Throughout the three-day Gathering we encourage attendees to connect and share their questions and experiences in a variety of different ways: 

1. Join in sessions! We love to see attendees engaging in our sessions throughout the day. Whether you’re using the chat to introduce yourself and say hi to other participants or sending a question to our panelists using the Q&A feature, we are hope you’ll use this time together to make new connections and get answers to your questions. **If we do not address your question during the session we will follow-up with presenters afterwards to get you a response. 

2. Explore the Exhibit Hall to chat with IFOPA staff during designated exhibit hall hours and learn from one of our many guest exhibitors including: 

» FOP Resources 

» Sponsors 

» National Organizations 

» Additional Resources for the Rare Disease Community

Designated Exhibit Hall Hours are: 

Saturday, Oct. 8: 11:30 am -12:20 pm ET and 5:30 to 6 pm ET 

Sunday, Oct. 9: 7 to 8:10 am ET and 2:10 to 3 pm ET 

3. Participate in our Small Group Discussions taking place Saturday and Sunday afternoon. These small group discussions will be hold on Zoom Video Conferencing, creating an opportunity for participants to see and hear from one another. They offer an opportunity for individuals to share their FOP experiences with other members of the community. While all small group discussions have a designated moderator and conversation leader these are not designed to be presentations but rather interactive discussion and opportunities for people to ask questions and learn from one another. The links to join all small group discussions can be found in the “All Sessions” tab on the event website. 

4. Join in one of our Community Social Events taking place on Saturday and Sunday. 

Please note you must register in advance using the link in the “All Sessions” tab to participate in the Virtual Escape Room. 

5. Participate in one of the 4 Community Chats taking place on Saturday and Sunday evening at 6 pm ET. These chat rooms are an informal opportunity for attendees to have more frequent interaction and spontaneous conversations. While you will see that some chat rooms have more specific topics others' lend themselves to more broad discussions about life with FOP and FOP community support. All chat rooms are limited to a maximum of 6 participants at a time. Community Chats can be access by clicking on the “Community” tab at the top of the event website page and then clicking on “Community Chats” 

Community Chat topics include: 

» Wheelchair Safety and Precautions 

» Advocating for Yourself and Your Loved One with FOP 

» Maintaining Social Connections 

» LIVE Survey/Feedback Opportunity to share your input on IFOPA programs

Once you’ve selected a community chat you will need to click “Join” and then “Next” and after turning on your microphone and video “Join” again. 

6. Share your Virtual Family Gathering experiences on social media. Don’t forget to use the hashtag #fopfg2022.