Getting In Touch with Literacy

GETTING IN TOUCH WITH LITERACY & AT

December 6-9, 2027

Hilton Long Beach, Long Beach, CA

Easy to get to! Long Beach Airport (approx 10 miles from hotel), then taxi or Uber to hotel.

from Los Angeles Airport (LAX) (21 miles from hotel), you can opt for a train runs directly to Long Beach and stops about 4 blocks from the hotel. The hotel then offers a 1 mile radius shuttle available to pick up from the nearby train stop.

A multiday conference of talks, activities, and workshops related to the teaching of literacy to individuals who are blind or visually impaired, in addition to pre-conference and field trip opportunities.

Hosted By

Including

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY TRACK

We will have a whole track dedicated to assistive technology that supports teaching, learning, and literacy for students and adults with visual impairments!

SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE

Day 1

A Conference Presenter holding up her poster presentation about teaching TVI remotely

Monday, 12/6/2027

PRE-CONFERENCEAM & PM Pre-Conference Sessions
GENERAL CONFERENCEEvening Welcome Reception & Opening Keynote
Registration Check-in

Day 2

Several conference attendees sitting at tables wearing their conference name badges

Tuesday 12/7/20278:30 - 5:30
Exhibits - 9:15am - 4:30pmSIlent Auction 12:15pm - 4:30pm
Opening General Session8:30 am
Concurrent Sessions
Evening Activity Literacy Around the WorldJoin us in our 4 Themed Hospitality Suites each serving food and drinks representing their country!

Day 3

A young child wearing a t-shirt with the braille alphabet on it. The child is wearing glasses and is looking down at the letters in print and braille on them and feeling them on his stomach/chest area on his shirt at the same time.

Wednesday 12/8/20278:30 am -5:15 pm
Exhibits - 9:15am - 1:30pmSilent Auction 9:15 - Closes at noon
concurrent sessions
Keynote Session II

Poster Sessions and designated vendor time11:00am - noon
The Holbrook Humphries & Alan Koenig Awards LuncheonNoon - 1:30
Silent Auction winners announced
More Concurrent Sessions

Day 4

image of ven diagram with 4 circles that overlap and come together with a red dot in the middle. The circles say, "You love it", "The world needs it", "You are good at it", "You are paid for it". Where the circles overlap it says "Passion", "Mission", "Profession", "Vocation", and outside the of the diagram it says "Purpose".

Thursday 12/9/20278:30 am - Noon
Concurrent Sessions & Closing Session

The goal of this event is to bring those passionate about literacy for the blind and visually impaired together from across the globe.

Cay Holbrook and Janie Humphries Blome, Getting in Touch with Literacy Conference Founders, colleagues, and best friends. GITWL was founded on the desire for those passionate about Literacy to come together to collaborate, share ideas, learn and have fun.

PRE-CONFERENCE

Morning and Afternoon, Monday December 6, 2027

GENERAL CONFERENCE

Kicks-off Monday Evening, December 6 with our Welcome Reception and ends Thursday, December 9 at Noon (and yes, we will have sessions until noon)

Registration Information TBA

NEED TO CHANGE OR CANCEL YOUR REGISTRATION?

Click here to complete registration change/cancellation request form

ALL REQUESTS FOR ANY REFUND MUST BE RECEIVED TBA

A 7% cancellation fee will be applied to all refunds

Thank you to our 2025 Sponsors!!! Your continued support makes this conference possible and help offset the cost for our teachers and instructors in the field!

DONATE NOW

GOLD LEVEL SPONSORS

Allied Instructional Services

CEC - DVIDB

CATT - Center for Assistive Technology and Training

AERVBI

Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired

Childrens Vision Rehabilitation Program (CVRP)

Braille Institute

EnhanceAbility

SILVER LEVEL SPONSORS

Ability2Access

American Printing House for the Blind

STANDARD LEVEL SPONSORS

Humanware

Blazie Technologies

Accessibyte

BRL2 Publishing

LVI

Low Vision International

Invision

Exceptional Teaching Inc.

Dot Inc.

Selvas BLV

Previously HIMS

Touch Graphics

TouchPad Foundation

Tactile Engineering

Aloha Braille

The Venue - Hilton Long Beach, CA

Hilton Long Beach

701 West Ocean Boulevard

Long Beach, California 90831-3102, USA

Hilton Long Beach is located less than a mile from Long Beach Entertainment District and the Civic Center. The venue is under four blocks from Pine Avenue and dozens of eateries in the downtown area are within three blocks. Hotel offers a shuttle with one mile radius of the hotel which allows you to visit multiple attractions including The Queen Mary, Aquarium of the Pacific, Shoreline Village, multiple musesums, and so much more, all within hotel shuttle range!

THERE IS SO MUCH TO DO IN AND NEAR BEAUTIFUL LONG BEACH INCLUDING THE ABOVE AND TAKING THE CATALINA ISLAND EXPRESS TO CAPTIVA ISLAND - FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT LONG BEACH GO TO - VISITLONGBEACH.COM

Hilton Long Beach Website Link

Hotel Information

Hilton Long Beach
701 West Ocean Boulevard

Long Beach, California 90831-3102

GITWL has contracted for a conference rate of $179/night

Free Wifi

Hotel amenities

Dining

On-site restaurant
Room service

Fitness and recreation

Outdoor pool
Fitness center

Conveniences

Digital KeyHilton Honors
Connecting Rooms
Streaming entertainment
Local Shuttle (1 mile radius of hotel)

FREE usage of Be My Eyes App available at Hilton Properties

Deadline to receive conference rate of $179.00/night is October 31, 2027, or earlier should room block become full. We encourage you to stay at the hotel to help us meet our contract requirements.

If you have any questions - please email us at gitwlconference@gmail.com