November 5th-8th, 2025
Embassy Suites & Von Braun Center, Huntsville, Alabama
REGULAR REGISTRATION RATE ENDS SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
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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.
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.
New This Year
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!
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY HELP DESK BY ALLIED INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES (AIS)
Bring all your questions and see if the AIS AT Helpline Team can assist!
MONARCH PRE-CONFERENCE TRAININGS (with up to $500 stipends) BY APH click here for more info
SCIVIS Experience Tours
SCIVIS Experience Tours
Space Camp for Interested Visually Impaired Students
Join us as we travel together to the US Space and Rocket Center as we get a behind the scenes look at this amazing 1 week per year opportunity for students with blindness and visual impairments.
Morning and afternoon trips offered during Wednesday, Nov 5 Pre-Conference, or during General conference on Thurs. Nov 6.
Space is Limited
Welcome Reception & Opening Keynote Speaker featuring recording artist, Blessing Offor and students from Alabama School for the Blind
Welcome Reception & Opening Keynote Speaker featuring recording artist, Blessing Offor and students from Alabama School for the Blind
Singer/Songwriter from Nigeria who made his start on The Voice. Although Blessing is legally blind from Glaucoma, he continues to overcome his challenges and experience success while inspirng others.
Wednesday November 5, 5:30 - 7:30 pm
Trip to and Tour of Helen Keller's Birthplace - Ivy Green
Trip to and Tour of Helen Keller's Birthplace - Ivy Green
Join us on a bus ride to Ivy Green - The birthplace of Helen Keller, where we will learn and tour the house where Helen grew up and even get to see the historic pump that provided the "miracle" breakthrough.
Morning and afternoon trips offered during Wednesday, Nov 5 Preconference, and afternoon only of general conference on Thursday, Nov 6.
Space is limited
SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE
Day 1
Day 1
Wednesday 11/5/2025
PRE-CONFERENCEAM & PM Pre-Conference Sessions & Field Trips
Evening Welcome Reception & Opening Keynote 5:30 pm - 7:30 pmwith Singer/Songwriter, Recording Artist, Blessing Offor&Students from Alabama School for the Blind
food, fun, and music! Registration Check-in 8am - 5:30pm & 7:30pm - 8:30pm
PRE-CONFERENCEAM & PM Pre-Conference Sessions & Field Trips
Evening Welcome Reception & Opening Keynote 5:30 pm - 7:30 pmwith Singer/Songwriter, Recording Artist, Blessing Offor&Students from Alabama School for the Blind
food, fun, and music! Registration Check-in 8am - 5:30pm & 7:30pm - 8:30pm
Day 2
Day 2
Thursday 11/6/20258:30 - 5:30
Exhibits - 9:15am - 4:30pmSIlent Auction 12:15pm - 4:30pm
Opening General Session8:30 am
Concurrent Sessions I, II
Lunch on Your Own12:15 - 1:45
Concurrent Sessions III, IV,V
Evening Activity TBA
Registration Check-in 7:30am - 4pm
Exhibits - 9:15am - 4:30pmSIlent Auction 12:15pm - 4:30pm
Opening General Session8:30 am
Concurrent Sessions I, II
Lunch on Your Own12:15 - 1:45
Concurrent Sessions III, IV,V
Evening Activity TBA
Registration Check-in 7:30am - 4pm
Day 3
Day 3
Friday 11/7/20258:30 am -5:15 pm
Exhibits - 9:15am - 1:30pmSilent Auction 9:15 - Closes at noon
concurrent session VI
Keynote Session IIDr. Sheri Wells-Jensen10:00 am
Poster Sessions and designated vendor time11:00am - noon
The Holbrook Humphries & Alan Koenig Awards LuncheonNoon - 1:30
Silent Auction winners announced
Concurrent Sessions VII, VIII, IX
Exhibits - 9:15am - 1:30pmSilent Auction 9:15 - Closes at noon
concurrent session VI
Keynote Session IIDr. Sheri Wells-Jensen10:00 am
Poster Sessions and designated vendor time11:00am - noon
The Holbrook Humphries & Alan Koenig Awards LuncheonNoon - 1:30
Silent Auction winners announced
Concurrent Sessions VII, VIII, IX
Day 4
Day 4
Saturday 11/8/20259 am - 11am
Concurrent Sessions X,& Closing Session
Concurrent Sessions X,& Closing Session
Conference Schedule
LINK TO FULL INTERACTIVE APP AGENDA
NOTE - You may need to rescan QR code to find conference info after downloading app
Scan to download conference app.
