We hope you can join us in Phoenix, AZ, July 24-27, 2025 ! We will have a top notch program a with wide variety of speakers who are the leading experts in CHARGE syndrome. The four general theme areas under which most sessions are organized include: behavior, education, adult issues, and medical. There will be something for everyone!
What’s Included
Meals
For general Conference (not including Meg Hefner Professional Day), the following meals will be included in the price of your ticket:
Thursday
- Dinner
Friday
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Saturday
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Sunday
- Breakfast
Coffee breaks will be provided throughout the Conference schedule. Blenders will be provided for those requiring a blended diet.
Conference Schedule
We highly recommend that everyone look online at the Conference Agenda, prior to arriving in Phoenix to get a preliminary idea of sessions you might want to attend. It can be a lot to figure out once you get to Conference after traveling with family, trying to get settled at the hotel, and so on.
2025 Conference Sessions Agenda
Please ensure you are receiving emails from the Foundation (you can sign up for eNews here) so that you get notifications about Conference, including the Program Schedule and the Conference app.
Ask the Experts – All About Conference
Watch our panel of parents, Board Members, and experts discuss all the ins and outs of Conference! Learn what your family can expect, what types of sessions and events will be offered, ways you can fund your trip, even what you should pack!
General Sessions
We begin each day in General Session, with everyone together in one large room.
Breakout Sessions
After general sessions, we have a short break and then the breakout sessions begin. The breakout sessions happen during the rest of the day. There are multiple sessions happening at the same time and everyone is free to choose whichever breakout session interests them. The schedule and handouts will be available online prior to Conference and will be helpful in terms of making decisions about which sessions you might want to attend. Some families decide to “divide and conquer,” splitting up and going to different sessions when there is more than one session happening at the same time that the family would like to attend. There are no breakouts on Sunday as the program closes at noon after general session.
Information Central
During Information Central, you can browse posters and speak to the many wonderful professionals who are at the conference. If you have questions, this is the time to find the professional who can help!
Meg Hefner Professional Day
Meg Hefner Professional Day is Thursday and requires a separate registration fee. Click here for more information for Professionals.
CHARGE Family Sports and Recreation Workshop
Click here for more information.
Research at Conference
Be a part of groundbreaking research taking place at Conference. Click here to learn more.
Camp
We are pleased to offer a camp program for individuals with CHARGE and their siblings. Click here for more information about Camp options.
Sibshops
Sibshops provide an opportunity for siblings to get together to bond and discuss life as a the sibling of an individual with CHARGE syndrome. Click here for more information about Sibshops.
Evening Events
All evening events will begin at 6:30 PM.
THURSDAY: Welcome Reception
- Dinner
- Brief Conference Kick-off Program
- Community Art Project Reveal
- Meet & Greet Stations
- Connect with other attendees by age, region, affiliation, language, and more
FRIDAY: Art Show
- Dinner
- “Dress to Impress”
- We invite attendees to wear blue to support CHARGE syndrome. This is optional dressy-casual evening attire. If you wish to dress to impress – have fun with it. Everyone is encouraged to come in what feels best for them!
- Art Show
- Enjoy the exhibition of artworks created by conference attendees that reflect the conference theme of “Rising From Challenges Together.” Select items will be available for raffle on Saturday.
- Contribute to our Community Art Project
- Open-air Photo Booths
- Information Stations – including activities to make and take home
- Perkins School for the Blind presents “Arts & Accessibility”
- University of Arizona’s Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities presents “Arts-Based Person-Centered Scrapbooking”
- Michelle Milder presents “Neuographics Art: A Gateway to Mindfulness”
SATURDAY: CHARGE-A-PALOOZA – Glow Night!
- Dinner
- Show off your “Conference Glow”
- We invite attendees to wear bright neon colors to celebrate the joy of being together
- Fun for the whole family!
- Dance Floor with DJ (with isolated speakers)
- Selfie Stations
- Basket Raffle
- Buy tickets to take home a treasure – including several items from our Art Show.
- Silent Auction
- Bid for exclusive high-end and one-of-a-kind luxury items.
Art Show
We invite all conference attendees to participate in our first-ever art show! The event will take place on Friday, July 25th. We will accept artworks from any visual or fine art, including crafts, for display. Items for submission may include paintings, sculptures, drawings, jewelry, weaving, or any digitally created print items. Click here for more information.
Basket Raffle & Silent Auction
Our fun-filled auctions are always among of the highlights of the CHARGE Conference weekend festivities. Once again, we will be having a Silent Auction, Basket Raffle, and door prizes to raise money for the CHARGE Syndrome Foundation.
Click here to learn more about donating items and the items that will be available.
CHARGE Awards
Over the years, the Foundation has recognized individuals, couples, organizations, groups, and families who have made meaningful contributions to advancing its mission. These honorees have played a vital role in expanding support networks, advancing knowledge, driving scientific and clinical progress, and championing the lifelong potential of individuals with CHARGE syndrome.
We will once again recognize deserving people during our 16th International CHARGE Syndrome Conference. Recipients do not need to be present to receive an award.
Community
The sessions may take the most time in the Conference schedule, but we all know the backbone of our conference is simply being together. Where else can you find hundreds of people who are so knowledgeable and passionate about CHARGE syndrome? The special conversations and commonalities shared between families, professionals and education experts are truly precious and priceless takeaways from the event.
