Helping Hands for GAND is excited to announce our next in-person conference will be July 18–20, 2024, at the Williamsburg Woodlands Hotel & Suites in historic Williamsburg, Virginia.

Plan to arrive by Thursday afternoon at the latest and stay through Saturday evening to participate in the whole conference. (View agenda) Enjoy an on-site arcade, miniature golf, fitness center, outdoor pool, and splash park. Stay a few more days to discover Colonial Williamsburg, play at Busch Gardens, and more! We look forward to seeing you!

Registration is currently closed, but participants can access conference resources (speaker bios, maps, etc.) here.

To become a sponsor for this event, click here.

Platinum Sponsor

Helping Hands for GAND, in partnership with Global Genes, hosted the 3rd GAND Gathering & Scientific Conference at Great Wolf Lodge in Mason, Ohio, July 14–16, 2022.

To learn about sponsoring future events, please contact us. 

Helping Hands for GAND hosted the 2nd GAND Gathering & Scientific Conference June 21-23, 2018, in Orlando, Florida. Once again, families had the opportunity to meet fellow members of this rare community in a family-friendly event. In attendance were 145 people from 29 families representing 31 of the 93 (at the time) known cases in the world as well as 2 researchers, an AAC practitioner, and a team of ABA therapists. Some of the topics presented and discussed included flourishing in a GAND family, understanding GAND, mice models of GAND, the past and future of Helping Hands for GAND, how applied behavior analysis (ABA) can help children with GAND, and benefits of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). A parent panel discussed observations on medical and therapeutic approaches, and a special group discussion was held for siblings of children with GAND. Families also enjoyed the resort's pool and waterpark, group meals, and cocktail hours.

Being members of such a rare community means that families do not have access to local support groups for GAND. For most families, GAND Gatherings may the the only opportunity they have to meet others facing the same challenges. Please consider making a difference in the lives of these families by donating to Helping Hands for GAND so that we can adequately fund future gathering events.

Helping Hands for GAND hosted our 1st GAND Family Gathering June 23-25, 2016, in St. Louis, Missouri. This event was made possible through a generous grant from Global Genes. In attendance were 73 people (and 1 assistance dog) from 18 families representing 19 of the 42 (at the time) known cases in the world. Families were able to learn more about this incredibly rare disorder by connecting with researcher/clinician Dr. Tyler Pierson from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, by meeting and hearing from other affected families, and by participating in group discussions. Some of the topics presented and discussed included understanding GAND, advocating for your child in the special education setting, communication, resources for GAND families, and self-help skills. Families also enjoyed local outings and meals together. It was a wonderful time of building relationships with a community of people facing many of the same challenges. Thank you to Global Genes, our donors, and all of the families for making this event possible! We'd love to do this again!

If you would like to learn more about how you can contribute to our mission to support families affected by GAND, please visit our Donation page.