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Welcome to the official website for the 2024 TASH Conference!

Each year, the TASH Conference brings together our constituents to share resources and success stories, learn about field-driven best practices, and network within a community engaged in shared values. The Conference is attended by passionate leaders, experts, and advocates from every corner of the disability community. Conference attendees are influential in their fields and communities, and play an important role in the provision of services and supports for individuals and organizations around the world; and include professors and researchers from leading institutions; those involved in local, state, and federal governments and public policy; special and general educators, and school administrators; self-advocates, adult service providers; students, family members, and many others. This year’s conference theme is Celebrate Together: Let the Good Times Roll!

Click on the "Registration and More" tab for additional information about our Conference location, registration, reserving a guest room, sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities, and more!  The full Conference schedule is now available for viewing.  Registered attendees will receive an invitation to log in and create a personalized schedule.

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Friday, December 6
 

7:00am CST

Information Center
Friday December 6, 2024 7:00am - 6:00pm CST
3RD Floor - Celestin Foyer
Information Center is place to ask for assistance, questions, or anything in between.  Also, if you ordered a t-shirt you can pick it up here.  If you need to purchase a t-shirt ($20), we accept cash (exact amount only), CASHAPP, or Venmo.
Friday December 6, 2024 7:00am - 6:00pm CST
3RD Floor - Celestin Foyer Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Information Center

7:00am CST

Membership Center
Friday December 6, 2024 7:00am - 6:00pm CST
3RD Floor - Celestin Foyer
Not a member - you can join today!
If you are a member, and need to renew

Have a question or want to get involved, we can help!

Enter a chance to win the 2024 Conference Raffle Prize: Hotel to provide a Gift Certificate for One (1) complimentary room for 2 nights with breakfast for two (2) persons! Winner will be drawn Saturday, December 7 at 1:00 PM CST
Friday December 6, 2024 7:00am - 6:00pm CST
3RD Floor - Celestin Foyer Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Membership Center

7:00am CST

Registration Center
Friday December 6, 2024 7:00am - 6:00pm CST
3RD Floor - Celestin Foyer
Welcome to the 2024 TASH Conference! Beat the rush; Stop by the registration center to check-in and receive your name badge! We request that name badges are worn at all times while attending the Conference.
Friday December 6, 2024 7:00am - 6:00pm CST
3RD Floor - Celestin Foyer Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Registration Center

7:30am CST

Inclusive Education Community of Practice Meeting
Friday December 6, 2024 7:30am - 8:30am CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 3 Boardroom
Presenters
MF

Mary Fisher

Professor, Lewis University
Friday December 6, 2024 7:30am - 8:30am CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 3 Boardroom Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Meetings

8:00am CST

Exhibitor Showcase Coffee Break - Sponsored by University of Missouri St. Louis - Office of Inclusive Postsecondary Education
Friday December 6, 2024 8:00am - 8:30am CST
3RD Floor - Celestin Foyer
Friday December 6, 2024 8:00am - 8:30am CST
3RD Floor - Celestin Foyer Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Exhibitor Showcase

8:00am CST

New England Chapter Meet Up
Friday December 6, 2024 8:00am - 8:30am CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 4 Boardroom
Friday December 6, 2024 8:00am - 8:30am CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 4 Boardroom Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Meetings

8:00am CST

Quiet / Wellness Room
Friday December 6, 2024 8:00am - 6:00pm CST
4TH Floor - Reliance 2
A low-sensory relaxation room is available for all TASH conference attendees located at Hyatt Regency: Regency 2 (4th Floor).
Friday December 6, 2024 8:00am - 6:00pm CST
4TH Floor - Reliance 2 Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Quiet / Wellness Room

8:00am CST

Exhibitor Showcase (Exhibit Hall)
Friday December 6, 2024 8:00am - 6:30pm CST
3RD Floor - Celestin Foyer
Friday December 6, 2024 8:00am - 6:30pm CST
3RD Floor - Celestin Foyer Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Exhibitor Showcase

8:00am CST

TASH 2024 Silent Auction Bidding
Friday December 6, 2024 8:00am - 6:30pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall
This year, we're thrilled to feature a silent auction, offering exclusive items and experiences. All proceeds raised will go directly towards supporting TASH's national advocacy efforts and the Early Career Research Network. We invite you to participate, bid, and make a meaningful contribution to our mission. Your involvement helps us create a more inclusive world. Stop in Storyville Hall (Level 3) on Friday December 6th between 8am - 6:30PM to place your  bid!

Thank you to everyone who donated and helped make this auction possible!

Additional Silent Auction Information:
  • Bidding opens at 8am on Friday December 6th
  • Bidding closes at 6:30 PM on Friday
Friday December 6, 2024 8:00am - 6:30pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Silent Auction

8:30am CST

Lessons from the Louisiana UCEDD (General Session #1)
Friday December 6, 2024 8:30am - 9:45am CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin D & E
A panel of people from the Human Development Center (Louisiana UCEDD) will be the Opening General Session at the 2024 TASH Conference. They will offer an overview of recent improvements in access to childcare and improved K-12 educational achievement in Louisiana, and what can be done to ensure that the supports and needs of Louisiana students with disabilities and families experience similar achievement gains and enhanced post-high school outcomes. Two of the four presenters (Mr. Johnson and Ms. Carmouche) are graduates of the Human Development Center's transition from high school to employment and careers program and will discuss how having Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) has impacted their life and life course trajectory.
Moderators
DP

Dr. Philip Wilson

Director, The Human Development Center (HDC) at LSU Health New Orleans
Presenters
DR

Dr. Rose Angelocci

Certified Work Incentive Counselor, LSUHSC-Human Development Center
CC

Clarissa Carmouche

Childcare Development Assistant, Louisiana UCEDD
WJ

Wilbert Johnson

Administrative Assistant
AK

Ali Kowitz

Director of Education Transition and Community Initiatives, Louisiana UCEDD
Friday December 6, 2024 8:30am - 9:45am CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin D & E Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  General Sessions

9:59am CST

Concurrent Breakout Sessions
Friday December 6, 2024 9:59am - 11:00am CST
Hyatt Regency
Friday December 6, 2024 9:59am - 11:00am CST
Hyatt Regency 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

10:00am CST

A Latinas' Mother's Journey: A Study of Advocacy and Change
Friday December 6, 2024 10:00am - 11:00am CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 11
This presentation describes the experiences of a mother/advocate/researcher as she navigates the complex world of disability services for her daughter with extensive support needs. This longitudinal case study began five years ago with the analysis of videos and interviews of the mother-daughter dyad interacting with each other and sharing information about how this mother/advocate/researcher found her voice to advocate on behalf of her daughter who was once considered non-verbal. After five years, both mother and daughter have found their respective voices regarding advocacy and self-determination. This updated case study will share new findings on how this mother-daughter dyad has grown in their advocacy for equity at school and in the community.
Moderators
avatar for Alma Contreras-Vanegas

Alma Contreras-Vanegas

Associate Professor, Sam Houston State University
Alma L. Contreras-Vanegas Ph.D., is an associate professor at Sam Houston State University. There she teaches courses in bilingual education and second language acquisition. Her research interests include: Bilingual children in Special Education (gifted and talented and children... Read More →
Presenters
CC
avatar for William Blackwell

William Blackwell

Sam Houston State University
William H. Blackwell is an Assistant Professor of Special Education at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. His research focuses on a broad spectrum of strategies for improving educational outcomes for children and adolescents with disabilities.
Friday December 6, 2024 10:00am - 11:00am CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 11 Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

10:00am CST

ABLE Accounts
Friday December 6, 2024 10:00am - 11:00am CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin A
President Barack Obama signed the ABLE Act on December 19, 2014, as part of the Tax Extenders package. This law allows eligible individuals with disabilities to have a tax-advantaged saving account; modeled after 529 college plan accounts. Account funds can be used for a range of qualified expenses related to the disability of the individual.
Presenters
avatar for Kelly Piacenti, MA, CHSNC®

Kelly Piacenti, MA, CHSNC®

Head of MassMutual SpecialCare, MassMutual SpecialCare
Kelly Piacenti leads MassMutual’s SpecialCare program which includes nearly 500 financial professionals across the country who’ve received extensive training in special needs planning. She oversees partnerships with some of the largest special needs national non-profits. Kelly... Read More →
avatar for Jerry L. Hulick, CLU®, ChFC®, ChSNC®, CLTC®

Jerry L. Hulick, CLU®, ChFC®, ChSNC®, CLTC®

MassMutual SpecialCare Planner - The Washington Group Special Care Planning Team, MassMutual
Jerry has been active in the financial services industry for over 50 years and in 2004 he started The Washington Group Special Care Planning Team, assisting individuals with special needs, their caregivers, and other family members with developing valuable financial strategies and... Read More →
Friday December 6, 2024 10:00am - 11:00am CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin A Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

10:00am CST

Building Educator Capacity: Coaching for Inclusion of ALL Learners
Friday December 6, 2024 10:00am - 11:00am CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 8
What are the first steps in the journey toward living our courageous commitment to inclusive education? Experience how TrueNorth Educational Cooperative 804 partners with member districts to build capacity in educators to implement equitable inclusive practices for students with disabilities through professional learning and coaching. Coaches will share experiences from their work in several community districts. The presenters will celebrate the growth of students, educators, and systems at many different points in this journey. Participants will leave with collaborative structures, frameworks and processes that are applicable to teams and educational systems at the individual student, classroom, and building levels.
Moderators
avatar for Mary-Kelsey Coletto

