For today’s blog, we wanted to take a moment to answer some of the most common questions we hear from conference attendees, especially those planning to come to their first OCD Conference. If you have any other questions, please leave them in the comments section below or email conferences@ocfoundation.org, and we’ll do our best to answer them.
We can’t wait to see you all in Atlanta. The IOCDF staff is hard at work preparing for your arrival, and working to make the 20th Annual OCD Conference the best conference yet!
Can I still register for the conference?
Yes! Onsite registration begins at 12 noon on Thursday, July 18th, on the Exhibit Level (LL2) of the Hyatt Regency Atlanta. While this year has been extremely popular, we have no anticipation of selling out. If you plan to only attend for a single day, you can also register on Friday or Saturday morning, beginning at 7am.
Are their still hotel rooms available?
Maybe. The deadline for booking hotel rooms at the discounted conference rate has passed. There may be a limited number of rooms available at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta (where the conference is taking place) and the Hilton Atlanta. To find a room, please contact the hotels directly and mention that you are attending the OCD Conference, or you can email conferences@ocfoundation.org for more information.
What is the best way to get to the hotel from the airport?
The Travel page on our conference website has all kinds of information about airport shuttles, car rentals, parking, and other travel details and discounts.
This is my first conference, what can I expect?
Each year, about half of our attendees are coming to the conference for the first time so you will not be alone!
Our conference is a caring and respectful environment full of those who are eager to learn and meet others who are sharing the same experiences. It is a unique event where therapists, researchers, those with OCD and their loved ones all learn beside one another.
If you feel comfortable doing so, “First Time Attendee” ribbons will be available at the registration counter to place on your conference badge. By placing these ribbons on your name badge, it will help you meet others who are attending for the first time and will also let some of our more experienced conference attendees know that they should offer you some advice
We will also have “Conference Ambassadors” who will be available to answer your questions throughout the conference. Just look for the green and white Ambassador button.
What are the best ways to meet new people at the conference?
We are always trying to find new ways to create “ice breakers” early on at our Annual OCD Conference. For those of you who are arriving in town on Thursday, we have a number of fun activities that are a great way to meet other attendees before the workshops begin on Friday. We especially recommend attending our new OCD Pub Trivia event for those attendees over 21. For more information about all evening activities at the conference, click here.
Is the conference schedule available online?
Yes! You can find the full conference schedule online at http://ocd2013.sched.org. You can use this website to build your own itinerary for the weekend, view speaker bios, and familiarize yourself with all of the conference’s exciting workshops, support groups, and other activities. You can even download the schedule as an App to your iPhone or iPad!
I have already registered for the conference, when and where can I pick up my conference badge?
Since you have already registered, when you arrive at the hotel, you can proceed to the Check-In counters on the Exhibit Level (LL2) of the Hyatt to pick up your Program Guide and name badge, which you must wear at all times while attending conference workshops and events.
Are there any fun things to do and see while we are in Atlanta?
Yes! And there are actually a number of attractions within walking distance to the Hyatt Regency Atlanta. Take a look at the Atlanta Attractions page on our conference website for information about discounts on nearby attractions, such as the Georgia Aquarium, CNN Live, the Coca-Cola Experience, the Bodies Exhibit, and others. We also have helpful information and links about travel to and from Atlanta, airport shuttles,parking, and rental car discounts on the Travel page.
I can’t attend this year’s conference, but how I do I find out about future conferences?
We always announce the following year’s conference location and dates during the conference weekend, so we will be posting information about the 2014 Annual OCD Conference soon. But, to stay up to date about all future conferences and make sure you don’t miss any important information, sign up for our Conference Email list.
Would this benefit a male teenager and family who are in crisis and intense treatment is on hold because Florida Medicaid is trying to locate an out of state residential facility to handle severe ocd, adhd, and defiance because Florida does not have a male teen residential facility to handle this severe case? Going on many months.
In cases of severe agitational refractory OCD, infectious and related inflammatory causes and processes should always be carefully investigated and treated. I certainly know nothing about your son’s case. but our son spent a year and a half being treated as “severe refractory OCD” with no real thought as to an organic cause before very elevated anti-DNAse-B titres, astronomical ASO(Strep) titres, and subsequently Lyme disease were found. Severe agitational brain disease, no matter what label psychiatrists place on it, should be considered as an organic, physical disorder of a the brain, and infection, inflammation, and autoimmune and other physical processes should be conscientiously investigated. This is sadly an insight too seldom pursued by many in the “mental” health fields, as well-meaning as they may be. But severe “mental Illness” is brain illness, and the brain is a real, physical organ susceptible to attack from various physical processes. I wish you all the best. This is so difficult a disease, and our kids suffer greatly.
Is it weird that I am for some reason extremely nervous about getting there tomorrow/the whole conference in general? Because I don’t know why but I’m freaking out! Even though I’m excited. So it makes perfect sense, as per usual.