The 2026 Collaborative Experience Conference will take place at Breezy Point Resort. This conference is designed for parents, professionals, and DHH teachers who work with individuals who are deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing from ages 0–22. Attendees will benefit from a variety of learning experiences featuring the latest research, best practices, and effective teaching strategies.
The Collaborative Experience Conference Planning Committee invites you to submit a presenter proposal. We are seeking 60-minute workshops that may be tailored to parents, professionals, DHH teachers, or a combination of these audiences. Presenters who are deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing are especially encouraged to apply.
Selected presenters will receive complimentary admission to general conference events, breakout sessions, and networking opportunities for up to two presenters per workshop. While a third presenter may be included, registration costs will only be covered for the first two presenters due to budget constraints. Hotel costs are separate.
Priority topics
The priority topics may include (but are not limited to):
- Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS)
- Accommodation, modifications, and curriculum adaptation
- Mental illness (well-being)
- Suicide prevention
- Literacy development and reading preparation (including updates related to MN READ Act workgroups)
- English Language Learners (ELL)
- Cultural competency
- American Indian history and culture
- Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing with diverse/multiple cultural and linguistic backgrounds
- Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing with multiple disabilities
- DeafBlind-specific topics
- Equity, racism, ableism, and audism
- Broader topic on well-being, mental health needs of strategies/resources for parents, guardians, DHH teachers, and students
- Supporting collaboration between parents and teachers (i.e., IEPs, culturally appropriate and developmental assessments, school services)
- Assessment tools and implementation (i.e., MacArthur Bates CDI or Communication Matrix)
- Classroom instruction strategies for Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing students
i. Use of AI in educational settings
ii. Multilingual (all languages) and multimodal (all modalities) strategies across educational settings
- Team collaboration (i.e., educational interpreters, DHH teachers, paraprofessionals, interveners, Deaf adults)
- ASL sessions (academic-related)
We welcome your unique expertise and experience. Please complete the presenter proposal form by June 26, 2026. All submissions must be completed online; incomplete proposals will not be considered.
For questions, comments, or concerns, please email danelle.gournaris@state.mn.us.
Timeline
Application Period: April 1, 2026 – June 26, 2026
Submission Deadline: June 26, 2026
Evaluation process
Proposals will be reviewed by a subcommittee to determine relevance and alignment with the conference audience. Presenters will be notified shortly after the evaluation process is complete.
Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Relevance of Topic: Alignment with early childhood, K–12, or post-secondary education
- Content Coverage: Clarity and completeness in addressing stated learning objectives or outcomes
- Presenter Expertise: Demonstrated knowledge, experience, or authority on the topic
- Engagement Strategies: Use of appropriate, interactive strategies aligned with session goals and audience needs
- Use of Research: Inclusion of evidence-based or research-supported content
Exhibitor opportunities
Please note that workshops and presentations are intended for educational purposes only and should not be used to sell or promote products. If you are interested in sharing products or services, we encourage you to apply as an exhibitor and host a booth at the conference.