Mary-Kelsey Coletto

TrueNorth Educational Cooperative 804
Presenters
DR

Danielle Ritchey

TrueNorth Educational Cooperative 804
avatar for Amanda Barton

Amanda Barton

TrueNorth Educational Cooperative 804
CK

Claire Kelley

TrueNorth Educational Cooperative 804
avatar for Tyra Jambois
Friday December 6, 2024 10:00am - 11:00am CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 8 Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

10:00am CST

Case Study: Creating A Culture of Radical Person Centeredness
Friday December 6, 2024 10:00am - 11:00am CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin G
This presentation is a case study on an organization named SEEC that is implementing a best practice and research based framework to infuse the principles of person centeredness into the culture of the organization but to do so in a radical way. A shake up to the status quo. The framework has five main components: People, Collaboration, Values, Culture of Learning, and Continuous Quality Improvement to drive person centeredness into all aspects of the organization. This case study is part one of what we hope to be a two-part TASH presentation over the course of one year. In part one, we want to share with attendees how the framework was developed, discuss the various components of the framework, the assessment that was used to determine “current state” with self-advocates, families, and internal team members, and how we used that assessment to develop a project pl
Moderators
NB

Nicholas Burton

N. Burton Consulting
Presenters
avatar for Karen Lee

Karen Lee

CEO, SEEC
Friday December 6, 2024 10:00am - 11:00am CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin G Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

10:00am CST

Centering Student Impact Through Inclusionary Instructional Leadership
Friday December 6, 2024 10:00am - 11:00am CST
2ND Floor - Foster 1
The Inclusionary Practices Technical Assistance Network (IPTN) is a dynamic, systems-level effort to eliminate exclusionary practices for all students in Washington state, with a focus students experiencing the most exclusion. While many students with disabilities have benefited from Washington's increased investment in inclusionary practices, state data show that Black students and students with IDD are still disproportionately excluded from general education. The IPTN is committed to addressing these inequities by explicitly targeting systems and practices that limit choice and opportunity these students. By braiding federal IDEA and state special education funds, IPTN has co-constructed a collaborative of statewide professional organizations to support inclusionary outcomes focusing systems changes in service of students furthest from educational justice. IPTN is more than a network of providers; it's a transformative force shaping the future of inclusive instructional leadership.
Moderators
avatar for Cassie Martin

Cassie Martin

Executive Director of Special Education, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)
Dr. Cassie Martin is WA state’s Executive Director of Special Education at OSPI. For over 25 years, Cassie has dedicated her professional life and learning to equitable and inclusive education for students with disabilities in support of strong educational outcomes for all students... Read More →
Presenters
JK
Friday December 6, 2024 10:00am - 11:00am CST
2ND Floor - Foster 1 Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

10:00am CST

Community-Based Instruction: A Competency-Based Training
Friday December 6, 2024 10:00am - 11:00am CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin C
This presentation delves into community-based instruction (CBI) training for direct support professionals engaged in home and community-based services (HCBS). It sheds light on developing and implementing a train-the-trainer (T/T) model designed to enhance the skills of HCBS providers, support compliance with the Settings Rule, and foster meaningful community involvement. Through a collaborative effort, project staff, HCBS providers, and family advocacy organizations have crafted a curriculum that addresses CBI's core needs and objectives. The presenters will discuss the systematic framework and the built-in fidelity measures of the T/T model, encompassing both trainer and learner competencies. Participants will leave with a comprehensive understanding of the projects foundation, its collaborative development process, and the impactful outcomes of the training initiative, thus paving the way for improved service delivery and community participation among HCBS providers.
Moderators
avatar for Aubrey Snyder

Aubrey Snyder

Program Coordinator, Utah State University
Hi! I'm Aubrey Snyder. First and foremost, I am a twin sibling to a brother who has Down syndrome and hearing impairments. As a sister, I am incredibly passionate about working within the disability community to improve the services and supports, systems, and society that we work... Read More →
Presenters
avatar for Tim Riesen

Tim Riesen

Director of Research and Training, Utah State University
Tim is the Director of the Research and Training Division at the Institute for Disability Research, Policy & Practice with an appointment as research associate professor in the Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation at Utah State University. Tim has 30 years of experience... Read More →
avatar for Katie Emmett

Katie Emmett

Utah State University Institute for Disability Research, Policy and Practice
NS
Friday December 6, 2024 10:00am - 11:00am CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin C Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

10:00am CST

Creating Inclusive School Communities in An Urban Turnaround District
Friday December 6, 2024 10:00am - 11:00am CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 5C
Attention all urban educators and administrators! Please join us as we present and discuss the systems change process underway in our district , with special emphasis on the challenges of creating inclusive school communities in a struggling urban school district with a large number of segregated special education classrooms. Our district has just completed Year 1 of our work on systems change for inclusive education. We would love to connect with other educators doing similar work to share ideas, strategies, and successes.
Moderators
PM
Presenters
DA

Danielle Archambeault

Lawrence Public Schools
SM

Sabrina Merdita

BCBA/School Psychologist, Lawrence Public Schools
AR

Amanda Rivard

Lawrence Public Schools
Friday December 6, 2024 10:00am - 11:00am CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 5C Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

10:00am CST

Empowering Diverse Families and Enhancing Advocacy During the IEP Process
Friday December 6, 2024 10:00am - 11:00am CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin H
Our research centers on historically marginalized families and their experiences during the IEP process, emphasizing the need for opportunities for advocacy and participation. School-based teams need to approach collaboration with families from an asset-based approach (Sauer & Rossetti, 2020) and educators can learn from practices associated with cultural humility to inform their relationships with diverse families (Trainor, 2010). We conducted semi-structured interviews with families and caregivers to gather first-hand accounts of their experience with decision-making and advocacy during IEP development. In particular, we asked participants how they were able to provide input on placements and services for their child. We will present our findings from a qualitative analysis and share the online resources that we developed to empower families by increasing their understanding of special education terminology, their rights under IDEA, and their confidence in advocating for their child.
Presenters
avatar for Katie McCabe

Katie McCabe

Assistant Professor, Buffalo State University
Katie McCabe is an Assistant Professor in the Exceptional Education Department at Buffalo State University, with a Ph.D. in Special Education and a minor in Qualitative Research Methods from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. A former special education teacher in rural Upstate New... Read More →
Friday December 6, 2024 10:00am - 11:00am CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin H Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

10:00am CST

How AI & Technology Opens the Door for New Employment Opportunities
Friday December 6, 2024 10:00am - 11:00am CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 9
This presentation will explore the transformative potential of AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot in enhancing the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities. We will demonstrate practical applications of these tools in the workplace, such as improving communication, streamlining tasks, and fostering independence. Additionally, we will discuss how AI can support personal life activities, from managing daily routines to accessing information and learning new skills. Attendees will gain insights into integrating AI technologies to promote autonomy, efficiency, and overall quality of life for individuals with developmental disabilities. Join us to discover innovative strategies for integrating AI to support and empower individuals with developmental disabilities.  
Presenters
avatar for Lisa Latchford

Lisa Latchford

President, Fox Associates Consultation LLC
Lisa Latchford is a dedicated Employment Consultant, Trainer and Facilitator, known for her unwavering commitment to fostering inclusive employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. With a foundation built on person-centered planning, she is passionate about guiding... Read More →
avatar for Michael Rogers

Michael Rogers

Customer Service Relations, Washington State DSHS/DDA
I have been working at DDA for 28 years, and I am a life-long advocate for disability rights. In 2002, I was appointed by President Bush for the President's Committee on Developmental Disabilities where I advocated to change the name of the Committee to use respectful language and... Read More →
avatar for Alison DeYoung

Alison DeYoung

Training & Technical Assistance Manager, Wise
Alison DeYoung has worked in the field of transition and employment since 2008 in various roles as a direct support provider, job developer and special education teacher. She worked as the Lead Instructor of Campus Life with Project FOCUS at the University of Arizona, a model demonstration... Read More →
Friday December 6, 2024 10:00am - 11:00am CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 9 Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

10:00am CST

Peer to Peer Bridging The Gap Through Self Advocacy Curriculum
Friday December 6, 2024 10:00am - 11:00am CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 10
Activating Change and Envision Illinois brings Peer to Peer Bridging the Gap through Self-Advocacy Curriculum is a curriculum it is a 26-week class for self-advocates to know how to help people who discloses domestic violence and/or sexual assault to them! The curriculum has four tracks: The Basic, Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and the Criminal Justice System. This overview will explain those tracks, how to get involved in this curriculum, see the online portion, look at suggested learning activities. One of the goals of this curriculum is that the self-advocate knows that the victim make their own decisions about how to heal and to seek justice. The people who take this class are given the tools and knowledge to help victims. Another goal is that once the self-advocate goes through this curriculum, they can teach the same thing to other self-advocates.
Moderators
avatar for Mary Hettel
Friday December 6, 2024 10:00am - 11:00am CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 10 Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

