Don’t Miss This Conference

If your child has had epilepsy surgery,  or needs it, this conference is for you! Surround yourself with people who get it at this incredible event. Learn from some of the world’s top neuro-professionals, educators, researchers, rehabilitation clinicians and more.

But most of all, have fun with other families on your journey.

Cleveland Rocks!

The conference location is beautiful Cleveland, Ohio – the birthplace of rock ‘n roll! – at the Westin Downtown Cleveland. Book your hotel now at a reduced rate of $149 per night. Tour the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of FameGreat Lakes Science Center, or stroll to the East Fourth Street restaurant and shopping district for an evening of fun. Plan your family vacation around the conference and extend your stay. Enjoy beautiful Lake Erie and go fishing, have a picnic, try stand up paddle board, or take a bike ride along the lake shore. Drive over to Cedar Point (the roller coaster capital of the world!) or to the Kalahari Resort – the world’s largest indoor waterpark.

Teen and Young Adult Excursions

NEW THIS YEAR – thanks to a very generous grant Rare Patient Impact Grant from Global Genes, we’ll have three FREE chaperoned outings for teens/young adults who had epilepsy surgery in childhood: the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame, Great Lakes Science Center, and a bowling and pizza night. After you buy your tickets for the conference, you’ll be asked for the name of the teen/young adult in your group who wants to go on the excursions. You’ll receive more information on where to meet up for each excursion prior to the conference.

Five Conference Tracks

Five thematic conference tracks –  education, medical, rehabilitation and therapy, community and adult life, and caregiver care – featuring over 20 informative sessions and workshops about the latest and most comprehensive epilepsy surgery information, from treatments, to effects, from the world’s leading epilepsy clinicians and scientists.

  • Multiple Q&A sessions with experts
  • Exhibit and resource fair
  • Breakfast and lunch on July 19th and breakfast, lunch, and dinner July 20th
  • Time to “meet up” with families who share a similar diagnosis or surgery
  • Professionally staffed day camp for children with special needs, siblings and dependent adults (nominal fee for participation both days)

July 18

Research

Meeting

(by invitation only)

July 19 – 20

Family

Conference

(For everyone!)

REGISTER NOW!

FREE for adults who had epilepsy surgery before age 18

Adults $159

Youth (10 – 17) $89

Children (4 – 9) $69

Babies and Toddlers (0 – 3) Free!

All ticket sales end on June 1

Scientific Research

The Brain Recovery Project encourages scientific research programs because they contribute to advances in the study of functional outcomes after epilepsy surgery. Research teams approved by the organization’s Scientific Advisory Board will be conducting research at the conference. If you are interested in participating in or learning more about these projects, please check the box on your registration form. You will be contacted directly by the research project coordinators to arrange an appointment. Please do not contact researchers directly.

Travel Scholarship

The Hemisphectomy Foundation

The Hemispherectomy Foundation offers financial assistance for the conference to families impacted or confronted by hemispherectomy surgery, and who are registered with the Hemispherectomy Foundation.

To apply for financial assistance, please email Cris Hall at crishall@hemifoundation.org. If you are not already registered with the Hemispherectomy Foundation, please go to www.hemifoundation.org and click “Register Today” before applying for financial assistance.

Funds are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis and are to be used for travel to the conference only. All funds will be awarded only after the applicant has registered for the conference. The Hemispherectomy Foundation shall NOT award assistance based upon the applicant’s race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, or disability. The intention is to provide assistance and not to cover the entire cost of travel.

Your Visit to Cleveland

Cleveland was named by National Geographic as one of the best places to visit in 2018 as part of its annual Best of the World list. We have a feeling you are going to like your trip here!

Destination Cleveland partners will offer specials to our attendees to make your experience in Cleveland all the more enjoyable. Just show your badge to participating partners.

Participating Discount Partners (pdf)

History of the Conference

In 2009, the Hemispherectomy Foundation held its first family conference at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. The Brain Recovery Project was tasked with organizing the 2011 conference in Los Angeles, and in 2014 The Brain Recovery Project organized and co-hosted the conference with the Hemispherectomy Foundation. In 2015, the Hemispherectomy Foundation announced that it would no longer host the events, and The Brain Recovery Project assumed the position of sole organizer and host. Through 2016, the event addressed only hemispherectomy procedures and their functional impact. Starting in 2017, the conference – as well as the organization – expanded its reach to all epilepsy surgeries.

We are honored to continue this tradition started by the Hemispherectomy Foundation, and are thankful to their founders – Cris and Kristi Hall – for convening the first several events. We will continue to have breakout lunches by etiology (the underlying condition which causes the seizures, such as hemimegalencephaly, Rasmussen’s encephalitis, cortical dysplasia, and stroke) as well as by procedure (hemispherectomy, corpus callosotomy, lobar resection, laser ablation) so that families can connect.

Cancellation Policy

The Brain Recovery Project reserves the right to cancel all or any part of this event if there is insufficient registration or for other reasons. Neither The Brain Recovery Project nor its grantors or sponsors is responsible for cancellation charges assessed by the airlines, travel agencies, hotel, or other losses incurred due to the cancellation of this conference. You will be reimbursed for your ticket(s), less Eventbrite processing fees, in the event of cancellation.

Attendee Cancellation Policy

Written cancellations, requests for refunds, and/or changes will be accepted until July 1, 2019. Refunds will be processed after September 1, 2019.

All information listed on this website is subject to change.

Media

Contact Kylee James, Project Specialist, at kjames@brainrecoveryproject.org or  626-225-2841 for any media inquiries.

Prior Conferences

Looking for information, agenda, or videos from prior conferences? View prior conference information here.

The Brain Recovery Project wishes to take steps to ensure that no individual with a disability is excluded, denied services, segregated or otherwise treated differently than other individuals due to the lack of auxiliary aids and services. If you require any of the auxiliary aids or services identified in the Americans with Disabilities Act to attend any program, contact Kylee James, Project Specialist, at kjames@brainrecoveryproject.org.

Other Questions

If you don’t find the information you’re looking for on this website, please email us at info@brainrecoveryproject.org or call us at 626-225-2841.