27th Annual DD Day Conference Includes Exceptional Entrepreneurs in 2015 Event

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Richard Harris of Lightnings Native Crafts
The weeks surrounding Memorial Day mean many things; the day we honor our fallen servicemen and women first and foremost. But also the unofficial beginning of summer and if you pay attention to commercials one of the best times to purchase a car.(LOL)

For us it also brings the Developmental Disabilities Awareness Day Conference (DD Day). It's always been on a Thursday closest to the Memorial Day weekend and for the past three years has been held at The Niagara Falls Convention and Conference Center in downtown Niagara Falls, NY. Every year thousands of self advocates, families and human service professionals fill the halls for workshops, presentations, performances, the latest in adaptive equipment and services as well as from what we're told a damn fine lunch. We've participated in the DD Day Conference for the last five years. We've done official presentations on what "Exceptional Entrepreneurship" is all about. We've promoted on behalf of our member businesses and also on behalf of ourselves on the different benefits of not only being a business member but also how an individual membership "has it's rewards". It's always been an event to get the word out and we've always looked forward to it.

2015 was a little different...

Author David Licht
DD Day has always been treated as an informational event in the past, no direct selling was allowed. However due to efforts, advocacy and quite frankly, browbeating, 2015 was the first year where our member businesses and others were actually allowed to sell their goods and services on the trade show floor.

Location, location, location. EEoA members Richard Harris of Lightnings Native Crafts and Author David Licht set up shop right next to the big shiny wheelchair van with Richard selling his beautiful handmade Native American crafts and David selling and autographing copies of his first self published book,  "Detective Kids". We were on hand right between the two to represent ourselves and other member businesses such as The iCan Clothing Company, UP Unique Productions, JWS Vendings and film maker Adrian Esposito, among others.

All were very excited to be able to officially bring their products to "market", exposing their businesses to friends, self advocates and professional contacts alike. Our sales tables were heavily visited by everyone with most stopping by to spend a few minutes browsing and taking some native american jewelry or a book home with them. The EEoA pens were a hit as well, who can't use a good pen?
EEoA's Lee and LNC's Richard
From all accounts this foray into bringing a bit of a marketplace feel to the proceedings was a positive one. EEoA hopes to become more involved in the marketplace aspect of DD Day in the future and wishes to thank our friend and committee member Rick Banner and all of the committee members, volunteers and all involved. Thank You for helping make this year's DD Day Conference an extra memorable event for not only some of our EEoA members but other self advocate "exceptional" entrepreneurs.

The 2015 DD Day Conference marks what we hope to be the beginning of a new day for exceptional entrepreneurs everywhere. Visit the DD Day website at www.ddday.org