10:00am CST

Raise Inclusive Kids
Friday December 6, 2024 10:00am - 11:00am CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 5A
Everyone can be working on inclusive practices in their home or classroom. Whether you know someone with a disability or you don't. Disability is the only minority group that every single person can be a part of at some point in their life. This presentation will give steps for everyone to actively take in their community, resources to share with others, and a place to problem solve together what their specific barriers are. As a former special education teacher, now mom of 2, this has become a priority for me to raise inclusive kids. Educate children on how to support each other, celebrate our differences, and not focus on what is fair but how we can all be included.
Presenters
KC
Friday December 6, 2024 10:00am - 11:00am CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 5A Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

10:00am CST

Talking to Doctors: Their Beliefs and Your Rights
Friday December 6, 2024 10:00am - 11:00am CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 12
Doctors present themselves as experts on the human body, and we live in a culture that venerates medical professionals for their specialized training. However, that training has limits, particularly as concerns those whose bodies differ from the norm at baseline. There, preconceived biases about capacity, intelligence, and quality of life can and frequently do dominate medical decision-making. Moreover, while the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) theoretically guarantees disabled Americans equal rights in a variety of settings, people may be unfamiliar with their rights in hospital and clinical environments. In this talk, a brief overview of medical education as it relates to disability and its limitations will be provided, followed by information on patient rights and recommendations on how to access and preserve those rights in interacting with doctors and other healthcare professionals.
Presenters
AL

Algernon Lutwak

Northern Light Health
Friday December 6, 2024 10:00am - 11:00am CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 12 Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

10:00am CST

Teaching Romantic Relationships to Individuals with IDD
Friday December 6, 2024 10:00am - 11:00am CST
2ND Floor - Foster 2
This study examined the effects of a remote video modeling intervention on romantic relationships for college students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) who are currently enrolled in an Inclusive Postsecondary Education (IPSE). A single-subject experimental design was used to illustrate the results. After removing the intervention, a follow-up phase was implemented to determine if the participants could maintain their skills. The findings were of significance to the participants. Limitations and future research were also included in this study to include in future literature.
Presenters
avatar for Brianna Miller

Brianna Miller

Visiting Instructor, Florida Atlantic University
Brianna Miller, Ed.D is an Instructor for the Department of Special Education at Florida Atlantic University (FAU). Dr. Miller is a faculty member and advisor of the Academy for Community Inclusion (ACI), a comprehensive transition postsecondary education program for adults 18 and... Read More →
Friday December 6, 2024 10:00am - 11:00am CST
2ND Floor - Foster 2 Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

10:00am CST

The Role of An Inclusive Education Coach During Systemic Change
Friday December 6, 2024 10:00am - 11:00am CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 5D
Using a constructivist grounded theory approach to interpret data collected through interviews, shadowing with field notes, and documents, this study begins to illuminate the role of an inclusive education coach working within an ongoing, successful district-wide systemic change endeavor to include students with extensive support needs (ESN) in regular education classrooms. The findings of this study begin with the experiences and qualities of the coach gleaned from interviews and shadowing experiences. Next, the preliminary theory that emerged from this study illustrates the coach's use of eight concurrent strategies that enable him to understand the context and build capacity at the classroom, school, district, and state levels of the education system to increase the membership, participation, and learning of students with ESN. Finally, additional implications derived from this study are discussed, which might assist districts in considering the use of coaching for systemic change.
Moderators
DB

Dale Baker

Assistant Professor, St. Bonaventure University
Presenters
avatar for Diane Ryndak

Diane Ryndak

Professor, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
avatar for Kristin Burnette

Kristin Burnette

Assistant Professor, East Carolina University
Friday December 6, 2024 10:00am - 11:00am CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 5D Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

10:00am CST

The Social Impact of An Inclusive Dance Program
Friday December 6, 2024 10:00am - 11:00am CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin F
Given the framework of the Contact Hypothesis, the We Dance Together program seeks to decrease bias and increase familiarity and acceptance between students with and without disabilities. This program was the subject of a mixed methods single case study investigating the social impact of program participation. Three groups of second grade students were included in the study in order to evaluate different qualities and quantities of contact: the intervention group, control group with contact, and a control group without contact. Results indicated significantly increased levels of favorability and an emerging desire to "play with" students with complex communication needs for the intervention group.
Presenters
avatar for Robin Schulz

Robin Schulz

North College Hill City Schools
I am a school-based Speech and Language Pathologist, Adjunct Instructor at the University of Cincinnati, and Ohio Ambassador for Charting the LifeCourse. I earned my Doctor of Education degree from the University of Findlay where I completed my dissertation study of We Dance Together... Read More →
Friday December 6, 2024 10:00am - 11:00am CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin F Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

10:00am CST

Understanding Knowledge and Skill Competencies for Job Coaches Who Provide On-The-Job Supports to Individuals with Disabilities
Friday December 6, 2024 10:00am - 11:00am CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin B
Most state rehabilitation agencies collaborate with community rehabilitation providers (CRPs) to provide job placement and support services, including supported employment (SE) and customized employment (CE). Despite efforts from CRPs to provide services and supports to individuals with disabilities for the demands of employment, competitive integrated employment (CIE) rates for individuals with disabilities, especially those with more significant disabilities remains poor. One way to improve employment outcomes is to ensure that those providing comprehensive supports are competent in knowledge and skills necessary for their job. The purpose of this presentation is to review result of a study that validated key knowledge and skill competencies essential for job coaches. We will provide a review of the competencies used in the study and review methods, results, implications. We will provide a review about how competency-based training and TA is being implemented in one state.
Moderators
avatar for Tim Riesen

Tim Riesen

Director of Research and Training, Utah State University
Tim is the Director of the Research and Training Division at the Institute for Disability Research, Policy & Practice with an appointment as research associate professor in the Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation at Utah State University. Tim has 30 years of experience... Read More →
Presenters
avatar for Corban Remund

Corban Remund

Utah State University
avatar for Rachel Byers

Rachel Byers

Researcher, Utah State Univeristy
avatar for Magen Rooney-Kron

Magen Rooney-Kron

Assistant Professor, University of Missouri, St. Louis
Magen is an assistant professor of inclusive education at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Her research focuses on the inclusion of students with significant support needs in work-based learning experiences.
Friday December 6, 2024 10:00am - 11:00am CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin B Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

10:00am CST

Using the SDLMI to Enhance Teacher Teacher Goal Setting for Inclusive Education
Friday December 6, 2024 10:00am - 11:00am CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 5B
The current study describes how two teacher preparation programs used the Self-Determined Learning Model of Instruction (SDLMI) with 57 teachers to empower them to set goals, take action, and evaluate and adjust their goals and action plans to enhance their practices and supports provided to students. We analyzed the goals set by teachers to improve their inclusive teaching skills and practices, the quality of teacher goals, teacher goal attainment, and whether goal quality predicted goal attainment. We found that most teachers set goals that required a team approach. Teachers generally created high-quality goals, with teachers making expected or better-than expected progress on their goals. Teacher goal quality was predictive of goal attainment. We discuss how teacher preparation programs can use the SDLMI to support teachers in creating their own goals, measuring their goal progress, and improving their implementation of essential and best practices to advance inclusive education.
Presenters
avatar for Jennifer Kurth

Jennifer Kurth

Professor, University of Kansas
Inclusive Education
avatar for Alison Zagona

Alison Zagona

Assistant Professor, University of Kansas - Department of Special Education
I am a researcher and special education teacher educator, and I am passionate about advocating for inclusive educational experiences for students with extensive support needs.
Friday December 6, 2024 10:00am - 11:00am CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 5B Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

11:00am CST

RPSD Senior Editorial Board Meeting
Friday December 6, 2024 11:00am - 12:00pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 4 Boardroom
Closed meeting for the senior editorial board members of RPSD.
Moderators
avatar for Craig Kennedy

Craig Kennedy

Professor, University of Connecticut
Friday December 6, 2024 11:00am - 12:00pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 4 Boardroom Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Meetings

11:14am CST

Concurrent Breakout Sessions
Friday December 6, 2024 11:14am - 12:15pm CST
Hyatt Regency
Friday December 6, 2024 11:14am - 12:15pm CST
Hyatt Regency 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113

11:15am CST

A History, Growth, and Success of A Fully Inclusive, K-8, School Community
Friday December 6, 2024 11:15am - 12:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin F
This presentation will illustrate the inception through current day practices of an inclusive, K-8 school community; including roadblocks, missteps, small and large successes. The presenters will introduce you to how each stakeholder (students, families, practitioners, community) contributed to the development and growth of a school where students of all ages and abilities can be immersed in meaningful and relevant learning in a safe and supportive environment inclusive of all learners.
Presenters
JK

John Kershaw

Director of Special Edication, Meeting Street
HB

Heather Boccanfuso

Head of School, Meeting Street
Friday December 6, 2024 11:15am - 12:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin F Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

