Welcome
On behalf of The International 22q Foundation, Inc.; The International 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome Consortium; and The 2012 Program and Local Arrangements Committees, it gives us great pleasure to invite families, clinicians, scientists, and educators from all around the world to attend and participate in the 8th Biennial 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome Meeting entitled “Detection * Care * Cure – The Magic of Making a Difference.”
The Conference will be held at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA from Friday, July 6 th 2012 through Tuesday, July 10th 2012.
The Biennial 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome Meeting is considered by many to be the foremost meeting of the world 22q11.2 deletion syndrome community and occurs every two years. The first Conference was held in 1998 in Strasbourg, France and subsequent venues have included Philadelphia, PA, USA; Rome, Italy; Atlanta, GA, USA; Marseilles, France; Utrecht, the Netherlands; and most recently Coventry, England. Thus, this meeting is now returning to North America for the first time since 2004 leading to an anticipated attendance of record setting numbers including delegates from more than 20 countries around the world.
This Conference is designed not only for “professionals” but for families (parents, grandparents, etc.) and children and adults with the 22q Deletion. Many who have attended in the past have found it to be one of the best experiences they could have in terms of learning more about available treatment, educational strategies and so much more. But perhaps the most important benefit for families is the pure social and bonding experience of getting to know other families who have had similar experiences and building a network for the future to help one another. This is one of the key long term objectives of the lead sponsor, The International 22q11.2 Foundation.
By 2012 the impact of the work being conducted in multiple medical and educational areas will make attendance at the 8th Biennial 22q Meeting essential for researchers, health care providers, counselors, speech and language pathologists, therapists, educators and families alike. As collaborative science increasingly crosses geographic boundaries, and the variability associated with the diagnosis is better understood, the interaction among scientists, clinicians and families becomes more vital and vibrant. In 2012, no doubt this meeting will be the major focal point and platform for the world’s most exciting research and patient focused care.
The conference includes invited presentations from leading international clinicians and researchers, as well as, selected papers from submitted abstracts, and other sessions focusing on the most important and recent developments associated with the 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. A full Social Program is also planned. The preliminary program is scheduled to kick off with a welcome reception for all participants on the evening of Friday, July 6th. Thereafter the Professional Program will open on the morning of July 7 th and conclude on the afternoon of July 8th. Concurrent family focused sessions will run on the mornings of July 7 th and 8th , allowing participants to spend their afternoons and evening in the parks. A speaker dinner will be held on July 7 th while a “22Q BBQ Character Dinner for All” will be served up to all attendees on July 8th . On July 9th the medical and educational sessions will open for families with the meeting concluding on the afternoon of July 10th.
Details about the meeting can be found on this website. This site also includes a Blog that allow you to follow what is going in preparation for the conference.
The headquarters hotel, Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resort, is holding a block of rooms at $179.00/night plus tax under the Code “ 22q Meeting.” This rate is also available before and after the meeting but please contact the hotel for details and availability at (407) 939-4686 .
The Professional Program Committee is responsible for selecting submitted work for presentation in invited, platform, virtual posters and print only formats. This committee is chaired by Anne Bassett, MD from the University of Toronto in Toronto, Canada and has representation from the 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome community worldwide, whereas the Family Committee is responsible for the content of the Family Program. Concurrently, The Local Arrangements Committee is responsible for selecting the venue; fund-raising to reduce the costs to attendees; and eventually seeing the event to its successful conclusion. The lead sponsor for the 2012 Meeting is the International 22q Foundation, Inc.
We hope you will join us in Florida and look forward to welcoming you and yours to this family friendly destination.
Sincerely,
Anne Bassett Carol Cavana Donna McDonald-McGinn Wendy Rose Fred WeinerLocal Arrangement Committee Chairs