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Welcome To Tulsa's Night To Shine • Hosted by TheAssembly.org

Night to Shine is just a few days away! We are so excited to see you this Friday at the Cox Business Convention Center (100 Civic Center, Tulsa, OK 74103). Below you will find your personalized guide to the night for you. We will have coat check available.

Attire: Formal

Meeting Time: 6:00 p.m. in Volunteer Central - Exhibit Hall A

Event Begins: 7:00 p.m.

Event Ends: 10:00 p.m.

Role: Being a buddy is one of the most personal and hands-on serving opportunities. A buddy’s role is to accompany and assist each of our assigned guests throughout the evening, engage them in conversation, laugh with them, make them feel special, tell them how great they look, etc. You are free to have your cell phone, but only use when needed.
Your goal is to make guests aware of and assist them to the various opportunities provided during the night.
Such as:
• Dancing
• Food/Drinks
• Karaoke
• Limo Rides
• Sensory Room
• Photo booths
• Caricatures
• Beauty Rooms (for the girls)
• Shoe Shine (for the guys)
• Calming Room

During the event: You will wait inside Exhibit Hall A until you are paired with a guest by a member of our team.

**If you have a specific guest you are a buddy for please meet up with them before you enter the registration line. You are not required to be at the 6:00 p.m. meeting, but you will still need to follow the on-site registration information.**

During the Prom: This night is all about your special guest. Feel free to help them step out of their comfort zone, but be mindful of them and don’t push too hard. Your job is to make sure they have the best night ever!

Items to know:

This year we will have an app that will act as your event guide for the event. QR codes will be posted for you to access the Event App. It's your guide to everything happening at Night to Shine.
Most of the events for guests are located in Exhibit Hall B and open at 7:00 pm.
Chick-Fil-A is providing meals for everyone who attends.
Respite room for caretakers/parents is in Exhibit Hall A
Parents/caretakers should be encouraged to go enjoy the respite or come back at the end of the event (10pm). Make sure they know that we will take great of their loved one.

Awesome Party Activities

  • Dancing: Spend most of your night in the main room, dancing and having fun to set the tone for the night.
  • Food/Drinks: Chick-Fil-A is providing dinner for everyone. Feel free to eat with your guest during the night. Chick-Fil-A does have limited options available depending on allergies. Please help us ensure the room stays manageable by visiting other activities if it's full. After you have eaten, please exit to make sure we have room for everyone to eat.
  • Karaoke Rooms: After the video from Tim Tebow, the karaoke rooms will be open. Visit them at some point during the night and sing. If the rooms are too crowded, sign up with your favorite song and encourage others to come back a little later.
  • Calming Room: This room is a place for guests who are feeling overwhelmed and just need to relax.
  • Limo Rides: You will ride in the party bus with your buddy. The rides will be a fun and special time for those attending.
  • Sensory Room: This room will give you a chance to engage your senses and have fun.
  • Photo Booth Pictures: You and your buddy can take as many pictures as you'd like!
  • Caricatures: Caricature artists are available to draw exaggerated sketches of guests.
  • Beauty Room: Take them for a touch-up in the beauty room. This is just another way to make them feel special!
  • Shoe Shines: After a long night of dancing, take them for a touch-up.

PARTY BUSES!

This year, we are using party buses! Our rides depart frequently, and the best part? No need to sign up in advance! Hop on, enjoy the ride, and let the fun begin. You can ride as many times as your buddy wants.

 

 

 

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Parking

There are nearly 10,000 parking spaces within a short walk of our facility. During business hours, the City of Tulsa uses the Park Mobile app for metered street parking downtown, and these spots are free after 5:00 pm each day.

The Cox Convention Center is conveniently connected to the Civic Center Parkade at 3rd and Houston Streets, operated by American Parking. This Parkade offers 1,395 parking spaces, with rates ranging from $5 to $10 per car, per day, depending on other downtown events.

Please plan for additional time for parking when considering your visit. There are also several private lots available for public parking during events, each with its own pricing.

Maps

night-to-shine-map

Virtual Training

People First Language
We want our guests to know they are the most valuable and important people in the room. People first language aims to avoid perceived and subconscious dehumanization when discussing people with disabilities.
Avoid these terms/phrases
  • Retarded
  • Crippled
  • Deaf and Dumb
  • Mentally Different
  • Wheelchair-bound
  • Diseased
  • Emotionally Disturbed
  • Slow
  • Infirmed
  • Unfortunate
  • “Suffers from”
  • “Victim of”
Rephrasing
Instead of
“a disabled person,” say “a person with disabilities”
Instead of
“a special needs person,” say “a person with special needs”
Instead of
“autistic person,” say “a person with autism”
The key thing to remember is to put the person first. They are not their disability; they are first and foremost a child of God, and a person with feelings and emotions just like you.  
GENERAL TIPS FOR COMMUNICATING
When assisting a person with a disability, wait until your help is accepted and then ask how you can best assist them.
  • Address them just as you would any other person.
  • It is acceptable to offer a handshake during introductions even if the other person has limited mobility in their hand or an artificial limb.
  • Do not alter your voice or speak in a simplified, childish manner.
  • If an interpreter is present, speak directly to the person and not their interpreter.
  • Do not lean on anyone’s wheelchair.
  • If the person with whom you are speaking has a visual disability, make sure you identify yourself and any people who may be accompanying you.
  •  Be patient if the person with whom you are speaking has trouble understanding you.
  • Do not get frustrated or raise your voice in an unpleasant way.
PREVENTING & HANDLING AWKWARD OR UNCOMFORTABLE SITUATIONS
  • If you find yourself in an uncomfortable situation, do not be afraid to ask for help.
  • Some signs of overstimulation include: yelling, screaming, crying, extreme fidgeting, fearful looks and/or aggressive behavior. If this happens, redirect them to a quieter location and if needed, find your guest’s chaperone/guardian.
  • Maintain your composure and speak kindly at all times.
  • Never go off alone with one of the guests.
  • Make sure you maintain physical boundaries and don’t in any way encourage a guest to view you as their boyfriend/girlfriend.