11:15am CST

Benefits of Collaborative, Multidisciplinary Approaches to AAC Training in Schools
Friday December 6, 2024 11:15am - 12:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin A
A multidisciplinary approach involving speech-language pathologists, educators, occupational therapists, and other professionals leads to improved communication outcomes for individuals using Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC) systems (McNaughton & Light, 2013). Despite this knowledge, AAC training opportunities for school staff often focus only on SLPs and less frequently on the direct support professionals assisting students on a daily basis. Our session focuses on the benefits of a multidisciplinary training approach, which facilitates the generalization and maintenance of communication skills across different settings and communication partners. This collaboration promotes communication and inclusion in a wider range of contexts (Millar et al., 2019). Multidisciplinary collaboration provides valuable opportunities for professional development and knowledge exchange among team members, enhancing AAC service delivery in educational settings (Beukelman & Mirenda, 2013).
Moderators
avatar for Lisa Mihalich Quinn

Lisa Mihalich Quinn

Executive Director, Reach Every Voice
Lisa Mihalich Quinn, M.A / M.Ed. is a licensed special educator with more than 15 years of experience making academic content accessible for neurodiverse students and learners who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). She is a former Maryland Public Schools teacher... Read More →
Presenters
avatar for Edlyn Peña

Edlyn Peña

California Lutheran University
I am a professor in the Educational Leadership doctoral program at California Lutheran University. I am also the Director of the Autism and Communication Center. Proud mom to an autistic teenager and book author, Diego.
avatar for Julie Sando

Julie Sando

Director, Communication for Education
My colleague Lisa and I will be presenting in a breakout room about text-based communication in educational settings. We will share about our experience with Communication For Education, where we help parents and educators learn how to support non-speaking, minimally-speaking, or... Read More →
Friday December 6, 2024 11:15am - 12:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin A Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

11:15am CST

Catalight's Compass Work Tool-Help PwD Find Meaningful Careers
Friday December 6, 2024 11:15am - 12:15pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 10
Catalight Research Institute has developed Compass Work. This self-paced program offers participants a unique set of tools to help them find a position that fits their strengths and sets them up for lifelong career success. It is person-centered, strength-based, assessment-driven, and career-focused. It consists of over 30 training elements, including skills assessments, resume building, interviewing, accommodation requests, handling rejections, accepting job offers, and creating a 100-day plan for when they start a new job. It launched in February 2023 and is used by over 100 job seekers, advocates, career coaches, and employment service providers. We will present the program design and the successes candidates and advocates for these candidates have accomplished. We will share how they use the tool and the feedback generated along the way. We will share critical feedback from candidates and advocates. We also plan to give TASH attendees free access to the tool.
Presenters
avatar for Dan Middleton

Dan Middleton

Senior Director, Clinical Excellence Planning and Development, Catalight
As the Clinical Excellence Planning and Development Leader at Catalight, I have led new strategies for employment services for neurodiverse adults since December 2021. With over 20 years of experience in process improvement, mentoring, and organizational support, I am passionate about... Read More →
Friday December 6, 2024 11:15am - 12:15pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 10 Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

11:15am CST

Examining Social Support Received by Parents of Adults with IDD
Friday December 6, 2024 11:15am - 12:15pm CST
2ND Floor - Foster 1
We examined the social support networks of parents of adults with IDD, including members of their support networks, satisfaction with network members, and supports parents need to be effective caregivers for their adult son or daughter with IDD. Findings point to small social networks and the need for tangible support, social support, help navigating services, and future planning. Findings have important implications for research, practice, and policy.
Moderators
avatar for Kelli Sanderson

Kelli Sanderson

Assistant Professor of Special Education, California State University Long Beach
Hello! My name is Kelli Sanderson. I am an Assistant Professor of Special Education at California State University, Long Beach. I am also coordinator of the Special Education graduate program and the Applied Disability Studies certificate. I am focused on advocacy and collaboration... Read More →
Presenters
MB

Meghan Burke

Vanderbilt University
avatar for Jenn Bumble
Friday December 6, 2024 11:15am - 12:15pm CST
2ND Floor - Foster 1 Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

11:15am CST

Facilitating Transitions for Students with Severe Disabilities
Friday December 6, 2024 11:15am - 12:15pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 12
This presentation will focus on facilitating successful transitions for students with severe disabilities from school to post-school environments. It highlights the importance of early, individualized transition planning, robust support systems, and community partnerships. Attendees will gain insights into evidence-based practices and implementing effective transition programs. The presenters will discuss transition challenges and barriers faced by adolescents with disabilities and their families. The presenters will focus on fostering collaborative relationships with families and community organizations and on multidisciplinary approaches for integrating educational, social, and community resources for holistic transition support.
Moderators
YM

Yvonne Moreno

College Assistant Professor, New Mexico State University
Yvonne Moreno, PhD is a College Assistant Professor at New Mexico State University. She believes that all individuals regardless of their exceptionalities must have a right to the self-actualization of their goals and aspirations. This belief has guided her education, career, and... Read More →
Presenters
avatar for Sergio Madrid-Aranda

Sergio Madrid-Aranda

Assistant Professor, Augsburg University
Sergio Madrid-Aranda is an Assistant Professor at Augsburg University in Minneapolis, MN. He earned his PhD in Special Bilingual Education, focusing on autism spectrum disorders, from New Mexico State University. He collaborates with Murcia University in Spain as a research associate... Read More →
KK

Kristin Kew

New Mexico State University
Friday December 6, 2024 11:15am - 12:15pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 12 Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

11:15am CST

FamTAM Intervention Development to Support Children Who Use Aided AAC
Friday December 6, 2024 11:15am - 12:15pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 8
Family support is essential for effective augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) implementation. Family level intervention is necessary to ensure this support, but few interventions exist. We will share the development process utilized as part of an IES funded grant to create an aided language modeling intervention for SLPs and families.
Presenters
avatar for Sarah Douglas

Sarah Douglas

Associate Professor, Michigan State University
Dr. Sarah Douglas is an Associate Professor at Michigan State University where she directs the RADD lab (Research on Autism and Developmental Disabilities). Her work focuses on paraeducator supports, augmentative and alternative communication, children with extensive support needs... Read More →
Friday December 6, 2024 11:15am - 12:15pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 8 Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

11:15am CST

Inclusive Policing: Implementing Law Enforcement Training for Autism Equity
Friday December 6, 2024 11:15am - 12:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin B
Although nearly all law enforcement officers (LEOs) report responding to calls with autistic individuals, as few as 9% of officers receive training specific to autism. To address this issue, in 2022, a multidisciplinary team (MDT) began designing Interaction with Neurodiverse Citizens: Training Effective Response And Communication (INTERAC), an autism-specific training, in collaboration with a local police lieutenant. Based on prior research on essential content for autism-specific training for LEOs and three rounds of feedback from the lieutenant, the team launched the training during shift debrief meetings for LEOs. INTERAC includes didactic presentation, body camera footage and scenarios, and resources, and was delivered by the MDT, which includes two Autistic adults. This presentation at TASH will share the process for the development and implementation of the training, the perspectives of all trainers, including the Autistic adults, and results and input from the LEOs.
Presenters
avatar for Elissa Green Kaustinen

Elissa Green Kaustinen

Director, Families, Agencies and Schools Together @ CHOC, Thompson Policy Institute / Thompson Autism Center @ CHOC
Friday December 6, 2024 11:15am - 12:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin B Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

11:15am CST

Leveraging Universal Design for Learning to Improve Student Behavior
Friday December 6, 2024 11:15am - 12:15pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 5B
This workshop is designed to empower educators with the principles and practices of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to foster a positive and inclusive learning environment. Participants will gain an understanding of the updated UDL Guidelines and their role in promoting desirable student behavior across diverse educational settings. By the end of this session, participants will be equipped with the knowledge and practical skills needed to create a more inclusive and behaviorally supportive learning environment for all students.
Moderators
avatar for Kelley Correio

Kelley Correio

Inclusionary Practices Coordinator, Educational Service District 123
I have spent the past 5 years as part of a staewide team committed to supporting educators and school leaders with developing and implementing sustainable systems, structures, and practices that support all students with meaningful access and engagement in inclusive learning envi... Read More →
Presenters
avatar for Lindsay Hicks-Frazer

Lindsay Hicks-Frazer

Inclusionary Practices Coordinator, NEWESD101
Over the past 5 years, I have collaborated closely with 8 other Inclusionary Practices coordinators from various regions across the state of Washington. Through our work, we have partnered extensively with schools and educational leaders to support the implementation of Universal... Read More →
Friday December 6, 2024 11:15am - 12:15pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 5B Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

11:15am CST

Politics and Disability Policy: Oppression As A Bipartisan Issue
Friday December 6, 2024 11:15am - 12:15pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 5D
The articulation of disability rights principles and models of disability developed by disabled communities is fairly recent. Today, ongoing ignorance of these concepts in broader society significantly limits the general public’s ability to conceptualize any disabled group as one with distinct goals and interests. This has led to a lack of clear, consistent policy from any major political party in regards to accessibility, eugenics, or representative research policy. As a result, disability rights advocates may find themselves with allies and enemies across the political spectrum, with supporters who become oppressors when the issue changes. This talk will discuss relevant policy history, give a brief overview of some of the major areas crucial to policy development in which political values often lead to inconsistency. It will open into a discussion of coalition-building, public awareness and framing of disability rights issues, and self-advocacy.
Presenters
AL

Algernon Lutwak

Northern Light Health
Friday December 6, 2024 11:15am - 12:15pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 5D Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

