4-Day Hybrid Conference on Self-Advocacy and Disability in Education
Online: October 19 – 22, 2023
Online via Whova
In-person: October 21 & 22, 2023
SFU Surrey Campus – 250-13450 102 Ave, Surrey, BC
Hosted by BCEdAccess and BC People First
Earlybird Pricing:
Secure your spot and save by purchasing tickets between August 11th and September 20th, 2023.
Scroll down to learn more about the event!
Sponsorship and Exhibitors:
Support the conference and promote your organization with a sponsorship or exhibitor package.
Empowering Equity in Education
About the Event:
AdvoCon is our annual education advocacy conference organized by the BCEdAccess Society, a grassroots BC nonprofit society and Canadian charitable organization founded in 2014. At AdvoCon, we unite parents, guardians, self-advocates, educators, administrators, and allies from all over British Columbia to pursue equitable access to education.
This year’s conference focuses on self-advocacy and disability in education, and we are excited to partner with BC People First, who have been amplifying self-advocate voices for over 40 years.
Join us for an incredob;e lineup of workshops, panels, and presentations for parents, guardians, educators, self-advocates, and supporters of students with disabilities and complex learners. We aim to break down barriers and promote inclusion through learning, networking, and advocacy.
Event Highlights
For Parents, Guardians, Self-Advocates, Educators, Administrators, and Allies/Accomplices!
Our conference is led by the population we serve – disabled individuals, BIPOC, and 2SLGBTQ+ people, which is why we emphasize inclusivity and make sure there is something valuable to everyone.
Featured Topics:
Each day of #AdvoCon2023 includes 6-8 sessions over 4 concurrent time slots. Various streams will cover workshops, panels, and presentations on Health and Wellbeing, Advocacy in Education, Professional Development, and Systems Advocacy, with a central focus on Self-Advocacy this year. View the entire schedule by clicking the button above.
Tickets Include:
The first 100 online attendee tickets sold will receive a complimentary mailer, filled with goodies, from BCEdAccess and our sponsors. All in-person attendees receive a delegate bag, coffee, snacks and lunch.
Accessibility:
ASL interpretation, CART captioning, active listeners, and other accessibility features ensure everyone can participate fully. The in-person venue is fully accessible with ramps, elevators, washrooms accessible for everyone and a designated area for relaxation and decompression.
Travel, Parking, and Accommodations:
The SFU Surrey Campus is located at Central City Shopping Centre at #250-13450 102 Ave,
Surrey, BC. The Main Entrance is accessed through the Central City Shopping Centre, on the Mezzanine (2nd) Floor.
Directions, Parking & Accommodation Information can be downloaded here.
Hybrid Experience:
In-person sessions will be broadcasted online, so join us in-person at SFU Surrey, watch live online, or view at your own pace. Recordings will be available to ticket holders for 3 months after the sessions.
Networking:
Chat online with fellow attendees and connect during breaks, fostering valuable relationships. Join the social event on Saturday night!
Professional Development:
Many sessions qualify for professional development credits and certificates provided upon request. Ticket reimbursement may be provided through professional organizations.
Financial Support:
Financial assistance to attend the event is offered through professional organizations such as Autism Funding Unit, and more. BCEdAccess also offers a limited number of subsidized tickets for the online event. Please fill out the application form on the registration page here.
Guest Speakers
We have an amazing lineup this year and many more great panels, presentations and workshops still to be announced!
- The Honorable Rachna Singh, BC Minister of Education and Child Care
- Inclusive Education and Framework for Enhancing Student Learning – Ministry staff
- Accessibility Secretariat of BC with a session on the Accessible BC Act and education and other services
- Levonne Abshire, Advocacy Fatigue, Self Care and Community Care
- Symbia Barnaby, an Indigenous woman of Haida and Mi’kmaq descent living in northern BC, will share and discuss her film, Healing Nation
- Christine Younghusband, Institute for Public Education, with Dreaming Big About Education 3
- The EA Standards Working Group will present on their work
- Youth and adult Self-Advocate Panels returning by popular demand this year!
Sponsorship and Exhibitors
Why Become a Sponsor for #AdvoCon2023?
Becoming a sponsor gives your organization the opportunity to support a great cause while also receiving promotion to the BCEdAccess and BC People First communities and our supporters and networks. Our follower count grows each year and our 2023 sponsors will reach more people than ever before.
- The growing private BCEdAccess Facebook community has over 5,300 members (compared with 3700 in 2021) and is very active with upwards of 10 posts per day, all of which receive significant engagement
- We have a good following on social media with over 5,000 followers on our public Facebook page, over 3,100 followers on Twitter and over 1000 on Instagram
- Our mailing list reaches over 1,000 subscribers
- On average, our blog posts have 3,000 visitors within 24 hours of being published, and our blog has nearly 6000 followers
- Last year’s virtual AdvoCon had 206 attendees and we are expecting higher numbers at our 2023 conference due to increased interest and the hybrid nature of the event.
View and download our sponsorship packages below.
Other Ways to Support
Volunteer Opportunities:
Contribute to the event’s success through various volunteer roles, including planning to technical support.
Donate:
Contribute to the event’s success by donating funds to provide financial support for conference delegates.
Merchandise:
Purchase t-shirts, tote bags and stickers and support BCEdAccess’ work! Great gifts and a way to showcase your support for equitable access to education!
#AdvoCon2023 Tickets
Conference Attendees:
Secure your spot! Attend online, in-person, or both! Buy your tickets now!
Sponsorship and Exhibitors:
Support the conference! Purchase a sponsorship or exhibitor package now!