Conference FAQ

PRISMS conferences bring together attendees from around the world and provide an opportunity to listen to and participate in presentations by our expert speakers, discuss concerns and issues, and meet other families. Attendees learn from educators, researchers, and medical professionals, as well as from one another. Attendees gain knowledge, perspective, and hope. And of course, they also have a lot of fun meeting new friends and catching up with old ones.

Everyone is invited to attend the conference. This includes parents, their children, siblings, extended relatives, friends, and professionals.

Registration will open on April 6, 2026. Please check back for updates and look for more info in emails and on the website. If you have not joined our community to receive emails from PRISMS, please sign up to ensure you don’t miss any conference information: https://www.prisms.org/get-involved/community/

Conference registration will begin on April 6th, 2026. A link will be available on this website.

Registration Fees	Early Bird Until May 15	Regular Price (May 16 – June 30)
Adult (16 & up)	$375	$425
Child (15 & under)	$175	$225
SMS Individual	$100	$100
Professional	$450	$500
Professional in training	$375	$425

PRISMS, with the help of conference sponsors and generous donors, generously subsidizes nearly 70% of each individual registration for the conference. The registration fee includes: a welcome reception on Thursday evening, continental breakfast each day, lunch on Friday and Saturday, and coffee breaks and snacks. There will also be an Ice Cream Social on Saturday.

The fee also covers the cost of the facility for our sessions, subsidized childcare and related supplies, printed materials, and speaker costs. Each family is responsible for the cost of their hotel room. It is not a part of registration.

The conference registration fees are kept as low as possible, and we aim to make the conference financially accessible to all families. The conference committee is staffed by parent volunteers, who have generously donated their time over the past few years to plan and organize the conference.

Yes. PRISMS has a limited amount of financial assistance scholarships to help defer conference costs. Consideration is given to first-time attendees. We also encourage families to seek funding through local resources such as Developmental Disabilities Councils, The Shriners (www.shriners.com), Knights of Columbus (www.kofc.org), Lions Clubs International (www.lionsclubs.org), and The Salvation Army (www.salvationarmyusa.org).

Families may also seek funding through their child’s IEP process. For more information on how to obtain financing for the conference, read more here: “How to Obtain Conference Funding through the IEP Process”.

Financial aid will only cover registration and hotel fees, not travel. For information, please email: financialaid@prisms.org.

No. PRISMS cannot pro-rate registration fees for days/sessions not attended. The registration fee remains the same whether you attend the conference for one, two, or three days.

Under most circumstances, there will be no refund. If the situation is extremely serious, feel free to contact PRISMS to discuss it.

If your infant/toddler will NOT be going to daycare and/or will NOT be eating food provided at the conference, it is not necessary to register or pay for them to attend. However, if they go just once to daycare or eat a meal, then you are expected to pay for them to attend. You are welcome to bring your infant with you to the sessions; however, please respect others in the group by taking your infant out if he or she is causing a distraction.

Yes, you will need to pay for any family member/caregiver that attends any portion of the conference including meals, sessions, receptions/events, networking/social opportunities.

All professionals are expected to pay the full registration fee of $500 ($450 if you register as an Early Bird).

Registration will open on Thursday, July 30, at 11:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday, sessions begin at 8:00 a.m.

Yes. Childcare is available for children from 4-15 years old and will be provided by Kiddie Corp. The childcare is for children with SMS. Space is limited, so please reserve your child’s spot early. A 1:2 ratio is provided in the childcare for added support and security.

Registration Link:
https://form.jotform.com/KiddieCorp/prismskids

Childcare (ages 4-15)

Thursday	1:00pm-5:00pm	$70
Friday	7:45am-5:15pm	$140
Friday	8:00pm-10:00pm	$35
Saturday	7:45am-5:15pm	$140

Childcare registration is a separate registration from conference registration. You will be charged separately for childcare registration.

There are children ages 4 to 15 years in the childcare rooms, both typically developing children and children with Smith-Magenis Syndrome. There will be several rooms used for childcare, including a “quiet room.” Siblings are very welcome in the childcare and are often very helpful with their SMS sibs! Infants and very young babies are usually with their parents in the sessions, or the parents take turns attending sessions and taking care of the baby. Many times, families bring a relative or respite/caregiver person to help care for the child. Please note that we cannot and do not provide one-on-one childcare. If a child needs to be closely monitored, he/she will need to come into the sessions with the parents or stay with their relative or caregiver. Of course, they are always welcome in the childcare room with their caregiver as long as the child is registered for the childcare.