11:15am CST

Preparing Preservice Teachers for Inclusion Through Introductory Special Education Course
Friday December 6, 2024 11:15am - 12:15pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 5C
As more students with disabilities are included in general education settings, there is a growing need for enhanced preservice teacher training for inclusive practices. Especially, an introductory special education course is given greater emphasis due to the mandatory enrollment requirements for preservice teachers in most teacher preparation programs. To inform the development of this course that prepares teachers to provide inclusive education, a Delphi study will be completed to query experts on critical elements of the course syllabus (i.e., purpose, course contents, assignments) considered important by them to facilitate inclusion. The content analysis of 22 syllabi was conducted to develop the initial survey items. Consensus will be reached through multiple rounds of surveys. Results and implications for future research and practice will be discussed.
Moderators
avatar for Geonhwa Kim

Geonhwa Kim

Doctoral Student, University of Kansas
Presenters
avatar for Jennifer Kurth

Jennifer Kurth

Professor, University of Kansas
Inclusive Education
Friday December 6, 2024 11:15am - 12:15pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 5C Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

11:15am CST

Revisiting Equitable Opportunities to Learn
Friday December 6, 2024 11:15am - 12:15pm CST
2ND Floor - Foster 2
This session highlights new research on the importance of context in providing equitable opportunities to learn (OTL). Our original work highlighted how the concept of OTL in general education literature was missing components to ensure accessibility for students with disabilities. We proposed the use of Universal Design for Learning and attention to individualized needs within the OTL framework to better define access to the general curriculum and to consider the specific aspects of equitable learning opportunities to improve access and outcomes for students with complex support needs. While our original work alluded to context and placement, we did not address it directly. The updated OTL extends our understanding of how to advocate for inclusive practices by bringing together UDL 3.0 and new research on the importance of context for equitable learning opportunities.
Moderators
MF

Megan Foster

Utica University
Presenters
avatar for Deborah Taub

Deborah Taub

Owner/CEO, OTL Education Solutions, LLC
JA
Friday December 6, 2024 11:15am - 12:15pm CST
2ND Floor - Foster 2 Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

11:15am CST

Seeking Inclusive Futures: (Best) Practices in Transition Programming
Friday December 6, 2024 11:15am - 12:15pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 11
This qualitative research uncovers current and best inclusive practices in school-based transition programs for 18-21 year-old students with significant disabilities. Document analysis of published curricula, results of a mixed-method survey, and 24 semi-structured interviews offer multiple perspectives on the current status of transition programs as well as practices that uphold inclusivity, which are more likely to lead to inclusive adult life experiences. Findings show that many students expressed discontent with segregative aspects of transition programs and parents worked tirelessly to cobble together unique programs. Professional perspectives reveal that low-expectations often guided program decisions that led to segregative practices. Examples of promising and inclusive practices are also uncovered in the study. A review of the literature on inclusive transition programming and disability studies theoretical lens contextualize research findings.
Presenters
MT
JB

Jessica Bacon

Montclair State University
Friday December 6, 2024 11:15am - 12:15pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 11 Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

11:15am CST

The Unique Attributes of Parents Who Advocate For Inclusive Education
Friday December 6, 2024 11:15am - 12:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin G
This study aims to investigate the unique qualities that create opportunities for parents of students with multiple support needs to advocate for inclusive education settings. All humans need to connect and feel that they belong, and their unique human capital is used to attain a desired outcome. When a parent is part of an IEP team, these needs are not any different; belonging is needed to feel part of that team truly and for collaboration to occur. As this study investigates the phenomenon of parental qualities, the theoretical frameworks of the 10 Dimensions of Belonging by Carter (2021 & 2020) and Yosso's Community Cultural Capital (2005) will be used. What are the distinctive attributes of parents of children with multiple support needs that equip them to be advocates for inclusive education settings?
a) How do parents acquire these distinctive attributes?
b) How does possessing these qualities impact advocacy in the IEP process?
Moderators
MM
Presenters
avatar for Robin Dodds

Robin Dodds

Associate Professor of Early Childhood Special Education, California State University LA
My primary research interests focus on supporting families of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and related Developmental Disabilities in two ways; through Parent to Parent social support and through parent-mediated interventions for social communication. Additionally... Read More →
Friday December 6, 2024 11:15am - 12:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin G Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

11:15am CST

Understanding Family Experiences with Section 504 For Their Autistic Children
Friday December 6, 2024 11:15am - 12:15pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 9
Extant literature has focused mainly on access to Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) without addressing Section 504 of the American Rehabilitation Act. Over 1.38 million students are served by Section 504 in schools, yet little is known about their experiences. The purpose of the study was to explore the experiences of families of autistic children with Section 504 in schools. Altogether, 21 families participated in individual interviews about their initial experiences accessing Section 504, their input into the Section 504 plan, and the implementation of the Section 504 plan. The few families who reported positive experiences with Section 504 reported having supportive school professionals. Unfortunately, most participants reported negative experiences including the school being unwilling to provide accommodations. Implications include the need to develop and test an advocacy program for families and youth with disabilities to improve access to Section 504.
Moderators
avatar for RaeAnne Lindsay

RaeAnne Lindsay

Coordinator for Section 504 project, Vanderbilt University, Peabody College
I am a Licensed Social Worker in the state of Illinois. I received a Masters Degree from the School of Social Work at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. I am a Disability Advocate and the reining Ms. Wheelchair USA 2024-2025. I currently work at Vanderbilt University in... Read More →
Presenters
MB

Meghan Burke

Vanderbilt University
Friday December 6, 2024 11:15am - 12:15pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 9 Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

11:15am CST

Video Prompting Adaptive Skills For Preschool Students with Disabilities
Friday December 6, 2024 11:15am - 12:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin C
Adaptive skills are important skills for students with significant disabilities to learn to help be more independent in the classroom. The purpose of this study is to see if preschool students can learn adaptive skills via video prompts and if the skill can be maintained once the video prompts are removed. Findings showed that all three students were able to make positive progress in learning their adaptive skill using video prompts. Two of the students reached the maintenance phase and both were able to remove the video prompts and maintain the learned skill. These two students also showed an interest in wanting to swipe through and start their own videos during the intervention. Therefore, video prompts also have the possibility of helping students become more independent, which leads to more or continued inclusion with their peers and by being included are in more diverse classrooms.
Presenters
avatar for Kaitlyn Viera

Kaitlyn Viera

Doctoral Candidate, Ohio State University
Friday December 6, 2024 11:15am - 12:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin C Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

11:15am CST

Why Mix Methods? Iterative Development of A Peer Network Intervention
Friday December 6, 2024 11:15am - 12:15pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 5A
Mixed methods designs are gaining traction in research for inclusive education, but there are still few examples of how mixed methods can inform intervention development. Learn how our team has used mixed and multi-methods research to develop an intervention that promotes social communication, language, and peer relationships for elementary-aged students with autism who are nonspeaking or have limited speech. Participants will learn about the components of the Enhanced Peer Network intervention, which include: (a) communication access through augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), (b) storybook lessons to promote social-emotional development for students with and without disabilities, and (c) support for peers and students with disabilities to promote social communication and engagement during play. Participants will also learn about the powerful roles mixed methods research can play in successfully bridging research-to-practice.
Presenters
avatar for Elizabeth Biggs

Elizabeth Biggs

Assistant Professor, Vanderbilt University
Elizabeth E. Biggs, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Special Education at Vanderbilt University and a member of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center. Her work focuses on promoting social, communication, language, and literacy outcomes for children and youth with autism... Read More →
Friday December 6, 2024 11:15am - 12:15pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 5A Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

11:15am CST

Writing Together: Small Group Writing Instructions for Students with IDD
Friday December 6, 2024 11:15am - 12:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin H
In this engaging presentation, presenters will discuss past research on writing instruction for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and describe two recent studies on the effectiveness of an intervention package including constant time delay, sentence frames, and technology-assisted instruction on: (a) writing within a shared story reading and (b) small group writing instruction for students with IDD. Additionally, we will provide teachers with writing examples that can be implemented in their classrooms without the need for additional funding.
Presenters
avatar for Fred Spooner

Fred Spooner

Professor, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Fred Spooner is Professor of Special Education at UNC Charlotte. Dr. Spooner has researched and written about instructional strategies for students with severe disabilities since the 1980s. Recently, he has focused on alternate assessment and linking both assessment and instruction... Read More →
TW
Friday December 6, 2024 11:15am - 12:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin H Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

12:30pm CST

Awards Ceremony Luncheon
Friday December 6, 2024 12:30pm - 2:00pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin D & E
Celebrate the Award Winners!
  • Alice H. Hayden Emerging Leader Award: Hannah Brenner
  • Barbara R. Trader Leadership Award: Jennifer Lengyel
  • Early Career Researcher Award: Magen Rooney
  • June Downing Breakthroughs in Inclusive Education Award: Deborah Taub
  • Larry J. Brummond Supportive Relationship Award: Ava Thurman & Edna Wordsworth
  • Marc Gold Employment Award: John Butterworth
  • Positive Images in the Media: Christina Cannarella
  • Ralph Edwards Diversity and Social Impact Award: Christine Bechtel
  • TASH's Lifetime Achievement Award: Allan Bergman

