Get your "ducks in a row" and join us as we "Waddle into Literacy"!!! ... You will know why we chose the duck theme when you get there! <https://www.gitwl.org/home>[cid:image001.png@01DD2992.D6E4B620]<https://www.gitwl.org/home>Getting In Touch with Literacy [cid:image001.png@01DD2992.D6E4B620] GETTING IN TOUCH WITH LITERACY & AT December 6-9, 2027 Hilton Long Beach, Long Beach, CA Easy to get to! Long Beach Airport (approx 10 miles from hotel), then taxi or Uber to hotel. or from Los Angeles Airport (LAX) (21 miles from hotel), you can opt for a train runs directly to Long Beach and stops about 4 blocks from the hotel. The hotel then offers a 1 mile radius shuttle available to pick up from the nearby train stop. A multiday conference of talks, activities, and workshops related to the teaching of literacy to individuals who are blind or visually impaired, in addition to pre-conference and field trip opportunities. Hosted By [cid:image001.png@01DD2992.D6E4B620] & [cid:image001.png@01DD2992.D6E4B620] Including ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY TRACK We will have a whole track dedicated to assistive technology that supports teaching, learning, and literacy for students and adults with visual impairments! SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE Day 1 [A Conference Presenter holding up her poster presentation about teaching TVI remotely] Monday, 12/6/2027 PRE-CONFERENCEAM & PM Pre-Conference Sessions GENERAL CONFERENCEEvening Welcome Reception & Opening Keynote Registration Check-in Day 2 [Several conference attendees sitting at tables wearing their conference name badges] Tuesday 12/7/20278:30 - 5:30 Exhibits - 9:15am - 4:30pmSIlent Auction 12:15pm - 4:30pm Opening General Session8:30 am Concurrent Sessions Evening Activity Literacy Around the WorldJoin us in our 4 Themed Hospitality Suites each serving food and drinks representing their country! Day 3 [A young child wearing a t-shirt with the braille alphabet on it. The child is wearing glasses and is looking down at the letters in print and braille on them and feeling them on his stomach/chest area on his shirt at the same time.] Wednesday 12/8/20278:30 am -5:15 pm Exhibits - 9:15am - 1:30pmSilent Auction 9:15 - Closes at noon concurrent sessions Keynote Session II<https://www.gitwl.org/scheduleagenda/speakers> Poster Sessions and designated vendor time11:00am - noon The Holbrook Humphries & Alan Koenig Awards LuncheonNoon - 1:30 Silent Auction winners announced More Concurrent Sessions Day 4 [image of ven diagram with 4 circles that overlap and come together with a red dot in the middle. The circles say, "You love it", "The world needs it", "You are good at it", "You are paid for it". Where the circles overlap it says "Passion", "Mission", "Profession", "Vocation", and outside the of the diagram it says "Purpose".] Thursday 12/9/20278:30 am - Noon Concurrent Sessions & Closing Session The goal of this event is to bring those passionate about literacy for the blind and visually impaired together from across the globe. [cid:image001.png@01DD2992.D6E4B620] Cay Holbrook and Janie Humphries Blome, Getting in Touch with Literacy Conference Founders, colleagues, and best friends. GITWL was founded on the desire for those passionate about Literacy to come together to collaborate, share ideas, learn and have fun. PRE-CONFERENCE Morning and Afternoon, Monday December 6, 2027 GENERAL CONFERENCE Kicks-off Monday Evening, December 6 with our Welcome Reception and ends Thursday, December 9 at Noon (and yes, we will have sessions until noon) Registration Information TBA NEED TO CHANGE OR CANCEL YOUR REGISTRATION? Click here to complete registration change/cancellation request form ALL REQUESTS FOR ANY REFUND MUST BE RECEIVED TBA A 7% cancellation fee will be applied to all refunds Thank you to our 2025 Sponsors!!! Your continued support makes this conference possible and help offset the cost for our teachers and instructors in the field! GOLD LEVEL SPONSORS [cid:image001.png@01DD2992.D6E4B620] Allied Instructional Services<http://www.alliedinstructional.com/> [cid:image001.png@01DD2992.D6E4B620] CEC - DVIDB<https://dvidb.exceptionalchildren.org/> [cid:image001.png@01DD2992.D6E4B620] CATT - Center for Assistive Technology and Training<http://www.aidb.org/catt> [cid:image001.png@01DD2992.D6E4B620] AERVBI<http://www.aerbvi.org/> Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired<http://www.aerbvi.org/> [cid:image001.png@01DD2992.D6E4B620] Childrens