Yes! New, this year, we are offering our PRISMS Pack (formally known as the DEN). This program offers individuals with Smith-Magenis Syndrome, ages 16+, an opportunity to mingle with their peers. Educational sessions and fun activities have been designed specifically for this group! There are only 10 spaces available for this program and are offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

Please note, this is not childcare, and staff for these activities are volunteers.

Yes! Our Sibling Program continues to grow and evolve! We are excited to offer educational sessions, networking opportunities, and fun activities designed specifically for our siblings!

Please note, this program is only open to siblings ages 7-18.

Many of our speakers are professionals in their field and very willing to chat with you about your child and discuss general aspects of current research. But please remember that this is not a clinical setting, and they cannot dispense individual medical care. We will host a Q&A with many of our speakers, and we hope they can address a wide range of questions in a broad setting.

We will also be offering “Curbside Consults” on Friday and Saturday, when families can meet one-on-one with a variety of presenters to ask specific questions.

The Doubletree Bloomington Minneapolis South Hotel
https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/mspbsdt-doubletree-bloomington-minneapolis-south/
Located just off of I-494 in Bloomington, a 10-minute shuttle ride from Minneapolis – St. Paul International Airport. The Mall of America is within seven miles, and Downtown Minneapolis attractions like Target Center and US Bank Stadium are 15 minutes away. Hotel features an indoor pool and whirlpool, fitness center, and a warm DoubleTree Chocolate Chip Cookie at check-in.

Hotel accommodations should be booked separately from registration and are not included in registration costs.

Hotel Registration Link:
https://www.hilton.com/en/attend-my-event/mspbsdt-prj-e8dc56b2-a3cd-40e0-9567-cbce0995b372/

We strongly encourage all attendees to stay at The DoubleTree Bloomington Minneapolis South Hotel to ensure a sense of camaraderie and fellowship with other attendees. Being together at the same hotel is so important and lends itself to the very purpose of our conference. Families spend these few days together and connect in a way that is life-long and supportive. Most people secure their hotel rooms first. We encourage you to do this early, as the hotel may be completely booked if you wait until the last minute. If you are planning to travel by airplane, book early!

Here are some common transportation options to get from Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) to DoubleTree by Hilton Bloomington Minneapolis South (about 7–9 miles / 10–15 minutes):

Hotel Shuttle (Recommended)
The hotel offers complimentary airport shuttle service for guests. It typically runs hourly from early morning into the evening — departing MSP’s Terminal 1 hourly and picking up at Terminal 2 on request once you’ve retrieved your baggage. Call the hotel from baggage claim to arrange your pick-up. Shuttle schedules can vary, so contact the hotel before arrival to confirm pickup procedures and hours.
Taxi or Rideshare (Uber/Lyft)
Taxis and rideshares like Uber or Lyft are readily available at MSP’s ground transportation area outside baggage claim. These offer direct, door-to-door service and take about 10–15 minutes, with fares typically around $30–$40 (plus tips).
Rental Car or Car Service
If you plan to rent a vehicle, the airport has several rental agencies on-site.

If you are planning to drive to the conference, parking is free at the DoubleTree Bloomington Minneapolis South Hotel.

Click here for a list of restaurants and attractions near the hotel.

You can also check these sites for Minneapolis area attractions: www.minneapolis.org or https://www.exploreminnesota.com/things-to-do/attractions

We welcome your generosity, as PRISMS subsidizes nearly 70% of each individual registration for the conference. It is our goal to make the conference as affordable as possible for the SMS community. Your generous gift helps make that possible. Visit our Donate page.

Our conference will be offered exclusively as an in-person experience to foster deeper connection, collaboration, and community among attendees. The nature of our sessions has always been most impactful when participants can engage face-to-face. While we understand that a virtual option can increase accessibility, our priority is to cultivate the energy, engagement, and personal connections that happen best when we gather together in the same space.

Conference attire is casual and comfortable. We recommend wearing something you feel confident and relaxed in for a full day of sessions. Because meeting room temperatures can fluctuate, dressing in layers is strongly encouraged—bringing a light sweater or jacket will help you stay comfortable throughout the day. The PRISMS store will be open every day of the conference if you would like to purchase some PRISMS gear.

Yes. There will be complimentary Wi-Fi in the meeting spaces. Information about the network and password will be provided to all attendees on-site.

Yes, included with your registration is access to the PRISMS 2026 Conference app. The Whova app contains a fully searchable schedule of events, list of sponsors/exhibitors, maps, contact information, and more. As a registered attendee, you will be able to create an account on the Whova app that allows you to select events to build your own personal schedule, making it easy to prioritize your time by planning your activities in advance.

The PRISMS 2026 Conference app will be available a few weeks before the beginning of the conference.

Please visit the PRISMS website for more information. Or you may email the conference committee: conference@prisms.org.