Presenters
avatar for Michael Brogioli

Michael Brogioli

Executive Director, TASH
Michael J. Brogioli joined TASH to serve as Executive Director in October, 2021. Michael (Mike) brings over twenty years of senior management experience in the nonprofit sector including past leadership positions as executive director of the Autism Coalition for Research and Education... Read More →
avatar for Jean Gonsier-Gerdin

Jean Gonsier-Gerdin

Professor, Teaching Credentials-Special Education, California State University, Sacramento
avatar for Virginia Walker

Virginia Walker

Professor, UNC Charlotte
Friday December 6, 2024 12:30pm - 2:00pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin D & E Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Awards

2:14pm CST

Concurrent Breakout Sessions
Friday December 6, 2024 2:14pm - 3:10pm CST
Hyatt Regency
Friday December 6, 2024 2:14pm - 3:10pm CST
Hyatt Regency 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

2:15pm CST

Celebrate Together: Empowering Transitions with Student-Led IEPs!
Friday December 6, 2024 2:15pm - 3:10pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin B
In this presentation, we advocate for student-led Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for transition-age adults with intellectual disabilities (ages 18-21). Transitioning from school to adulthood is critical, and empowering these individuals to participate in their IEPs is essential. Research highlights the importance of self-determination, self-advocacy, and engagement for better outcomes in education, employment, and independent living. Our approach includes providing direct instruction for self-advocacy skills, fostering collaboration between students, families, educators, and community agencies, and enhancing communication to improve participation. The presentation includes a student from a post-secondary transition program who adopted a person-centered IEP approach.
Moderators
GC
Presenters
HZ
TB
Friday December 6, 2024 2:15pm - 3:10pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin B Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

2:15pm CST

Celebrating that I AM at the center!
Friday December 6, 2024 2:15pm - 3:10pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 5D
Evan Barnwell is an 11 year old stroke survivor, autistic child who shares what is important TO him: his favorite activities, friends, dreams, and projects. His mom, Viviana, then explores the crucial impact of person centered thinking and language in the pursuit for inclusion and respect for people with disabilities. The difference between the terms "important to" and "important for", the evolution in the perception of disabilities, and how to create a one-page profile will help participants not only hear about the experiences of a self-advocate and a family member, but also, leave the presentation with concrete tools and materials to use for themselves, the people they care for, or those they work with.
Presenters
VB

Viviana Barnwell

Parent/CAC - ViceChair, SELPA IV
Friday December 6, 2024 2:15pm - 3:10pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 5D Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

2:15pm CST

Closing the Gap: Developing Systems That Work for Everyonel
Friday December 6, 2024 2:15pm - 3:10pm CST
2ND Floor - Foster 1
State developmental disability systems provide critical supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. But, many people with autism and medically fragile children may not qualify for services. Hear how North Dakota is partnering with self-advocates and families to redefine their approach to supports through the lens of the All.
Presenters
avatar for Erin Leveton

Erin Leveton

Director, Alvarez & Marsal Public Sector Services, LLC
Friday December 6, 2024 2:15pm - 3:10pm CST
2ND Floor - Foster 1 Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

2:15pm CST

Comparing Literacy Programs for Non-speaking Students with Extensive Support Needs
Friday December 6, 2024 2:15pm - 3:10pm CST
2ND Floor - Foster 2
In this pilot randomized controlled trial, we tested two reading curricula designed to teach early literacy skills to nonspeaking students—Early Literacy Skills Builder and Accessible Literacy Learning. Twenty-four participants were randomized to an ELSB, ALL, or control group, and we measured outcomes for all groups at 4 time points for phonological awareness, alphabet knowledge, and word reading. We used growth curve modeling to analyze our data. We found statistically significant effects for both ELSB and ALL compared to the control group on some outcomes, although ELSB outperformed ALL on most measures. We will report on effects of each intervention relative to each other and a control group, and share practical implications for practitioners.
Moderators
avatar for Matthew Brock

Matthew Brock

Associate Professor, Ohio State University
Matt Brock has two major lines of research including (1) inclusion and peer-mediated intervention for students with significant disabilities, and (2) coaching paraprofessionals to implement evidence-based practices. He currently is implementing a large-scale federally-funded efficacy... Read More →
Presenters
SH

Sarah Hudler

The Ohio State University
KA

Kate Anderson

Graduate Student, The Ohio State University
avatar for Kaitlyn Viera

Kaitlyn Viera

Doctoral Candidate, Ohio State University
SM

Sara Martin

Ohio State University
JH

Jenna Hurlburt

The Ohio State University
Friday December 6, 2024 2:15pm - 3:10pm CST
2ND Floor - Foster 2 Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

2:15pm CST

Educational Placements Predictors: Intersectional Analysis of Students with Complex Needs
Friday December 6, 2024 2:15pm - 3:10pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 8
This study sheds light on potential inequities in student outcomes perpetuated by current disability labeling and placement systems, particularly for historically marginalized students. We used multi-level linear modeling to explore how student characteristics and their intersections affect the educational placement of public school students who received special education services in Utah across 6-years. Students’ eligibility for the state alternate assessment based on significant cognitive disability (SCD) had the strongest negative effect on educational placement, followed by disability labels often associated with complex support needs (i.e., multiple disabilities, intellectual disability, autism). The placement patterns of students of color and White students across autism and intellectual disability labels were reversed and disproportionate, suggesting White families have greater access to knowledge of relative resources and stigma associated with different disability labels.
Presenters
avatar for Kristen Lansey

Kristen Lansey

Assistant Professor, University of Arizona
Kirsten Lansey (she/her), Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of special education. Her overarching goal is to conduct research, teaching, and service that contributes to systemic educational change so that students with complex support needs receive inclusive and equitable learning... Read More →
Friday December 6, 2024 2:15pm - 3:10pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 8 Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

2:15pm CST

Empowering Voices: Participation of Youth Using AAC in Transition Planning
Friday December 6, 2024 2:15pm - 3:10pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 5C
Person-centered transition planning empowers people with disabilities to take charge of their goals for the future— fostering self-determination and meaningful outcomes. However, little is known about the extent to which educators involve youth in transition planning when youth are unable to use speech to be heard and understood. Our research team has been engaging in research focused on understanding the involvement of youth who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) in transition planning. We interviewed youth who use AAC, their parents, their special education teachers, and their speech-language pathologists about their experiences. Key findings highlight the challenges youth face and the support needed from each stakeholder in the transition planning process. Participants will gain powerful insight into these first-hand experiences and will also leave with ideas about the changes needed in practice to empower youth voices in their own transition planning.
Moderators
avatar for Elizabeth Biggs

Elizabeth Biggs

Assistant Professor, Vanderbilt University
Elizabeth E. Biggs, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Special Education at Vanderbilt University and a member of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center. Her work focuses on promoting social, communication, language, and literacy outcomes for children and youth with autism... Read More →
Presenters
avatar for Allison Cole

Allison Cole

Vanderbilt University, Peabody College
avatar for Megan Best

Megan Best

PhD Student in Special Education, University of Illinois Urbana-Champagin
Friday December 6, 2024 2:15pm - 3:10pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 5C Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

2:15pm CST

How to: Anti-Ableist, Respectful, and Student-Centered Evaluation
Friday December 6, 2024 2:15pm - 3:10pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 5B
We have created tools for students, families, and professionals that help leverage the IDEA evaluation process to not simply establish eligibility for Special Education, but as a guide to an IEP team, to a school, or even to a school district on how to support learners with extensive support needs in general education in a way that centers and respects the student and guarantees meaningful access, progress and engagement, is anti-ableist, and sets up the foundation for authentic relationships. There is a way to use the mandated documentation in anti-ableist, respectful, and strength-driven ways that center the student and their preferences, meaningful engagement, and authentic relationships, reframe the evaluation process as more humanistic, inclusive, empowering, and authentic, and that will help the evaluation team to reframe their ideas of Disability and Special Education.
Moderators
avatar for Taina Karru-Olsen

Taina Karru-Olsen

Co-Founder and Director, Inclusion For ALL
Inclusion For ALL is a grassroots network in Washington State and an intentional community of disabled individuals, parents and other caregivers of disabled individuals, professionals who work in education, and other community members who value social justice. We believe and know... Read More →
Presenters
avatar for Sarah Butcher

Sarah Butcher

Co-Founder and Director, Roots of Inclusion
Hi!  My name is Sarah Butcher.  I am dedicated to fostering an equitable, accessible, and inclusive education system that empowers each student to thrive. With a keen ability to identify connections across systems, I leverage relationship-building, family and community engagement... Read More →
avatar for Jennifer Karls

Jennifer Karls

Co-Founder and Director, Roots of Inclusion
avatar for Ananda Scott

Ananda Scott

President, Inclusion For ALL
Inclusion For ALL is a grassroots network in Washington State and an intentional community of disabled individuals, parents and other caregivers of disabled individuals, professionals who work in education, and other community members who value social justice. We believe and know... Read More →
Friday December 6, 2024 2:15pm - 3:10pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 5B Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