NOTE - You may need to rescan QR code to find conference info after downloading app
The goal of this event is to bring those passionate about literacy for the blind and visually impaired together from across the globe.
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, Wednesday, November 5, 2025
$25 - Morning half-day pre-conference (Options Include: Ivy Green Trip, SCIVIS Tour, Tactile Graphics Workshop)
$25 - Afternoon half-day pre-conference (Options Include: Ivy Green Trip, SCIVIS Tour, 3D Printing Workshop)
plus
APH PRE-CONFERENCE MONARCH TRAININGS (FREE - additional separate registration and acceptance required - up to $500 financial assistance)
The American Printing House for the Blind (APH) in cooperation with GITWL is excited to offer pre-conference training on the revolutionary Monarch. We will be offering the opportunity for a full day of hands-on training. Our morning session will be on Monarch Basics, for those new to the device or needing some extra support for their own learning. The afternoon session will be Monarch Advanced, focusing on deeper-dives, new applications, and creative use cases for a variety of scenarios.
To allow the best possible experience for everyone, participation will be limited to no more than 30 professionals in each training.
Link to more information regarding APH Monarch trainings and application
REGULAR CONFERENCE
Kicks-off Wednesday Evening, November 5 with our Welcome Reception featuring Blessing Offor and Students from AL School for the Blind
and ends Saturday, November 8, 2025 at 10am
$325 - Regular Registration (by September 30, 2025)
$400 - Late Registration (by October 31, 2025)
NEED TO CHANGE OR CANCEL YOUR REGISTRATION?
Click here to complete registration change/cancellation request form
ALL REQUESTS FOR ANY REFUND MUST BE RECEIVED BY SEPTEMBER 30, 2025.
A 7% cancellation fee will be applied to all refunds
Thank you to our Sponsors!!! You make this conference possible and help offset the cost for our teachers and instructors in the field! We hope to see your name here soon!
Thank you to our Sponsors!!! You make this conference possible and help offset the cost for our teachers and instructors in the field! We hope to see your name here soon!
GOLD LEVEL SPONSORS
GOLD LEVEL SPONSORS
SILVER LEVEL SPONSORS
SILVER LEVEL SPONSORS
STANDARD LEVEL SPONSORS
STANDARD LEVEL SPONSORS
The Venue - Embassy Suites, Huntsville, AL
The Venue - Embassy Suites, Huntsville, AL
Embassy Suites, Huntsville, AL
Embassy Suites, Huntsville, AL
800 Monroe St. Huntsville, Alabama 35801, USA
800 Monroe St. Huntsville, Alabama 35801, USA
Embassy Suites, located in beautiful downtown Huntsville, and only 10 minutes from the US Space and Rocket Center. The hotel is connected via skybridge to the Von Braun Center and next to Big Springs International Park. The hotel has its own restaurant and there are several restaurants within a 1/2 mile walking distance.
Embassy Suites, located in beautiful downtown Huntsville, and only 10 minutes from the US Space and Rocket Center. The hotel is connected via skybridge to the Von Braun Center and next to Big Springs International Park. The hotel has its own restaurant and there are several restaurants within a 1/2 mile walking distance.
Hotel Information
Hotel Information
Embassy Suites by Hilton Huntsville Hotel & Spa
800 Monroe Street, Huntsville, Alabama 35801
Call this number to reserve your suite 256-539-7373, and tell them you are with Getting in Touch with Literacy or click here to book room online. If Hilton reservation link shows that rooms are full, ROOMS ARE CURRENTLY STILL AVAILABLE for Nov 5th-8th. Just the 4th is full or near full. Be sure to verify and adjust, if necessary, your check in/out dates to see if rooms are currently available. If it is still showing that no rooms are available on the 4th, you may want to call the hotel at 256-539-7373. As of 9/7, there are still a few rooms available on the 4th, (and through the entire conference) although they are sold out in our block and are not allowing us to add any more at this time.
GITWL has contracted for a conference rate of $159 for two-room suites - (bedroom and separate living room with sofabed)
Free Wifi
Free Breakfast
Free Parking
Free Nightly Happy Hour
FREE usage of Be My Eyes App available at Hilton Properties
Deadline to receive conference rate of $159.00/night is October 7, 2025, 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
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