey, Patricia, Roger, Bronwen, and Katlin

Conference Outcomes

The conference planning committee has worked hard to put together and agenda that we hope will
address your technical assistance needs. We have set the following outcomes that we hope will be
achieved by your participation at this conference. Region 5 Conference participants will:

1. Network with staff and Board from other Region 5 Parent Centers to share knowledge, resources,
   and expertise.
2. Expand insight into the perspectives and experiences of people with disabilities regarding
   leadership, self-advocacy, and planning for the future.
3. Learn effective practices for assuring educational success for students with disabilities and ways to
   utilize that information in training families.
4. Develop strategies for parent centers to diversify staff, which will improve outreach to families from
   diverse backgrounds and cultures.
5. Enhance knowledge and skills for incorporating state of the art technology into the operation and
   delivery of content in parent centers.
6. Increase awareness of current assistive technology resources.
7. Gain knowledge about resources available through the OSEP Technical Assistance and
   Dissemination Network and ways to access those resources when working with families.
8. Strengthen relationships with SEAs and utilize parent center data to work collaboratively with the
   SEA on OSEP indicators and with performance plans (SPP) and State performance reports (APR) to
   achieve positive results for students with disabilities.
9. Gain strategies and information on systems change.
10. Increase knowledge of grant management strategies for leading a strong Parent Center.
11. Receive updated information on relevant parent center issues from OSEP, NPTAC, and RPTAC leadership (Directors Session).