2:15pm CST

Impact of Ableism in Schools: Perspective of New Special Educators
Friday December 6, 2024 2:15pm - 3:10pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin A
The historical perception of disability as a defect or abnormality has led to negative stigmas and biases, impacting students with disabilities and special education teachers. Paradigm shifts are necessary to address societal and physical barriers, improve school systems, and support special education teachers, especially early career educators. Students with disabilities face limitations due to these barriers, contributing to teacher turnover and impacting student learning. The presentation will focus on addressing these barriers to attract and retain highly qualified special education teachers. Additionally, the presentation will address the expectations placed on special education teachers and suggest using a social model of disability framework to shift perceptions in educational settings. It also emphasizes the need for an inclusive culture that supports special education teachers from diverse backgrounds.
Presenters
avatar for Mina Chun

Mina Chun

Assistant Professor, California Lutheran University
avatar for Tammy Bachrach

Tammy Bachrach

Associate Professor, Azusa Pacific University
Tammy Bachrach is a Professor of Special Education at Azusa Pacific University (APU) in Southern California. Prior to assuming her position at APU, Tammy was general and special educator for 18 years, working with both primary and secondary students with disabilities. Tammy grew up... Read More →
Friday December 6, 2024 2:15pm - 3:10pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin A Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

2:15pm CST

Learn To Earn-Leveraging Community Engagement to Increase Job Opportunities
Friday December 6, 2024 2:15pm - 3:10pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin H
In August 2022, federal policy makers collaborated on a joint policy concerning the utilization of Community Engagement services to assist individuals with significant support needs in securing and maintaining employment. Job seekers with limited community life experience often face disadvantages in their quest for employment as they struggle to articulate their passions and strengths. By leveraging Community Engagement alongside the four guideposts of Community Life Engagement developed by the University of Massachusetts Boston Institute on Community Inclusion, providers, job seekers, and their families can chart a part towards employment. This session aims to share anecdotes and strategies illustrating how CE is deployed to aid individuals supports needs who have been isolated or lack experience with community employment in their journey to work. Additionally, the presentation will delve into concepts of the utilization of Community Life Engagement as a wraparound service.
Presenters
avatar for Kelly Paparazzo

Kelly Paparazzo

Program Director, Community Engagement, SEEC
avatar for Tona Craviotto

Tona Craviotto

Program Director Employment Services, SEEC
Senior Workforce Development Professional with over 18 years of experience in the development/planning, implementation, operation, and evaluation of adult education, vocational training, work preparedness and workforce development programs. Additional expertise in labor development... Read More →
Friday December 6, 2024 2:15pm - 3:10pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin H Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

2:15pm CST

Navigating Inclusive College-Successes and Challenges
Friday December 6, 2024 2:15pm - 3:10pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin F
This presentation documents the experiences of students with intellectual disabilities who participated in an inclusive college program in a university in western United States. The students will share their experiences in various classes, both academic and social. They will discuss the support provided by peer mentors, faculty, and other staff and the challenges they faced during their college experience. Additionally, they will offer their input to improve the program.
Presenters
avatar for Sudha Krishnan

Sudha Krishnan

Assistant Professor, Department of Special Education, San Jose State University
Sudha’s research is focused on how literacy practices using pedagogies based on socio-cultural theory like multiliteracies provide challenging and empowering education for students with disabilities. She is interested in interrogating the deficit thinking surrounding students with... Read More →
Friday December 6, 2024 2:15pm - 3:10pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin F Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

2:15pm CST

Paraprofessionals' Role in Job Coaching For Students with ESN
Friday December 6, 2024 2:15pm - 3:10pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 12
Students with extensive support needs (ESN) often participate in community-based work experiences (CBWEs) as part of their transition programming. CBWEs allow students to experience real work while they are still in school. Students with ESN often benefit from the support of a paraprofessional to meaningfully participate in CBWEs. In this role, paraprofessionals are essentially acting as a “job coach,” a central feature of supported employment for adults with disabilities. While paraprofessionals can play an integral role in students’ ability to access CBWEs, little research had been conducted on their role with these experiences and how they support students with ESN in this capacity. This presentation will share findings and practical implications from a research study aimed at understanding paraprofessionals’ role in job coaching for students with ESN and practices that paraprofessionals utilize to support students at community worksites.
Presenters
HB
Friday December 6, 2024 2:15pm - 3:10pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 12 Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

2:15pm CST

Patterns and Predictors of Special Education Program Placement For Students with Disabilities in Ontario, Canada
Friday December 6, 2024 2:15pm - 3:10pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin G
Placement in the general education classroom is critical for ensuring the inclusion of students with disabilities in schools. However, several variables (e.g., student age, school district type) have been implicated as potentially influencing classroom placement decisions despite established protocols guiding the process. Due to the non-public nature of disability-related data in Canada, little is known about the patterns and trends characterizing classroom placement in this context. This study analyzed special education program placement data provided by the Ontario Ministry of Education to describe the extent to which students with 13 disability types have accessed their education in general education classroom placements over time. Discussion focuses on implications for both policy and practice.
Moderators
AM

Alexandra Minuk

Queen's University
Presenters
avatar for Jordan Shurr

Jordan Shurr

Associate Professor of Special Education, Queen's University
avatar for Haley Clark

Haley Clark

Queen's University
HC

Holly Crump

Queen's University
Friday December 6, 2024 2:15pm - 3:10pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin G Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

2:15pm CST

Preparing Teachers to Support Children Who Use AAC
Friday December 6, 2024 2:15pm - 3:10pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 11
Preparing teachers to effectively support students with extensive support needs and complex communication needs who require Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) necessitates collaboration with speech pathologists, Board Certified Behavior Analysts, parents, and families. Training should cover AAC methods, Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles, and practical experiences and should be taught through coursework and meaningful clinical experiences. Collaborative partnerships ensure educators gain insights into best practices and access resources, and ongoing professional development keeps teachers aware of current best practices. Cultivating a school culture that values diversity in communicative expression is crucial for creating inclusive learning environments where all students can thrive academically and socially.
Presenters
avatar for Natalie Andzik

Natalie Andzik

Associate Professor, Northern Illinois University
Dr. Natalie Andzik is an Associate Professor in the Department of Special and Early Education at Northern Illinois University. Natalie's research interest grew from her experiences as a special educator in California. There, she worked with students with mild to significant disabilities... Read More →
avatar for Virginia Walker

Virginia Walker

Professor, UNC Charlotte
Friday December 6, 2024 2:15pm - 3:10pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 11 Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

2:15pm CST

Preservice Teachers: Dissonant Beliefs About Including Students with ESN
Friday December 6, 2024 2:15pm - 3:10pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 5A
While inclusion in the general education classroom for students with extensive support needs (ESN) leads to significantly better academic, social, and behavioral outcomes, rates of full inclusion for this population remain low. Pre- and in-service teachers’ beliefs affect the placement in–and ultimately the efficacy of–inclusion for students with ESN. This systematic literature review synthesizes extant empirical studies that explore preservice general education teachers’ belief systems towards the inclusion of students with ESN. Findings highlight the dissonance that many preservice general education teachers feel, the interpretability of the least restrictive environment mandate, and the need for term stabilization (e.g., beliefs; ESN) in research questions about this topic. Implications for teacher education and systems change are discussed.
Presenters
avatar for Katie Baulier

Katie Baulier

Boston University
Friday December 6, 2024 2:15pm - 3:10pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 5A Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

2:15pm CST

Promoting Inclusivity Through A Critique of Fictional Children's Literature
Friday December 6, 2024 2:15pm - 3:10pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 10
Learners need to be accurately reflected in their curriculum in myriad ways as it reinforces the development of positive self-identity and helps them make deeper connections with content. Culturally responsive practice emphasizes ethnic diversity while overlooking disability culture thereby contributing to ongoing stigmatization and marginalization. To avoid perpetuating stereotypes, fictional characterizations of those with disabilities must be carefully critiqued, especially when utilized by those with ableist notions. Thus, the results of a study will be shared in which a focus group evaluated fictional picture books featuring characters with visual impairment using a specially designed rubric to critique inclusivity attributes. Stereotypes, relationships, interactions, psychosocial adjustment, representation, inclusiveness, interdependence, reciprocity, equality, acceptance, and empathy were analyzed. Emerging themes and essential elements of quality literature were also evaluated.
Presenters
LM

Loana Mason

New Mexico State University
avatar for Kara Halley

Kara Halley

Associate Professor, Metropolitan State University of Denver
Dr. Halley has over twenty years of experience as a teacher in the public school system and university settiings. Dr. Halley is also a consultant with the Colorado Department of Education. Her research interests include inclusive education, transition and post-secondary services... Read More →
Friday December 6, 2024 2:15pm - 3:10pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 10 Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

2:15pm CST

Transforming Kindergarten: Inclusive Education For Students with Extensive Support Needs
Friday December 6, 2024 2:15pm - 3:10pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin C
This presentation explores a school district's systemic efforts to implement inclusive education practices for students with Extensive Support Needs (ESN) starting from kindergarten. The research highlights the strategic use of natural transitions, such as the entry into kindergarten, as pivotal moments for initiating systemic change. The study is framed by the Quality Implementation Framework (QIF) and implementation science, offering a structured approach to examining and enacting systemic changes. Data collection involved semi-structured interviews with district administrators, teachers, and parents; observations of kindergarten classrooms; and analysis of district policy documents and meeting minutes. This comprehensive approach allowed for an in-depth examination of the systemic changes implemented and their impact on the inclusion of students with ESN. Attendees will gain practical strategies and insights to promote inclusive practices within their own contexts.
Presenters
KA
avatar for Diane Ryndak

