WELCOME TO SOMA 2016!

Getting everyone settled with their insulated tote bag, conference T-shirt, commmorative pen, program guide and other materials at the registration table were Conference Co-Chair Mary Phagan-Kean (seated), Debbie Nelson (standing) and Bernice Meyer (taking the photo).

Angel Gautreaux (wife of Conference Co-Chair Lynn) assembled all the packets -- thank you so much, you're an Angel indeed!

Two pictures show a man behind a small table showing people maps and brochures. One photo has a man with two children, the other has a man and a woman looking at the map.

[Right] Our Visitors' Concierge was set up near the registration desk to help participants and their families and friends find entertainment and places to sightsee.

The balloons were festooned throughout the conference to commemorate SOMA's 50th anniversary.

Photos courtesy of Dona Sauerburger

Picture shows people sitting in a circle on a 4-wheeled bicycle, each person has their feet on bicycle pedals. Beside them are a man and a woman, each holding a cane with a red disk at the bottom, about 10 inches across.

[left] Two innovations meet -- the 7-person CoBi bicycle and the Dakota Disk cane tip. The folks with the red shirt and black pants are the company representatives, Kim and Ben (the "captain" of the bike), then clockwise is Jen Yesaitis (she is checking her iphone to make sure she has the photo that is shown below!), Jen Graves, Michael Deolloz, and Lynn Gautreaux. Matt Stewart is holding one of the canes with the Dakota Disc tip. [photo courtesy of Dona Sauerburger]

Picture shows people sitting in a circle on a 4-wheeled bicycle, each person has their feet on bicycle pedals.

Picture shows people sitting in a circle on a 4-wheeled bicycle, each person has their feet on bicycle pedals.

Below left: Participants [L to R] Matt Stewart, unknown, Steve Hoyt, and Bill Robinson try the Dakota Disk cane tips on rough terrain.

Below right: Paul Olsen (L), creator of the Dakota Disk cane tip, and Gordon Hukek (R) of Ambutech which developed the tip, standing in front of their powerpoint after their presentation.

Picture shows people standing on grass with canes that have a red disk at the bottom, the disk is about 10 inches across and an inch or two high.

Picture shows people standing on grass with canes that have a red disk at the bottom, the disk is about 10 inches across and an inch or two high.

Paul and Gord are standing in front of their powerpoint which shows a red disk and a white disk each about 10 inches across and 1-2 inches high. The white disk is attached to a cane and the slide says'Dakota Disk - From innovative idea to final market, August 2012 to August 2015'.

Picture shows 10 people standing along a wall with chairs in front of them, they are wearing casual clothes and smiling. One woman is standing on one leg with her hands in front of her with palms together.

Photo shows Dona wearing a light green pants suit and Tara wearing a black dress, each are holding cards and signs and smiling at the camera.

[Far left]: Susan Austin (standing 5th from the left) and the participants of her "Chair Yoga in the Morning." [Photo taken by Dona Sauerburger, who was VERY relaxed but rejuvenated and grateful to Susan for the wonderful yoga morning sessions!]

[Near left]: Tara Brown-Ogilvie (R) and Dona Sauerburger (L) after presenting "Teaching Deaf-Blind people to communicate with the public" with Dr. Gene Bourquin (who is taking the picture).

OPENING GENERAL SESSION

All but one photo of general session are courtesy of Bernice Meyer

Photo shows people on a large stage with a podium and table, the slide behind them shows fireworks and says 'SOMA 50 years!'

Dona Sauerburger led the SOMA Celebration, starting by thanking Kathy Yale for researching the history.
Stephen Sanford, who attended the first SOMA gathering, shared his remarks, and Dona shared stories from Tom Wood and Mike Corbett before talking about the traditions that make SOMA special today. First photo courtesy of Gene Bourquin

[Below] Susan Austin rejuvenated everyone with Chair Yoga, and they loved it!

4 pictures show Susan Austin sitting on the stage and holding her arms up, while participants in the audience are laughing while they stand and sway with their arms raised.

4 pictures show Susan Austin sitting on the stage and holding her arms up, while participants in the audience are laughing while they stand and sway with their arms raised.

Mickey Damelio's keynote speech "Keeping the O&M profession alive and healthy," inspired the participants.

