8:00 – 8:30 a.m.

Continental Breakfast

8:30 – 9:15 a.m.

Session I
Welcoming Remarks: The History of the International Congress

• Hon. Margaret Giannini, Chair, 9th Congress and Director, Office on Disability, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services        
• Merle McPherson, Co-Chair, 9th Congress, Office on Disability, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• Janet Allem, Office of USAID

(In conjunction with youth session.)

9:15 – 10:00 a.m.

Session II
Family Introductions

Facilitators: Jennifer Cernoch & Polly Arango, Family Voices

10:00 – 10:15 a.m.

Break

10:15 – 11:15 a.m.

Session III
Review conference schedule

• Explanation of family role in the Congress and information to share at home
• Establish mentor/parent teams to help international families in understanding each topic area:
• Healthcare
  Jennifer Cernoch,
  U.S. Parent representative, Slovakia
• Children’s Mental Health/Behavioral Support
  Conni Wells, U.S.
• Transition to Employment Services
  Patti Hackett, U.S.
  Susan Goodman, U.S.
• Inclusive Education
  Polly Arango, U.S.
  Denise Roza, Russia

11:15 – 11:45 a.m.

Session IV
Families Meet Youth

Overview on what each group is seeking from this Congress

11:45 – 1:00 p.m.

Box Lunch with Youth Representatives

1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Session V
Learning from Each Other – Social and Parent-to-Parent Supports

Facilitators:
Polly Arango & Barbara Popper, U.S.
Maria Eugenia Yadarola, Argentina

• Sharing of perspectives/experiences on family involvement in communities; disabilities issues specific to home countries; and expectations/dreams for their children’s future; Separate and structured conversations are based on daily conference topics and mentor parent areas.
• Seek family input about each daily topic of the Congress:
• What are your expectations?
• What do you want to teach others?
• What changes can you make at home based on your experiences at the Congress?

3:00 – 3:30 p.m.

Questions and Answers

3:30 – 5:00 p.m.

Session VI
“Solutions to Share” – Building and Sharing from a Family Perspective

Facilitators: Barbara Popper, Susan Goodman & Patti Hackett, U.S.
Families will be asked to brainstorm about solutions to challenges or issues affecting their child/youth with disabilities or innovative and creative activities within their communities that have improved services for children and youth. Families will also be asked to share items from their families, communities, and cultures to display at the Congress.

6:30 – 8:00 p.m.

Reception

8:00 – 8:30 a.m.

Continental Breakfast
Breakfast Roundtable Discussions

8:30 – 9:15 a.m.

Session I
Welcoming Remarks: The History of the International Congress

• Hon. Margaret Giannini, Chair, 9th Congress and Director, Office on Disability, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• Merle McPherson, Co-Chair, 9th Congress, Office on Disability, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• Janet Allem, Office of USAID

Facilitator: Betsy Valnes

9:15 – 9:45 a.m.

Session II
Youth-specific Inclusion in the International Congress

Facilitator: Betsy Valnes

9:45 – 10:00 a.m.

Break

10:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Session III
What Lies Ahead?

Facilitators: Tran, Kotova, Murangira, Valnes

• Walk through schedule
• Views on these topics based on what is happening in home country
  • Tinh Tran Van, Vietnam, Healthcare
  • Svetlana Kotova, Russia, Law/Policy
  • Ambrose Murangira, Uganda, Employment
  • Betsy Valnes, United States, Education

11:00 – 11:45 a.m.

Session IV
Youth and Parents Meet

Facilitator: Svetlana Kotova

• Overview on what each group is seeking from this Congress

11:45 – 1:00 p.m.

Box Lunch with Parent Representatives

1:00 – 2:00 p.m.

Session V
Youth Experience: School to Work

Facilitator: Betsy Valnes

• Youth leaders talk about transitioning from school to work and reaching economic independence

2:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Session VI
Where We Are Coming From

Facilitator: Betsy Valnes

• The team and partners from Norway will share first hand the evolution of the Congress youth involvement and its future direction

3:00 – 3:30 p.m.

Break

3:30 – 5:00 p.m.

Session VII
Team Time

Facilitator: Ambrose Murangira

• Take this time to develop a community with one another based and built on trust and comfort as a “youth team”
• Develop an understanding of the lives of youths from other countries
• Converse about activities and how to support one another during and after the Congress

5:00 – 6:30 p.m.

Time on Your Own

6:30 – 8:00 p.m.

Reception
Getting to Know One Another

Youth representatives will socialize with one another to get acquainted and establish team-building prior to the formal Congress

8:00 – 10:00 p.m.

International Disco