Thursday, June 20, 2013

June 20, 2013

Today's conference, "Living Conditions and Quality of Life," day two of the "Inherent Dignity, Equality, and Rights Conference," got off to a great start in Trondheim.

Jens Petter Gitlessen of the Norwegian Association for People with Developmental Disabilities provided welcoming remarks and I had the pleasure of providing an overview of AAIDD's activities dedicated to assuring that the  terminology and diagnostic criteria for "Intellectual Disability" in the DSM-5 and ICD-11 are consistent with contemporary practice and evidence.

Plenary addresses throughout the day by Julie Bradley- Brown, Amy Hewitt, and Jan Tossebro were very well received. Concurrent session speakers included Cathy Ficker Terrill (CQL) and representatives of the North Dakota and Minnesota UCEDDs: Mary Mercer, Neil Scharpe, Kristen Dean, Linda Maddened, and JoLynn Webster.

The conference ended on several high notes. First, The Dance Factory, a troupe of differently-bodied dancers, performed an original work. Finally, Karl Elling Ellingsen engaged all attendees in learning a Viking dance while he sang the first (of 97) verse of a Viking saga. He is the next Norwegian idol!

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