Registration is Now Open

MLV Foundation is proud to be hosting our second MOKA Conference for the Blind. MOKA is an acronym for Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Arkansas.  The dates for this conference are May 28-30, 2024. This four-state area conference will be held at the beautiful University Plaza Hotel, 333 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Springfield, MO.

In the four-state region, there are over 450,000 blind or visually impaired. The blind and visually impaired often find themselves isolated. MLV Foundation Inc hopes to help meet the social and emotional needs of this under-served population and to help give them purpose and flourish.

There are lots of outstanding organizations within our four-state area (and beyond) to help the blind community. Many of these may be unknown to those who are newly blind, and our conference will help to inform them what is here in our own backyard, as well as nationally.

We have added a full additional day to the schedule, a bigger exhibitor hall, more breakout sessions, more fun activities, and more time to be able to connect with others. We will close out the conference with a fundraiser dinner and concert for the MLV Foundation. Registration is $225 and includes meals (except 1). We also have Day Passes for those who want to attend the breakout sessions and exhibit hall (no meals or keynotes). They are $50.

We will be adding in a mini-job fair to the schedule. If you are looking for employment, be sure to bring your resume along to the conference to give to those doing interviews. More details to come.

We have just secured transportation for those in Oklahoma with pickups in Oklahoma City and Tulsa and are working on transportation for Missourians as well. More details to come. Transportation scholarships to help pay for transportation costs will be available, and the application form will be up soon.

Deaf/Blind Missourians may be able to apply for scholarship opportunities through Vancro to help cover conference and hotel expenses.