NOAHCon – General Schedule
When Should I Travel?
Optional pre-conference educational sessions and optional social activities generally begin in the morning on Thursday of the conference. It is recommended that attendees of pre-conference activities arrive Wednesday evening.
Conference check-in begins: Thursday at 3:00pm
Opening session: Thursday at 7:30pm
Closing breakfast: Sunday from 9:00 – 10:30am
Tentative Conference Schedule
*Please note: sessions, conference offerings, and presenters are subject to change.
Thursday, July 11th
| Time | Session |
| 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Low Vision Driving Workshop (Must pre-register. Additional fee applies.) “Bioptic Driving: Methods for Screening, Training, and Licensing Candidates” – Chuck Huss, COMS, Driver Rehabilitation Specialist – Dennis Kelleher, Ed.D – Karen O’Fearna, Coordinator, Limited Vision Condition Program (Bioptic Lens Adaptive Device Drivers), Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicle Services (DMV) – Thomas I. Porter, O.D., F.A.A.O. – Derrick Scott, CDI, CDRS, Apex Driving School |
| 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM | Mothers’ Workshop (Must pre-register. Additional fee applies.) – Sheila Adamo, LCSW, CADC – Megan Pitt, LMHC |
| 11:00 AM – 4:30 PM | Downtown Disney w/Optional Scavenger Hunt Off-Site Outing |
| 12:00 – 5:30 PM | Anaheim Packing House Food Market (Must pre-register. Additional fee applies.) Off-Site Outing |
| 12:00 – 4:00 PM | Nixon Presidential Library Tour (Must pre-register. Additional fee applies.) Off-Site Outing |
| 12:00 – 4:00 PM | Wine Tasting at Pali Wine Company (ages 21+) (Must pre-register. Additional fee applies.) Off-Site Outing |
| 3:00 – 8:00 PM | Conference Check-In Silent Auction Drop-Off Sun Gear Drop-Off |
| 5:00 – 5:30 PM | First Timers’ Session |
| 5:30 – 7:00 PM | Kids’ Conference Parent Orientation & Kids’ T-Shirt Pickup |
| 7:30 – 9:00 PM | Opening Session |
| 9:00 – 10:00 PM | Welcome Reception |
| 9:30 PM | Drinks with Dads On-site Meet-up at OC Brewhouse |
| 9:30 PM | PWA Young Adult Connections IRL (“In Real Life”) Meet-Up |
| 9:30 PM | PWA Adult Connections IRL (“In Real Life”) Meet-Up |
Friday, July 12th
| Time | Session |
| 8:00 AM | Adult PWA Yoga |
| 8:00 – 8:45 AM | Sun Gear Swap |
| Silent Auction Drop-off | |
| Kids’ Conference Check in | |
| 8:00 – 11:00 AM | Onsite Research Opportunities |
| 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM | NOAH Exchange – Exhibits Open |
| 9:00 AM – 3:15 PM | Kids’ Conference Programming |
| 9:00 – 9:30 AM | Keynote Address |
| 9:45 –11:30 AM | Latest Research in Albinism – David Adams, MD, PhD – Murray Brilliant, PhD – Brian Brooks, MD, PhD – Joseph Carroll, PhD – Sasha Strul, MD – Donna Appell, RN (Moderator) |
| PWA Canvas Paint (Must pre-register. Additional fee applies.) – Liz Schafer | |
| Connecting Assessments to Services – Anne Corn, Ed.D. – Kayla Hamlin, TVI, COMS – Marjie Wood, TVI, COMS | |
| 11:30 AM–12:45 PM | Lunch |
| 12:15 – 2:15 PM | Onsite Research Opportunities |
| 12:45 – 1:45 PM | Exhibitor Showcase |
| Ask the Doctors – for PWAs – David Adams, MD, PhD – Murray Brilliant, PhD – Brian Brooks, MD, PhD – Joseph Carroll, PhD – Sasha Strul, MD – Donna Appell, RN (Moderator) | |
| Employment Skills Should Start Young – Cindy Camp, Described and Captioned Media Program | |
| Bioptic Driver Training, Testing and Licensure: Similarities and Differences Across the United States – Chuck Huss, COMS, Driver Rehabilitation Specialist | |
| Navigating the Expanded Core Curriculum in School: Advocacy, Assessment, Services, and Opportunities – Adrian Amandi, Director of the California Education Resource Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired – CSB | |
| Parents of Newly Diagnosed Children & Young Children with Albinism Forum – Sheila Adamo, LCSW, CADC – Megan Pitt, LMHC | |
| Writing from Memory: A Creative Writing Workshop Guided by published author Emily Urquhart, PhD | |
| 2:00 – 3:00 PM | Ask the Doctors – for Parents & Families – David Adams, MD, PhD – Murray Brilliant, PhD – Brian Brooks, MD, PhD – Joseph Carroll, PhD – Sasha Strul, MD – Donna Appell, RN (Moderator) |
| Conquering Your Career (Panel) – Nick Smith (Moderator) | |
| Ask an Educator – Cindy Bachofer, PhD, CLVT – Anne Corn, Ed.D. – Kayla Hamlin, TVI, COMS – Marjie Wood, TVI, COMS | |
| How Do We Navigate this Thing Called Mid-Life and Beyond? Adult PWA Forum | |
