ANNOUNCEMENT: FCEI 2020 postponed until May 26-29, 2021

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

With great regret, the FCEI Executive Group announces that FCEI 2020 set for this May 27-29 will be postponed until May 26-29, 2021.

After careful consideration of the corona virus epidemic, and in light of proclamations issued by Austrian health authorities for large-scale events, as well as the recommendations from the World Health Organization, this decision reflects our primary concerns for the health and well-being of this community.

Moving forward, we plan to maintain the same conference theme and program, Deaf Children, Families, and Support: Embracing Diversity for Brighter Futures for the 2021 rescheduled event.

NEXT STEPS: By May 15, 2020, please respond to these urgent issues by emailing us at fcei@bblinz.at:

• SPEAKERS: FCEI 2020 keynote speakers and authors of papers are encouraged to participate in FCEI 2021 using the same presentation topics/content. If you are a presenter, please confirm your plan to attend. If we don’t hear from you, we will re-open the slot for another presentation.

• REGISTRATION: For those of you who have already registered and paid, please let us know which option you prefer:

1. YES, please hold my reservation and apply my payment to FCEI 2021.

2. NO, I’m not able to commit my participation yet; please cancel my registration and refund my payment to: (your information here)

            FYI: The FCEI 2021 registration process will be reopened in autumn 2020.

• PRE- & POST-CONFERENCE MEETINGS: Communication about meetings that were planned before and after FCEI 2020 will be forthcoming from those groups specifically including GPODHH, DLIA, and FCEI Principles advisory.

• ACCOMMODATIONS & SHUTTLES: All accommodation and shuttle service reservations completed through our online registration form have been cancelled. For those of you who have already completed the payment or payed a deposit, you will be contacted from the team of the Congress Center in Bad Ischl to arrange for a refund of the amount. Please notice that bank charges for the transfer will not be covered from the organisers. If you have arranged for your own accommodation, we advise you to get in contact directly with the hotel to cancel your accommodation reservation.

• SCHOLARSHIPS: For those participants who have been awarded Parent or Deaf Scholarships, we need confirmation of your continued need for these funds for FCEI 2021. If you have been funded but will not be attending, these scholarships must be returned to FCEI for redistribution at that event.

We would also like to express our sincere thanks to our major sponsor MED-EL for their continuous support and their commitment to be fully on board for FCEI 2021.

So please mark your calendars: FCEI 2021, May 26-29, Bad Ischl, Austria!

We will work hard to make FCEI 2021 a successful and memorable event for all. Thank you for your understanding and we look forward to welcoming you all next May in Austria.

Yours sincerely,

The FCEI Executive Group

Contact: fcei@bblinz.at