Transportation Works: Accessing Transportation in a Diverse Community

 **Registration CLOSED**

Transportation Works:  Accessing Transportation in a Diverse Community

Texas State Independent Living Council (SILC) has partnered with the Valley Association for Independent Living (VAIL) to host the third annual accessible transportation summit.  Transportation Works: Accessing Transportation in a Diverse Community will be held in McAllen, Texas and will focus on efforts to expand inclusive transportation for all Texans.

Through this initiative, Texas SILC hopes to initiate a stakeholder dialogue comprising of traditional transportation collaborators as well as organizations that comprise the coalition of proponents of the Independent Living Movement and create sustainable change by taking steps to increasing accessible transportation in Texas.  There are nearly 1.9 million Texans with disabilities who report not leaving their home due to inadequate transportation services (TCDD website, http://tcdd.texas.gov/transportation-barriers-texas/, October 20, 2015). This event will also focus on methods for consumers to create change in the community by hearing from transportation experts and policymakers on plans for McAllen and Texas, learning advocacy techniques and strategies for engaging policymakers, and discovering new innovations or resources that may increase mobility in your community.  

The accessible transportation summit will be held on March 21, 2019, in McAllen, Texas from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm at the Embassy Suites by Hilton McAllen Convention Center. 

Come participate in helping keep Texans on the move and ensuring Texans with disabilities can thrive in their communities.

REGISTRATION:

Registration is free for consumers (people with disabilities).  There will be a $40 fee for all other participants. This fee includes admission, breakfast, and lunch on the day of the event. If you need any assistance registering for the event, please contact Craig Davis at craig@txsilc.org or 512-371-7353.  Deadline for registration has been extended to Friday, March 15th!!

AGENDA:

Thursday, March 21, 2019

 8:00-9:00: Registration and Continental Breakfast

9:00-9:30: Welcoming Remarks and Keynote

• Mario Martinez, Project Assistant for Independent Living Services, Valley Association of Independent Living (VAIL), and Consumer Advocate in Transportation.
• Eduardo Cantu, Board President, VAIL
• Mayor Jim Darling, City of McAllen
• Sandra Breitengross Bitter, Executive Director, Texas State Independent Living Council (SILC)
• Gladys Cortez, Council Member, Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities (TCDD)

9:30-10:30: Accessible Transportation during a National Disaster

• Robert Ferguson, Regional Disability Integration Advisor, Federal Emergency Management Agency

10:30-10:45: Break 

10:45-11:45: Innovation in Accessible Transportation and Demand Response Service

• Todd Hanson, Assistant Research Scientist, Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI)

12:00-1:00: Luncheon presentation (Plated Lunch Provided): The Blue Print to Transportation Accessibility

• Juanita Webber, ADA Program Compliance Administrator, Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)

1:00-1:15: Break

1:15-2:00: Using Data to Drive Advocacy in the Rio Grande Valley

• Alfred Molina, Mobility Manager, VAIL

2:00-2:15 Break

 2:15-3:15: Increasing Travel for All: Interactive Discussion on Accessibility in New Transportation Systems.

• Rebecca Cowle, Director of External Affairs, Texas Central Partners

 3:15-3:30: Break

 3:30-4:45: Transportation Advocacy: Different Effective Methods that Work for You

• Neva Fairchild, Chair, Rehabilitation Council of Texas and Member of American Foundation for the Blind
• Brooke Hernandez, Independent Living Program Manager, VAIL.
• Maria Bridges, Peer Services Coach, VAIL
• Brian White, General Counsel, Texas State Independent Living Council (SILC)

 4:45-5:00: Closing Remarks and Post-Summit Survey

• Mario Martinez, VAIL

FAQs

What are my transportation/parking options for getting to and from the event?

Parking Information: Free Parking at the Hotel

Transportation Options: McAllen Metro

What are my hotel options, where should I stay?

If you are an out-of-town guest, please contact the Embassy Suites by Hilton McAllen Convention Center directly to make your hotel reservations using the hotel link below.  Please reference the information below the link to complete your registration. 

https://embassysuites.hilton.com/en/es/groups/personalized/M/MFECOES-TSI-20190318/index.jhtmlWT.mc_id=POG

Group Name: Texas State Independent Living Council Conference 2019

Group Code:TSICheck-in:18-MAR-2019Check-out:24-MAR-2019

Hotel Name: Embassy Suites by Hilton McAllen Convention Center 

Hotel Address:800 Convention Center Blvd. McAllen, Texas 78501

Phone Number:956-688-8329

Reserve your hotel room before the February 27th deadline!!!

Exhibitors and Sponsors 

Texas State Independent Living Council (SILC) Sponsorship Benefits

Your contribution will fund SILC including but not limited to advocacy goals set forth in the State Plan for Independent Living and resource development for the Independent Living Network.

Silver: up to $300

• Recognition of supporting SILC and its Independent Living Programs in publications and agency website 

Gold: $301 to $1,000

• Registration for one at Accessible Transportation Summit (ATS)
• One eight foot exhibitor’s table with two chairs
• Advertisement in ATS event program
• Listing and logo on ATS event website and SILC website

Platinum: $1,001 to $5,000

• Registration for two at Accessible Transportation Summit (ATS)
• One eight foot exhibitor’s table with two chairs
• Advertisement in ATS event program
• Listing and logo on ATS event and SILC website
• Recognition in pre and post ATS event email communications to attendees
• Recognition by Emcee at ATS event

Diamond: $5,001 to $10,000

• Registration for four at Accessible Transportation Summit (ATS)
• One eight foot exhibitor’s table with two chairs
• Advertisement in event program
• Listing and logo on ATS event and SILC website
• Recognition in pre and post ATS event email communications to attendees
• Recognition by Emcee during ATS event sessions
• One hotel room for the duration of the ATS event

Exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities are available.  Please contact Brian White, Project Director, at Brian@txsilc.org or call 512-371-7353 for more information.

Please feel free to share with your network!

Financial support for the Texas SILC Transportation Works project is provided by the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities (TCDD), with Federal funds* made available by the United States Department of Health And Human Services, Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. *$150,000.00 (90%) TCDD funds; $16,667.00 (10%) non-federal resources.