2024 Annual APRIL Conference Registration is Now Open!
October 11-13, 2024
Hyatt Regency McCormick Place
2233 S Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60616
APRIL Youth Conference Scholarship Application Information:
If you are a young adult ages 15-30 years of age who needs financial assistance to attend the APRIL Youth Conference and APRIL Conference October 11-13, 2024 use the link below.
Scholarship Applications are due August 1, 2024.
Please note that you will still need to register for the APRIL conference and choose the "pay offline" option. You can find the Conference Application Link in our LinkTree in Bio as well.
Direct questions to Harm Tarrant (he/him) at
Scholarship Application Link: https://form.jotform.com/aprilinfo/2024youthschol
Hotel Reservation Information:
Location:
Hyatt Regency McCormick Place
2233 S Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Chicago, IL 60616
October 11-13, 2024
[Pre Conference and Youth Conference are held on October 11, 2024]
A block of rooms has been reserved for conference attendees at a rate of:
- $219/night + tax = $257.08; single or double
- This rate is good 3 days pre / post conference dates
Click this link to be taken directly to the Hyatt Group Booking Page for the APRIL Conference
These rates are guaranteed to APRIL conference attendees until September 18, 2024.
Any reservations received after this date are subject availability.
If you would prefer to call and book your reservation, you must mention the APRIL group when booking. Phone Number: 312-567-1234.
Travel & Other Important Information for Conference Attendees:
AIRPORT / TRAVEL INFORMATION
- Midway Airport (MDW) is 9 miles from Hyatt Regency McCormick
- Airport website: www.flychicago.com
- You can fly into O’Hare but please note: it is a 50+ minute commute to the hotel due to traffic. **Southwest flights into O’Hare land at the International Terminal which is at least a mile walk to baggage claim.
TRANSPORTATION
- There are a wide variety of taxi options to the hotel.
- Uber and Lyft are also available.
PERSONAL ASSISTANT SERVICES & DME REQUESTS
- PSA: Access Living Chicago (312) 640-2100
- Scooter Rentals: available on-site at the Convention Center
To read all this information in a PDF form, click this link to download
Reminders:
- The APRIL Conference is fragrance-free
- There are no mask requirements for this year's conference
- APRIL is not responsible for underage attendees
Planning for the APRIL Conference is in FULL swing! You can now register with Earlybird Registration prices (both as an APRIL member and non-APRIL member), register to vend/exhibit at the Conference, and register to be a sponsor of our milestone 30th Annual APRIL Conference.
See links below for more information:
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Elissa Ellis at
Conference Registration is now open:
- Earlybird APRIL Member Price = $350
- Earlybird Non-Member Price = $450
- Youth Conference Price = $50
- Pre-Conference Sessions (both) Price = $50
- Afternoon Pre-Conference Session: Are you Audit ready?
- Morning Pre-Conference Session: ACL and the new reporting tool
Click here to be taken to our registration form
Vendor/Exhibitor Registration Now Open:
Thank you for your interest in becoming a vendor at the Annual APRIL Conference. Our event will begin with our Pre-Conference and Youth Conference on October 11th, and will end with our annual banquet on October 13th at 9 PM Central Time. Your vendor table may be set up any time during these hours. Please note participants may visit your booth at any point during the event. We will have a dedicated time carved out in the agenda on October 12th for participants to visit booths. You will want to be set up by 9:00 am Central Time on October 12th in order to maximize your reach.
- Conference Vendor/Exhibitor Price (1 table) for Non-Profit Organizatoins = $500
- Conference Vendor/Exhbitor Table Price (1 table) for For-Profit Organizations = $750
- Additional Vendor/Exhibitor Table Price (for a total of 2 tables) = additional $250
Click here to be taken to the 2024 APRIL vendor/exhibitor registration form
APRIL Conference Sponsorship Opportunities
Your conference sponsorship would be greatly appreciated by our membership and the community in which we hold our conference. We have several support and payment options listed below for your convenience.
Corporate Sponsorships:
Corporate sponsors receive waived conference fees, exhibit booth if requested, full page color advertisement space on the Conference website, Newsletter and Annual Report recognition, and recognition on the APRIL website! You will also receive an honorary membership in APRIL.
Corporate Sponsor Levels:
- Gold = $50,000
- Silver = $25,000
- Bronze = $15,000
If you want to help sponsor the APRIL Conference in other capacities, check out some options to give back and support us:
Food/Break Sponsorships:
- Break Sponsor - $4,000
- Co-Sponsor of Luncheon = $7,000
- Luncheon Sponsor = $11,000
- Co-Sponsor of Banquet = $10,000
- Sponsor of Banquet - $25,000
Workshop/Programming Sponsorship:
- Youth Dance = $2,000
- Youth Conference = $10,000
- CART Sponsor = $4,000
- ASL Sponsor = $3,500
Conference Website Ad Space:
- Conference Website Advertisement = $600
Please note that you can donate in multiple categories as well as provide a general donation. Any and all donations help ensure our conference runs as smoothly as possible! With your help, we can make this year's 30th Annual Conference a huge success and one to remember!
Click here to be taken to the 2024 Conference Sponsorship form
The APRIL Pre-Conference is held on the Friday before the General Conference which starts on Saturday October 12th and ends Sunday evening October 13th. The APRIL Pre-Conference generally runs all day. There is some flexibility with the time (example: 10AM - 3PM, etc.). We are always looking for hot topics on current events in Independent Living that we can disseminate to a larger general session including CIL / SILC staff, board and Executive Directors across the board.
Some possible topics might include:
- Social Isolation
- Board Development
- Systems Change Advocacy
- Food Insecurity
- Becoming a 501(c)(3)
- Developing a Youth Leadership Forum (YLF) (or other programs) in your state
- Complying with Standards and Indicators of a CIL
CLICK HERE to learn more about submitting a proposal.
Due no later than August 16, 2024.
APRIL is now accepting Workshop Proposals for the 30th Annual APRIL Conference.
Due no later than August 16, 2024.
Information you will need to know to submit a Call for Workshop Session:
- The purpose and nature of your proposed session
- What will attendees learn from your session?
- Why should your workshop be featured at the APRIL Conference?
- Short description of your proposed workshop
- Knowing who the MOST appropriate audience would be for your workshop
- Bios for all presenters
Please note:
- Presentation content must be created with accessibility in mind
- All session presenters are required to attend one of the free mandatory prep sessions with APRIL staff in the month of September to get any important information, give any necessary updates about my presentation and ensure that I have all my questions answered before the run of events in October.
- Presenters are responsible for sending any changes in speakers, bios or workshop descriptions to APRIL no later than September 2, 2024.
- Any handouts or PowerPoint presentations must be made fully accessible and must be submitted by September 6, 2024
Use this link below to submit your presentation proposals.
We look forward to seeing all the great session topics you submit and the "pearls of wisdom" you choose to share at this year's Conference!
As our 30th Annual Conference, we are thrilled to celebrate in Chicago, Illinois because of the common theme surrounding pearls.
The Fox River in Illinois has historically been known for it's pearls. Fun Fact: A 1911 article in the Record, a local newspaper, reported that $2 million in freshwater pearls were being harvested in Illinois annually.
This meshes perfectly with this year being our 30th Annual APRIL Conference, as 30th anniversaries are known as the "Pearl Anniversary".