For everyone that attended the 21st Biennial ASDC Conference, hosted by the Oklahoma School for the Deaf in Sulphur, Oklahoma, June 24 – 28, 2009, it will be an event to remember. With over 300 attendees, families from all over the world came together to celebrate their journeys, make new friends and learn about the many resources available for deaf children and their families.

Oklahoma is known for its hospitality, and this was more than apparent in all that the Oklahoma School for the Deaf did to make the families’ stay as fun-filled and enjoyable as possible. Attendees were given opportunities to attend workshops during the day, while the children were kept busy with special children activities, the evenings were filled with the rich and diverse culture of Oklahoma activities included: A Mini-State Fair, A Round-Up, Chickasaw Indian Dancers, Buffalo Soldiers, The Calvary, Wilderness Petting Zoo, Raising of Teepees, Native American Culture, Rodeo, Bull Riding, Barrel Racing, and a taste of the local fare.

A very special thank you goes to everyone at the Oklahoma School for the Deaf for all their hard work and time devoted towards coordinating this event. A special ASDC thank you goes to Larry Hawkins, Superintendent of OSD, and to Carolyne Paradiso and KaAnn Varner Co-Coordinators of the Biennial Conference.

Hats off to everyone at the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind for planning the 20th biennial conference. With special recognition going to Michele Love, ASDC Board Member, who served as the overall coordinator of the event, and to Terri Wiseman and her staff, who helped put together the mind-boggling day-to-day operation of the conference. Our thank you's would not be complete without A very special thank you to FSDB President Elmer Dillingham for hosting this extraordinary conference.

With over 500 people in attendance this was a spectacular conference. Offering something for everyone. Children were kept busy every day with fun activities, including field trips to the zoo, and the park. Meanwhile parents were given the opportunity to hear keynote speakers such as Dr. I. King Jordan, and his family, La-Verna Fountain, and Kelby Brick. A variety of workshops featuring topics such as resources, advocacy, key parent training, transition, reading, genetics, sexuality, internet safety and so much more were offered daily. The evenings brought families back together to attend a carnival, take a train to St. Augustine, or watch a movie.

Some comments from families were: "This conference was absolutely worth all of the effort to meet the needs of our families for the benefit of our children. Thanks so much." "We will be back for Oklahoma in 2009 and will bring another family!" "My family had a wonderful time! The campus was beautiful and we all had an awesome experience." "I enjoyed all the keynote speakers, and left all the workshop just wanting more, I hated for them to end, I learned more than I thought I could." "I can't wait for 2009!"

More than 400 people were expected to attend the conference, focusing on reading, cochlear implants and preparing deaf children for life after high school.

Among the presenters was Rodney Danco, 58, vice president of finance at Danco Precision, an industrial molding company founded by his uncle. Danco has served on the WPSD board since 1984 and has served as president the past four years. One of seven members of the school's first graduating class in 1965, he recalled the advice he gave his classmates. "I told them it's okay to be deaf," he said.

Members of the “Mr. Rogers Neighborhood” cast and local sports figures opened the conference carnival, and a riverboat dinner trip on the three rivers of Pittsburgh was also on the agenda. Keynote addresses included Elaine Ocuto and son Luke, who described their experiences as the mother of a deaf son and the son of a hearing mother, Rodney Danco, Jr.,Mary Lou Novitsky, and Dr. Marc Marschark, NTID professor and author.

18th Biennial Family Reunion: July 26-30, 2003
Texas School for the Deaf, Austin, TX

There’s something for everyone. While children take part in camp-like activities, parents attend educational workshops. Evening events bring everyone back together for family- focused activities.

Through our “Family Reunion” theme our goal is to root deaf children in a rich lineage of support by bringing together immediate and extended family members, professionals, and representatives from the Deaf community. With the intent of creating a healthy family tree of relationships and services, we plan to offer workshops on a variety of topics that will offer information, outreach, and technical assistance to parents and siblings of deaf and hard of hearing children. Come join us and share your expertise, experiences, and enthusiasm.

Download an agenda for this conference.

17th Biennial Conference: July 12-16, 2000
Gallaudet University, Washington DC

Gallaudet’s first hosting of an American Society for Deaf Children conference drew a record number of attendants to Kendall Green July 12-16. More than 700 people – approximately 150 families – enrolled, making the event a smashing success.

The theme, "Yours, Mine and Ours", reaffirmed the organization’s philosophy that parents working with deaf adults and professionals from the fields of education and human services enrich deaf children’s present and future.

The goal of the conference was for participants to emerge as a stronger family unit, better educated about the social, emotional, and educational needs of deaf children and their siblings, and better advocates for their children.

Programs were offered to conference-goers of all ages. The numerous activities that were held during the week offered something for all interests and were geared to an individual’s degree of exposure to deafness. Workshops included basketball, football, karate, computer skills and performing arts. For adults, in addition to morning and afternoon information sessions, it was keynote presentations from high-profile speakers.

In the evenings, children and their parents met for activities such as swimming, math games, and storytelling.