Developmental Disabilities Conference Scheduled for October 30

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Northwest Area Health Education Center (AHEC) of Wake Forest University School of Medicine and the Special Olympics of North Carolina have collaborated to sponsor a conference to address issues affecting developmentally disabled individuals and the challenges they face living in mainstream society.

The conference, “Developmental Disabilities through the Lifespan”, will be held on Oct. 30, 2009, at the Embassy Suites Hotel in downtown Winston-Salem. This event is also supported by the North Carolina AHEC Program, Amos Cottage, CenterPoint Human Services, The Special Children’s School and J Iverson Riddle Developmental Center in Morganton.

The conference will feature two keynote speakers, Timothy P. Shriver, chairman of the Special Olympics, and Derrick Dufresne, founder and senior partner of Community Resource Alliance (CRA). CRA is a training and management consultation firm that provides the resources necessary to enable people who have disabilities, their friends, and their families to fully participate in and benefit from life within their communities.

Entertainment will be provided by Chris Burke with Joe and John DeMasi. Burke is best known for his role as Charles “Corky” Thatcher on the hit ABC-TV show “Life Goes On” and his reoccurring role as Taylor on the hit CBS-TV show “Touched By An Angel.”

This conference is recommended for health care professionals including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, allied and mental and public health professionals, as well as parents, caregivers, consumers and anyone with an interest in the developmentally disabled. To register, go to www.northwestahec.org.

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