Come learn and network with your colleagues at the 2024 Spring Conference!
A Heart for Students
April 17-19, 2024
Fairfield Bay Conference Center
Deadline for registration and lodging reservation: April 3rd
Download the Conference Packet (PDF)
Go Directly to the Online Registration Form
Come and join us at Fairfield Bay on beautiful Greers Ferry Lake for the 2024 Ark AHEAD Spring Conference. The theme is A Heart for Students and is all about providing for our students in areas such as accommodations, assistive technology, empowerment, and appeals processes.
Keynote Presentation
Back to the Basics:
Navigating Determining Reasonable Accommodations, Appeals Processes, and More
April 18th
8:30 to 11:45 PM
Presenter: Kristie Orr, PhD
Description of Presentation: The ever-changing world of disability work in higher education can be challenging. With new staff entering the field, challenging accommodation requests, and limited resources, it is more important that ever to have consistent processes for determining accommodations, using an interactive process, providing opportunities for appeals and grievances, and more. This session will focus on best practices to assist disability resources professionals at all levels.
Speaker Bio: Dr. Kristie Orr is the Director of Disability Resources at Texas A&M University, past president of AHEAD, and member of the Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities. She has two degrees from Texas A&M and one from the University of California at Santa Barbara. Kristie loves to provide trainings on her own campus and across the country and appreciates learning as much from the participants as they learn from her. She also provides external reviews for disability resource offices (shameless plug). Outside of work, Kristie enjoys traveling, reading, playing games with her family, and spending as much time as possible with her amazing grandchildren (feel free to ask for pictures).
Registration Information
There are 2 options for registration. If you cannot attend the full conference, consider the 1 day session on Thursday for the Keynote Speaker’s presentation, Back to the Basics: Navigating Determining Reasonable Accommodations, Appeals Processes and More!
Full Conference Registration
Wednesday, April 17th at 1:00 PM through Friday, April 19th at noon
(Includes dinner on Wednesday, lunch on Thursday, and break snacks)
- Current Ark AHEAD Members: $275
- Non-Members: $325
- Students: $200
Thursday Only Registration
Thursday, April 18th 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
(Includes lunch and break snacks)
- Current Ark AHEAD Members: $150
- Non-Members: $175
- Students: $100
Register at arkahead.org/2024-spring-conference. Indicate any conference access accommodations and dietary restrictions.
Schedule at a Glance (Tentative)
Wednesday, April 17th
| Start Time | End Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| 11:00 AM | 1:00 PM | Registration |
| 1:00 PM | 1:30 PM | Welcome and Introductions |
| 1:30 PM | 2:20 PM | Session 1: Technology is My Friend, and It Can Be Yours Zachary Singleton, Ph.D. |
| 2:20 PM | 2:30 PM | Break |
| 2:30 PM | 3:00 PM | Session 2: Partnering with Students for Recognition and Respect Julie Brown, MSE |
| 3:00 PM | 3:50 PM | Session 3: “Count me in”: A Student’s Search for Inclusion in the Numbers of Disability Reporting Alison Guthrie, BS and Ashleigh King |
| 3:50 PM | 4:00 PM | Announcements |
| 5:30 PM | Dinner (Provided) | |
| 7:00 PM | Game Night |
Thursday, April 18th
| Start Time | End Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| 7:30 AM | 8:30 AM | Registration |
| 8:30 AM | 11:45 AM | Keynote Presentation Back to the Basics: Navigating Determining Reasonable Accommodations, Appeals Processes, and More Kristie Orr, Ph.D. |
| 11:45 AM | 12:00 PM | Presentation of Awards |
| 12:00 PM | 1:00 PM | Lunch (Provided) |
| 1:00 PM | 2:00 PM | Session 4: Access and Accommodation Practices: A Conversation Cafe Facilitator: Melanie Thornton, MA |
| 2:00 PM | 2:45 PM | Session 5: Approaches to Understanding “Test Anxiety” Reed Claiborne, M.S. and Julie Shelby, M.A. |
| 2:45 PM | 3:00 PM | Break |
| 3:00 PM | 4:30 PM | Session 6: Creating a Culture of Inclusion | Practices and Policies 101 Sharon Downs, MS |
| Dinner on Your Own | ||
| 8:00 PM | S’mores and Hot Chocolate by the Fire Pit |
Friday, April 19th
| Start Time | End Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00 AM | 10:30 AM | Session 7: The “AAAAYs” of Disability Services: Accommodations, Acronyms, and Assistive Technology Beverly Quillin, MS, Bridgette Hardage, MSE, and Erin Poe, M.Ed. |
| 10:30 AM | 10:45 AM | Break |
| 10:45 AM | 11:15 AM | Closing Comments and Dismissal |
View Full Schedule with Descriptions
Conference and Lodging Location
All sessions and activities will be held in the conference center located on Greers Ferry Lake.
Fairfield Bay Conference Center
110 Lost Creek Parkway
Fairfield Bay, AR 72088
501-884-4202
ffbconference.com
Lodging is available next door:
Cobblestone Inn & Suites
100 Lost Creek Parkway
Fairfield Bay, AR 72088
Call to make reservations. Indicate that you are with Ark AHEAD.
Phone: 501-825-3046
Website: staycobblestone.com/ar/fairfield-bay/
Lodging details:
- Cost of room is $107 + tax per night for any type room
- Includes complimentary breakfast on Thursday and Friday
- Limited number of each room type so register early for choice
- Various room types available
- Check-in time is 3:00 but rooms may be ready earlier
- Request lodging access accommodations when making reservation
- Individual reservations can be cancelled at no charge up to 24 hours before arrival date. No-Show reservations will be charged one night’s room rate at the negotiated group rate.