Vision Rehabilitation Program (CVRP)<https://medicine.hsc.wvu.edu/eye/outreach/childrens-vision-rehabilitation-program-cvrp/> [cid:image001.png@01DD2992.D6E4B620] Braille Institute<https://www.brailleinstitute.org/> [cid:image001.png@01DD2992.D6E4B620] EnhanceAbility<https://enhanceability.org/> SILVER LEVEL SPONSORS [cid:image001.png@01DD2992.D6E4B620] Ability2Access<http://www.ability2access.com/> [cid:image001.png@01DD2992.D6E4B620] American Printing House for the Blind<http://www.aph.org/> STANDARD LEVEL SPONSORS [cid:image001.png@01DD2992.D6E4B620] Humanware<http://www.humanware.com/> [cid:image001.png@01DD2992.D6E4B620] Blazie Technologies<http://blazietech.com/> [cid:image001.png@01DD2992.D6E4B620] Accessibyte<https://www.accessibyte.com/> [cid:image001.png@01DD2992.D6E4B620] BRL2 Publishing<https://www.brl2.com/> [cid:image001.png@01DD2992.D6E4B620] LVI<https://lviamerica.com/en-US> Low Vision International<https://lviamerica.com/en-US> [cid:image001.png@01DD2992.D6E4B620] Invision<http://www.invisionservicesinc.com/> [cid:image001.png@01DD2992.D6E4B620] Exceptional Teaching Inc.<https://exceptionalteaching.com/> [cid:image001.png@01DD2992.D6E4B620] Dot Inc.<https://www.dotincorp.com/en/product/dotpadx> [cid:image001.png@01DD2992.D6E4B620] Selvas BLV<http://www.selvasblv.com/> Previously HIMS [cid:image001.png@01DD2992.D6E4B620] Touch Graphics<http://touchgraphics.com/> [cid:image001.png@01DD2992.D6E4B620] TouchPad Foundation<http://touchpadprofoundation.org/> [cid:image001.png@01DD2992.D6E4B620] Tactile Engineering<http://www.gotouchable.com/> [cid:image001.png@01DD2992.D6E4B620] Aloha Braille<https://alohabraille.com/> The Venue - Hilton Long Beach, CA Hilton Long Beach<https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/lgblhhf-hilton-long-beach/?flexibleDates=false&numRooms=1&numAdults=1&numChildren=0&room1ChildAges=&room1AdultAges=&sessionToken=650e5348-dd12-40d8-9058-43605c518d24> 701 West Ocean Boulevard Long Beach, California 90831-3102, USA Hilton Long Beach is located less than a mile from Long Beach Entertainment District and the Civic Center. The venue is under four blocks from Pine Avenue and dozens of eateries in the downtown area are within three blocks. Hotel offers a shuttle with one mile radius of the hotel which allows you to visit multiple attractions including The Queen Mary, Aquarium of the Pacific, Shoreline Village, multiple musesums, and so much more, all within hotel shuttle range! THERE IS SO MUCH TO DO IN AND NEAR BEAUTIFUL LONG BEACH INCLUDING THE ABOVE AND TAKING THE CATALINA ISLAND EXPRESS TO CAPTIVA ISLAND - FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT LONG BEACH GO TO - VISITLONGBEACH.COM<http://visitlongbeach.com/> [cid:image001.png@01DD2992.D6E4B620] [cid:image001.png@01DD2992.D6E4B620] Hotel Information Hilton Long Beach 701 West Ocean Boulevard Long Beach, California 90831-3102 GITWL has contracted for a conference rate of $179/night * Free Wifi Hotel amenities Dining * On-site restaurant * Room service Fitness and recreation * Outdoor pool * Fitness center Conveniences * Digital KeyHilton Honors * Connecting Rooms * Streaming entertainment * Local Shuttle (1 mile radius of hotel) * FREE usage of Be My Eyes App<https://www.bemyeyes.com/news/be-my-eyes-and-hilton-sign-industry-first-partnership-to-create-a-more-accessible-hotel-stay/> available at Hilton Properties Deadline to receive conference rate of $179.00/night is October 31, 2027, or earlier should room block become full. We encourage you to stay at the hotel to help us meet our contract requirements. [Facebook]<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fprofile.php%3Fid%3D100068143189481%26mibextid%3DLQQJ4d&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AOvVaw16Xb9siYC5Sq7Zn3sVZPJe> If you have any questions - please email us at gitwlconference@gmail.com NOTICE: This information and attachments are intended only for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed, and may contain information that is privileged and/or confidential. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited and may be punishable under state and federal law. If you have received this communication and/or attachments in error, please notify the sender via email immediately and destroy all electronic and paper copies.