[Below] Bernice Meyer, Exhibit Coordinator, introduced the vendors who each explained what was at their tables.

Photo shows an auditorium with tiered seating, and about 30 people are standing behind their seats smiling, many of them waving at the camera.

The Guide Dog Mobility Instructor session Monday evening featured a video presentation recorded at the International Guide Dog Federation Seminar in Japan. The viewing was followed by a discussion with the Japanese presenter, using an interpreter and skype with a split screen.

The presenter was unable to see the participants during the discussion, so this picture was sent to him afterwards as a greeting and thank-you.

Photo courtesy of Lukas Franck)

BLINDFOLD WALK!

Photos courtesy of Bernice Meyer

Photo shows Dorothy in the lobby giving instructions to about a half-dozen people, most of them have a cane and some are wearing a blindfold.

Photo shows 4 women walking from the front entrance of the hotel toward the street. Two are walking with a blindfold and using a cane, two are carrying a cane and a paper with instructions.

Photo shows two people crossing a narrow street with a stop sign. One is blindfolded and using a cane. At the corner behind them are 3 more people wearing vision simulators and using canes.

Photo shows a woman with a blindfold crossing a street while a man behind her carries his instructions. Both are wearing green lanyards with name tags from the conference.

Photo shows a group of people walking down the sidewalk, some of them are wearing blindfolds.

Photo shows 3 people wearing vision simulators and using a cane while crossing a street with a stop sign.

Photo shows a man and woman walking along a downtown sidewalk. He is holding instructions for the Blindfold Walk, she is wearing a blindfold and using a cane, carrying a large card saying 'please help me to cross street, tap me if you can help. I am deaf and blind.'

Photo shows 3 people with canes walking from a plaza up a long flight of stairs. Two are wearing blindfolds.

Photo shows a half-dozen people walking across a pedestrian bridge that appears to be made out of thick glass.

Photo shows 3 women, all wearing green lanyards with name tags from the conference, reaching the other side of the bridge. One of them is wearing a blindfold, the others are watching her.

Guide Dog Mobility Instructors and Apprentices from The Seeing Eye.

(Photo courtesy of Lukas Franck)

FRIENDS AND REUNIONS

Reuniting with old friends and making new ones was one of the biggest benefits of SOMA! If you have pictures of you and your friends at the conference, send them in to Dona Sauerburger and we'll post them!

Jackie Audette, apprentice at Guide Dog Foundation said, "I was so excited to attend SOMA for my own professional reasons, but I was pleasantly surprised with a friendly reunion!! I unexpectedly ran into two good friends I had from college -- we all used to puppy-raise together at Rutgers University, and I hadn't seen either of them in many years.

"The first photo to the right shows me with Nicole Murray (a GDMI at The Seeing Eye) and the other shows Lauren Wheeler and me saying goodbye before heading on our flight home -- Lauren is an apprentice at The Seeing Eye."

(Photos courtesy of Jackie Audette)

Photo shows John hugging Rocky who is licking John's face. Rocky is colored completely black.

Photo shows John hugging Rocky who is licking John's face. Rocky is colored completely black.

Photos show Rocky with his head resting on his paws on the floor and his eyes closed next to a tag saying 'Guide Dog Foundation Puppy.' The next photo shows his head and paws on top of and covering the tag.

Photo shows Linda Chung sitting on a wide step between John and Tiffany, with Rocky between Linda and John. Behind Tiffany is another black lab looking at Rocky.

Rocky's Reunion

The family who puppy-raised Linda Chung's guide dog more than 7 years ago drove from Atlanta to reunite with Rocky and meet Linda. The first photo to the left shows John Green and Rocky having a joyful reunion in the Choo Choo lobby.

When Rocky saw the "Guide Dog Foundation Puppy" tag that had been on his leash, he recognized and took possession of it.

The last photo shows John, Rocky, Linda, Tiffany and their pet chocolate lab Harley on the steps in front of the Choo Choo hotel. This was the first time Linda had met the Greens, and she says they will definitely keep in touch!
Photos courtesy of John and Tiffany Green

EXHIBITS AND NETWORKING!

Vendors' Page

Photos courtesy of Bernice Meyer