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AMC CONVENTION ~ DUBLIN, OH
BY THE NUMBERS

3rd Annual AMCSupport Convention
Dublin, Ohio ~ USA
July 17-20 2008

Speakers/Workshops/Activities

We are working on securing more speakers but we cannot release their names until they have confirmed their attendance and participation. As more people confirm we will let you know!

Cost to Attend: This convention is free for anyone but registration is required!

Exhibitors:

In an effort to assist people to come to the convention,†we are providing links to possible grants that will help families defray the costs of attending. All the grants listed here are through the various state Councils on People with Developmental Disabilities. These links should take you directly to the grant information and it should explain how to apply. If it fails to work simply click here and find your state and search through the site listed. If your state is NOT listed click here and go to your state’s Developmental Disability Council’s website and find the email or phone for the council and contact them to see if this type of grant exists in your state or if they can direct you somewhere to get financial assistance to attend. These grants seem to be referred to as Consumer Investment Funds, Consumer Empowerment Funds, Family Support Funds, or Educations Funds. I only took about 5 minutes per website to search around so I may have missed some buried in the site and some states may have the grant and not publish the information online.

These grants come with LOTS of RED TAPE so read the fine print and apply very early. As I was reading through these sites I noticed some common threads so I will list some of them so you’re aware as you’re reading your states grant information.

• Some grants will NOT allow the child to come unless you prove that their attendance is welcomed and needed. (Let us know if you need proof of this)

• Some require that you match the amount of money they give or prove you’ve looked for funding in other places.

• Most of these grants do NOT require you to prove income

• Most of these grants will pay for out-of-state conferences and convention

• The standard seems to be that they’ll pay $500 for in-state conventions/ conferences and up to $1200 for out of state.

• Read the fine print as to what they’ll pay for within the trip, some will pay for transportation, some pay for tips but most don’t, some will only pay the conference/ convention registration fee which we do NOT charge so you may have to argue your case to get them to pay for the other expense incurred.

• Most will NOT give you the money before you attend, they will reimburse you up to the grant amount awarded with proof of purchase so save your receipts! If you’re on SSI or SSDI most have a process that you can go through to get the money before you attend.

• Most of these grants require some work on your part AFTER the convention/ conference. These grants are usually granted with the hope that the knowledge you gain at this conference/ convention will help the state somehow. Some require you to write about your experience, do projects based on what you learned, or be active in state disability issues. These projects post convention really vary so be aware of your obligations before you accept the money.


Indiana

http://www.in.gov/gpcpd/fund/CIF_Indivi ... elines.pdf

Guidelines Explanation – App at the bottom

Alabama

 http://www.acdd.org/About/consumer.htm#eligibility

California

 http://www.scdd.ca.gov/programs_project ... policy.htm

Idaho

http://www.icdd.idaho.gov/applic.aspx#funding

Massachusetts’s

http://www.mass.gov/mddc/cefp/index.htm

Missouri

http://www.mpcdd.com/content.php?cat=Gr ... ate%20Plan

not a good link but it says the state has Consumer Investment Funds so call or write for details!!!

New Jersey

http://www.njddc.org/lts-fund.htm

New York- http://ddpc.state.ny.us/publications/co ... rocess.pdf

Does NOT permit out of state conventions/ Conferences

Ohio

http://ddc.ohio.gov/Abt/EFP.htm

Tennessee

 http://www.state.tn.us/cdd/consumertravelgrant.html

Texas

http://www.txddc.state.tx.us/grants_pro ... tipend.asp

Vermont

http://humanservices.vermont.gov/boards ... d-grants-1

Wyoming

 http://ddcouncil.state.wy.us/ParentFam.htm

West Virginia

http://www.wvddc.org/grant_information.html

They provide money for conferences/ conventions but doesn’t give a way for applying. Contact them directly.

Port Columbus International Airport (Airport Code: CMH)- http://www.port-columbus.com/home.asp - Information on ground transportation (shuttles, Taxi’s or rentals), maps, passenger services and airline information.

Skybus Airline- Low cost Airline based out of Port Columbus. Offers some seats for $10 one-way (must book many months in advance to secure that rate) To read about the airline- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skybus_Airlines To book tickets- http://www.skybus.com/

Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA)- http://www.cota.com/ Public Transportation in the Central Ohio Area.

Buckeye Traffic- http://www.buckeyetraffic.org/otis/roads/default.asp Check to see the construction projects that may be happening on the roads you’re traveling

Ohio- http://www.dot.state.oh.us/map1/ohiomap/images/OTM2007ALG.jpg

Columbus Metro Area- http://www.dot.state.oh.us/map1/ohiomap/images/city/columbus.jpg

Franklin County- http://www.dot.state.oh.us/map1/ohiomap/images/county/fra.jpg

Dublin Interactive Map- http://www.irishisanattitude.com/locator_maps.asp

Interstates Running through Ohio- http://www.dot.state.oh.us/map1/IMAP.HTM

Ohio Interstate Exit Guide- http://www.dot.state.oh.us/tic/exitguide.asp
 

Discover Ohio- http://consumer.discoverohio.com/ Tourist Information and attractions throughout the state.

Dublin Convention and Visitors Bureau- http://www.irishisanattitude.com/

Experience Columbus- http://www.experiencecolumbus.com/

COSI- http://www.cosi.org/home/

Columbus Museum of Art- http://www.columbusmuseum.org/

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium- http://www.colszoo.org/

Franklin Park Conservatory & Botanical Gardens- http://www.fpconservatory.org/

Franklin County Weather- http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?zoneid=OHZ055

Tuttle Mall- http://www.simon.com/mall/default.aspx?ID=1229

Easton Towne Center (Mall) - http://www.eastontowncenter.com/

Polaris Mall- http://www.polarisfashionplace.com/

Disclaimer- AMC Support Inc. Does not endorse any of above companies or organizations, we are simply providing the websites to make your trip to the Convention more enjoyable.

Safety and security procedures sometimes make air travel difficult for people with disabilities. Here are some resources to make air travel a better experience:

• Air Travel: A Guide for People with Disabilities. United Spinal Association’s booklet on making reservations, getting to the airport, and handling problems. Call 1-800-444-0120 for a copy, or get it online at www.unitedspinal.org/pdf/ accessible_air_travel.pdf .

From the U.S. Departments of Transportation and Homeland Security:

New Horizons: Information for the Air Traveler with a Disability, at http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/ publications/horizons.htm

Travelers with Disabilities and Medical Conditions,

at www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/specialneeds/index.shtm

Passengers with Disabilities,

at http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/ publications/disabled.htm

Air Travel Service Problems: How complaints

are handled, at http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/problems.htm

For questions or immediate help, call the U.S. Department of Transportation’s toll-free

hotline at 1-800-778-4838 (voice) or 1-800-455-9880 (TTY).

This information was taken from DD Quarterly a publication of the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council http://ddc.ohio.gov/Pub/DDSummer07.pdf

Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita Support Inc.
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Revised: 05/09/09