| Conquering Community Comments (for family members) – Sheila Adamo, LCSW, CADC – Megan Pitt, LMHC | |
| My MO for O&M – Bill Adams, MA, COMS | |
| 3:00 – 5:00 PM | Onsite Research Opportunities |
| 3:15 – 4:00 PM | PWA Book Club – Discussing True Biz by Sara Nović Adult Fiction (18+) |
| Out & About w/ O&M – Marjie Wood, TVI, COMS | |
| Young Adults with Albinism Forum | |
| “The Man Cave” PWA Guys Forum | |
| 3:15 PM – 5:00 PM | Office Hours with Dr. Anne Corn – Anne Corn, Ed.D. |
| Try-It Technology Fair – Rebecca Rosenberg – Adrian Amandi – Bill Adams – Carlos Samano | |
| 4:00 – 5:00 PM | PWA Choir Practice – Marleena Barber, Director |
| 5:00 – 9:00 PM | Jasmine is a Star screening (Off-site Outing – at Frida Cinema) Featuring Talkback and Red Carpet moments with: – Iyana LeShea as “Jasmine” – Jordan White as “Chris” – Jo Rochelle (Director) – Anup Kulkarni (Director of Photography) – Joshua Roark (Production Design / Producer) |
| 5:00 – 9:00 PM | Huntington Beach at Sunset Off-site Outing |
| 9:00 PM – 12:00 AM | Teen Room *Karaoke Party* – DJ Chris “Boston” Ranaudo |
| 10:00 – 11:00 PM | NOAH Game Night (Attendees 18+) |
Saturday, July 13th
| Time | Session |
| 8:00 – 8:45 AM | Sun Gear Swap |
| Silent Auction Drop-off | |
| Kids’ Conference Check in | |
| 8:00 – 11:00 AM | Onsite Research Opportunities |
| 9:00 AM – 3:15 PM | Kids’ Conference Programming |
| 9:00 – 10:00 AM | Jasmine Is a Star – Panel Discussion – Iyana LeShea – Jordan White – Director, Jo Rochelle |
| Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome – Diagnosis and Management – Donna Appell, Executive Director – HPS Network | |
| Around Town, Around the World – Cindy Bachofer, PhD, CLVT – Marjie Wood, TVI, COMS | |
| Understanding and Supporting the Psychosocial well-being of Children & Adolescents with Albinism from a Developmental Perspective – Jocelyn Leworthy, MSc, Certified Child Life Specialist, RECE, CIMI | |
| The Power of Networking: Albinism Advocacy Around the World – Olive Namutebi, Executive Director – Albinism Umbrella | |
| Adoptive Families Forum | |
| In Stitches (PWA crafting) – Joni Vella | |
| 10:15 – 11:30 AM | Supporting People with Albinism in Sport & Physical Activity – Maria Lepore-Stevens, EdD, CAPE, COMS |
| Protect. Empower. Advocate: Progress on Albinism in Africa – Under the Same Sun – African Albinism Network | |
| Enhancing Learning through Accessible Media – Cindy Camp, Described and Captioned Media Program | |
| Parent Liaison Panel | |
| Grandparent Forum | |
| A Closer Look at LEGOs (Must pre-register. Additional fee applies.) – Kathi Garza, M.Ed., TVI | |
| 11:30 AM – 12:45 PM | Lunch |
| 12:15 – 2:15 PM | Onsite Research Opportunities |
| 12:45 – 1:45PM | Genetics of Albinism for Beginners – Murray Brilliant, PhD |
| Physical Fitness Panel – Nick Smith – Maria Lepore-Stevens, EdD, CAPE, COMS | |
| How We See – Liz Schafer | |
| Parenting without Pigment Forum | |
| Black PWAs Forum | |
| Writing from Memory: A Creative Writing Workshop – PART 2 – Guided by published author Emily Urquhart, PhD | |
| 2:00 PM–3:00PM | Establishing Empowerment – Sheila Adamo, LCSW, CADC – Kathi Garza, M.Ed., TVI |
| Parents of Children with Albinism Forum – Megan Pitt, LMHC | |
| “Red Carpet Ready” Albinism Style – Cassandra Mendez – Bianca McEvoy | |
| Unleashing the Adventurer Within – Jerusha Day, Adventuress Ty | |
| ADA Jeopardy – Andrew Sartorius | |
| Low Vision/Bioptic Driving Panel Discussion Session – Chuck Huss, COMS, Driver Rehabilitation Specialist (Moderator) | |
| 3:00 – 5:00 PM | Onsite Research Opportunities |
| 3:15 PM – 4:00 PM | NOAH Town Hall – Meet the NOAH Board and Staff – NOAH Staff and Board of Directors |
| GRAND Ideas for Orientation & Mobility: O&M is Everything and Everything is O&M! – Marjie Wood, TVI, COMS | |
| Gal Pals – PWA Women Forum | |
| 3:15 – 5:00 PM | Minute to Win-it Games All Ages |
| 4:00 – 5:00 PM | PWA Choir Practice – Marleena Barber, Director |
| 7:30 – 10:30 PM | Dessert Reception/Dance Party and NOAH Silent Auction – DJ Chris “Boston” Ranaudo |
| 10:30 PM – 12:00 AM | NOAH Karaoke Party (18+) – DJ Chris “Boston” Ranaudo |
| 10:00 PM – 12:00 AM | Teen Room |
Sunday, July 14th
| Time | Session |
| 8:15 – 8:45 AM | PWA Choir Dress Rehearsal *Choir Photo will be taken* |
| 9:00 – 10:30 AM | Breakfast |
| 9:30 – 10:30 AM | Closing Session PWA Choir Performance Marleena Barber, Director |