Logo for 2025 Getting in Touch with Literacy that says "Launch into Literacy 2025, Huntsville, AL" with an image of a book opened with a rocket taking off from the center of it going upwards

November 5th-8th, 2025

Embassy Suites & Von Braun Center, Huntsville, Alabama

   Hosted By 

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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.


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!

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ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY HELP DESK!!!

Bring all your questions and see if our AT experts from AIS and CATT can help.

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

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

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

Day 1

A Conference Presenter holding up her poster presentation about teaching TVI remotely
Wednesday 11/5/2025AM & 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! 

Day 2

Several conference attendees sitting at tables wearing their conference name badges
Thursday 11/6/20258:30 - 5:30
 Exhibits - 9:15am - 4:30pmSIlent Auction 12:15pm - 4:30pm
Opening General Session
Concurrent Sessions I, II
Lunch on Your Own
 Concurrent Sessions III, IV,V
Evening Activity TBA



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.
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-Jensen
 Poster Sessions
Awards LuncheonSilent Auction winners announced
Concurrent Sessions  VII, VIII, IX


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".
Saturday 11/8/20259 am -12 pm
Concurrent Sessions X, 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.

REGISTRATION RATES

Registration NOW OPEN


PRE-CONFERENCE 

Morning and Afternoon, Wednesday, November 5, 2025

$25 - Morning half-day pre-conference  (Options Include: Ivy Green Trip, SCIVIS Tour, Tactile Graphics)

$25 - Afternoon half-day pre-conference  (Options Include: Ivy Green Trip, SCIVIS Tour, 3D Printing)

More pre-conference sessions to be announced soon


REGULAR CONFERENCE 

Wednesday Evening, November 5 through midday Sat. November 8, 2025

$275 -  early bird registration (by June 15, 2025)

$250.00  - DVIDB Member Rate (by June 15, 2025)

$100.00 - Student Volunteers (limited to up to 20 by June 15)

$325 - Regular Registration

$350 - On-Site Registration


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

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SILVER LEVEL SPONSORS

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BRONZE LEVEL SPONSORS

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STANDARD LEVEL SPONSORS

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The Venue - Embassy Suites, Huntsville, AL

Embassy Suites, Huntsville, AL

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.  

Image of a picture of an entrance sign on stone wall saying U.S. Space and Rocket Center with a life like rocket sitting next to it t
image of the waterway that runs behind the conference venue and runs down and through Big Springs Park in Huntsville

 

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

GITWL has contracted for a conference rate of $159 for two-room suites - (bedroom and separate living room with sofabed)

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. 


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