Symposium Introduction

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.

 Welcome/Introductions and Opening Remarks

• Erik Geizer, CEO, The Arc New York
• John Kowalczyk, President, The Arc New York
• Katharine Wilson Conroy, Esq., Chairperson, The Arc New York Guardianship Committee
• Erica F. Berman, Director for Guardianship Services, The Arc New York
• Sarah Grimes, Director of Outreach and Community Relations, NYSARC Trust Services

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Meeting ID: 849 6642 8263

Passcode: 416557

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We are so pleased to welcome you to our annual Guardianship Training Symposium, which has recently been transformed from an in-person to a virtual format. We hope that next year, we will all be together in-person! This year marks the 52nd anniversary of the Corporate Guardianship Program, which operates through our Chapters, providing support, care and advocacy to more than 500 people throughout New York State.  We continue to owe a debt of gratitude to the Trustees of the NYSARC Trusts for their ongoing, uncompromising and generous support for sponsoring this special conference!

The primary focus of this 1 1/2 day event is on topics such as leadership, Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment, (MOLST), how guardianship and Supported Decision-Making (SDM) can coexist and are not mutually exclusive, A View from the Bench, SDM and guardianship reform, Informed decision Making and the Power of Choice, as well as Guardianship and Alternative Tools for decision making. The program is intended to explore  practices to better support the changing needs of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families in the least restrictive manner and environment. This perspective is reflected in the theme, “Autonomy, Decision Making Supports, and the Changing  World of Guardianship.” The plenary sessions on  Wednesday, November 2nd and 3rd are intended to provide useful and practical tools, guidance and opportunities for engagement for the audience. It is also our intention to provide this opportunity for education and training for our Guardianship staff and volunteer Committee members, who are largely responsible for the ongoing operations of the Chapters’ Guardianship Programs.

We are so pleased be to joined again by John Kowalczyk, President and  The Arc New York, Erik Geizer, Chief Executive Officer of The Arc New York, and Katharine Wilson Conroy, Chairperson of The Arc New York Guardianship Committee, who will provide the welcome and opening remarks. We are  honored to have Drew Dudley, our   internationally renown Keynote speaker, in addition to many other distinguished moderators, presenters, and panelists who will help to build on our ongoing efforts to educate and provide the audience with practical tools and guidance.

Lastly, I would like to personally extend my sincerest gratitude and appreciation to members of our Guardianship Training and Education Committee, Angel Buchanan, our State Office Communications Team, and other administrative staff for their invaluable assistance and support. Their participation is integral to the production and success of this educational event! As always, we hope that everyone will help us continue to improve this conference by completing the evaluation form that will be sent to you after the symposium. We continue to value your constructive comments so we can always improve  future conferences.  Thank you! 

  Erica F. Berman, Director for Guardianship Services, The Arc New York