ALDAcon 2006

Here we are in beautiful downtown St. Louis, right across the street from the Gateway Arch, for ALDAcon 2006. We'll do our best to bring you the flavor and excitement of this year's ALDAcon!

Wednesday, October 18 - Here's a report of our journey here and the pre-convention activities.

Thursday, October 19 - Dr. Sanjay Gulati's Keynote Speech at the Plenary Session

Thursday, October 19 - Here's our report on the Advanced Bionics Cochlear Implant Presentation.

Thursday, October 19 - Lucy Miller's poignant story - Where Do I Fit In?

Thursday, October 19 - Advocacy at the Local Level: Public Accommodations and TV Stations

Friday, October 20 - Expanding Access Through Captioned Radio

Friday, October 20 - Coaching and Late Onset Hearing Loss - A Partnership that Works

Friday, October 20 - The Early Days of ALDA

Friday, October 20 - Introduction to Mobile Phones

Friday, October 20 - The Year's Hot Topics for ALDAns

Friday, October 20 - Advocacy Panel with National Leaders of Hearing Loss Organizations

Saturday, October 21 - Awards Luncheon Address - Alan Hurwitz Talks about Growing Up Deaf

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ALDAcon 2006 - Part One

Our ALDAcon 2006 adventure actually began in the San Diego airport, where we ran into several ALDAns that we had met at previous conventions. These folks were heading to St. Louis from the San Francisco area and were changing planes in San Diego. We had a great chat and an early entry to the incomparable ALDA spirit.

We arrived Tuesday evening and made out way to the Adams Mark Hotel, which so far seems to be a great site for an ALDAcon! It's a beautiful hotel in downtown St. Louis, right across the street from the Gateway Arch.

After getting settled in we went for a walk and were surprised to see the streets teeming with activity. We soon learned that Game 5 of the National League Championship Series was taking place in a half hour about three blocks from our hotel! Not being huge sports fans, we didn't attend, but we later learned that several ALDAns did attend the game. As in most good stories it was an exciting game and the home team won!

Wednesday we visited the arch, walked the length of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial (the official name of the lovely large park that includes the arch) and some more of downtown, and then made our way back to the hotel for some serious meet and greet.

Following a couple of hours of informal ALDA hugs and camaraderie, we popped into the Newcomers Meeting, where Edna Shipley-Conner and Laine and Rex Waggoner were introducing first-timers to the wonders of ALDAcon. Next on the agenda was the Welcome Reception, which included the best buffet I remember from any convention.