Diane Ryndak

Professor, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Friday December 6, 2024 2:15pm - 3:10pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin C Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

2:15pm CST

WE ARE! Our Stories Inclusion Thru Oral Histories
Friday December 6, 2024 2:15pm - 3:10pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 9
Everyone has a story! Oral histories help to identify our uniqueness and our commonalities. Through introspection, we all, individuals with and without disabilities can find, form and share our story. In sharing oral histories, we facilitate inclusion as the line between different and disability is diminished, perspectives and experiences of our community are broaden and enriched. The mutual sharing of oral histories contributes to understanding, valuing and inclusion, our common-unity. Rationale, strategies, low cost technologies to collect, share and archive oral histories are provided to help advocates, families and practitioners elicit, collect, share and archive oral histories.
Presenters
avatar for Joathan Edwards

Joathan Edwards

Edwards, Jonathan
My photography
avatar for Ralph Edwards
Friday December 6, 2024 2:15pm - 3:10pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 9 Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

2:15pm CST

Community Living Community of Practice
Friday December 6, 2024 2:15pm - 3:10pm CST
4TH Floor - Reliance Boardroom
Get to know the Community Living Community of Practice. Join us for our annual get together.  
Presenters
avatar for Jennifer Lengyel

Jennifer Lengyel

Executive Director, Total Living Concept
avatar for Sheldon Schwitek

Sheldon Schwitek

Co-Founder/ Consultant, In the Company of Others
Sheldon Schwitek has been supporting individuals with complex behavioural needs in the United Statesb and in Canada for over decades. He was introduced to the founding members of the Marsha Forest Center in 1990 and became a facilitator of the person-centered processes of MAPS, PATH... Read More →
Friday December 6, 2024 2:15pm - 3:10pm CST
4TH Floor - Reliance Boardroom Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Meetings

2:28pm CST

Research and Publications Committee Meeting
Friday December 6, 2024 2:28pm - 3:30pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 4 Boardroom
Meeting of the R & P Committee at the annual conference. We would be holding our regularly scheduled meeting (December meeting) at the conference.  
Presenters
avatar for Fred Spooner

Fred Spooner

Professor, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Fred Spooner is Professor of Special Education at UNC Charlotte. Dr. Spooner has researched and written about instructional strategies for students with severe disabilities since the 1980s. Recently, he has focused on alternate assessment and linking both assessment and instruction... Read More →
avatar for Virginia Walker

Virginia Walker

Professor, UNC Charlotte
Friday December 6, 2024 2:28pm - 3:30pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 4 Boardroom Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Committee Meeting

2:28pm CST

Employment Community of Practice
Friday December 6, 2024 2:28pm - 3:30pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin D
You are invited to attend the Employment Community of Practice meeting, whether you are a member or interested in joining. The Employment CoP will discuss topics to inform the annual Work Plan aimed at improving employment rates for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and eliminating sub-minimum wages. It also selects the recipients of the Marc Gold Employment Award.  
Presenters
avatar for Ruby Moore

Ruby Moore

Executive Director, Georgia Advocacy Office
Ruby Moore is the Executive Director of the Georgia Advocacy Office, the designated Protection and Advocacy System for People with Disabilities in Georgia. Ruby is nationally known for her work in the disability field over the past 45 years, particularly in the areas of employment... Read More →
Sponsors
avatar for Cesilee Coulson

Cesilee Coulson

Executive Director, Executive Director
Wise, founded in 1985, is a private, not for profit organization dedicated to expanding and sustaining employment opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We consult with: People with Disabilities; Families; Employment Agencies; National, State and... Read More →
Friday December 6, 2024 2:28pm - 3:30pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin D Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Meetings

2:29pm CST

TASH Talks
Friday December 6, 2024 2:29pm - 4:30pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin E
Jean Gonsier-Gerdin and Jenny Lengyel will facilitate the TASH Talks.
Presenters
avatar for Jean Gonsier-Gerdin

Jean Gonsier-Gerdin

Professor, Teaching Credentials-Special Education, California State University, Sacramento
avatar for Jennifer Lengyel

Jennifer Lengyel

Executive Director, Total Living Concept
Friday December 6, 2024 2:29pm - 4:30pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin E Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  TASH Talks

2:30pm CST

Building A Health Education Website Together
Friday December 6, 2024 2:30pm - 4:30pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin E
Indiana Complex Care Coordination Collaborative (IC4) at Indiana University School of Medicine is creating a patient-facing website for adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities (AIDD) to promote health and wellness and build confidence in interacting with the medical community. Components include webpages, videos and worksheets which address healthy habits, engaging in healthcare, and self-management of chronic illnesses. In collaboration with health messengers from Special Olympics Indiana (SOI), we are creating videos and social stories to help AIDD prepare for specific medical exams (belly, chest, ear-nose-throat, genitalia, etc.) and procedures (mammogram, dental, colonoscopy, EEG, radiology, sleep study, audiology, etc.) Initial scripts and ideas are created by IC4 medical professionals then vetted by SOI health messengers who are employed part-time to contribute to this work. All components are significantly redirected and modified based on feedback.
Presenters
KW
MS

Melony Salla

Special Olympics Indiana
MC

Mary Ciccarelli

Indiana University School of MEdicine
Friday December 6, 2024 2:30pm - 4:30pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin E Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  TASH Talks

2:30pm CST

Challenging Low Expectations: Navigating Systemic Barriers to Academic Education For Students with I/DD
Friday December 6, 2024 2:30pm - 4:30pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin E
Navigating the educational landscape for my children and advocating for other students with I/DD has been fraught with systemic barriers that perpetuate segregation and limit academic opportunities. As a parent and advocate for inclusive education, I've witnessed discriminatory practices that funnel students with I/DD into reductive life skills paths based solely on their disability classification, denying them an academic education.  Drawing from personal experiences, I aim to unveil the harsh realities and challenges in advocating for inclusive education within a system that defaults to low expectations for students with I/DD. The exclusionary experiences of these students are masked within data presented to the California Department of Education (CDE) and other State Departments of Education, perpetuating invisibility and marginalization.  My presentation will shed light on these issues and offer actionable insights and strategies from years of advocacy efforts.
Presenters
KL
Friday December 6, 2024 2:30pm - 4:30pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin E Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  TASH Talks

2:30pm CST

Combating Ableism With Your POWER
Friday December 6, 2024 2:30pm - 4:30pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin E
Ableism can be defined as prejudice or bias based on a person's disability and fosters the belief that people with disabilities are inferior. American society values individualism and capitalism, which can promote ableism. Allies and advocates who work in various roles need to raise their consciousness and open their eyes to the ways in which oppression exists. The purpose of this article is to provide advocates, allies, educators, and service providers with tools to critically self-examine their own identity, positionality, and power to fight ableism within our society. This article will outline how to examine their own Positionality, Opportunity, Wokeness, Empathy, and Reflexivity (POWER) to act in advocacy and allyship dismantling ableism and fostering social justice.  
Moderators
CE

Christina Eagle

George Mason University
Friday December 6, 2024 2:30pm - 4:30pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin E Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  TASH Talks

2:30pm CST

Factors Influencing Expectations For Post-School Outcomes: A Scoping Review
Friday December 6, 2024 2:30pm - 4:30pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin E
Although research documents an association between low expectations and poor community living and participation (CLP) outcomes for individuals with ID, there remains a gap in understanding which factors most impactfully influence expectations; a gap that prevents an advancement of meaningful and effective policies and strategies in support of positive CLP outcomes. Further, research on CLP outcomes commonly excludes individuals with/family members of individuals with ID- thereby limiting an understanding of those most influential/impacted by low expectations and diminished CLP outcomes. Disentangling research on the factors that influence CLP expectations has the potential to enhance CLP outcomes by highlighting the factors that should be maximized to enhance expectations or addressed to minimize low expectations.
Presenters
avatar for Grace Francis

Grace Francis

Assistant Professor, Special Education, George Mason University
Friday December 6, 2024 2:30pm - 4:30pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin E Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  TASH Talks

2:30pm CST

For The Love Of Dog: Dogs And Suicide Prevention
Friday December 6, 2024 2:30pm - 4:30pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin E
Dogs can play an important role in life of a person with a disability. This support revolves around the human-animal bond. Dogs creates a sense of connectedness, belonging, and unconditional love. Dogs provide their owners with a reason to socialize and exercise, and are described as social lubricants, helping their owner to connect to other humans. Interacting with dogs helps reduce stress alleviate conditions such as depression and anxiety while increasing empathy and self-esteem. Many of the impacts dogs provide are preventative factors for suicide. A correlation potentially exists between disability and suicide risk. Moses (2018) posits that disability is a fundamental cause of suicide behavior because disability can be a chronic source of pain or stress that can spread to all aspects of life that results in social isolation and a feeling of being a burden to others. Yet, dog ownership may be balancing force to prevent this suicide ideation.
Presenters
avatar for Anne Papalia

Anne Papalia

Shippensburg University
Friday December 6, 2024 2:30pm - 4:30pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin E Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  TASH Talks

2:30pm CST

How Self-Advocacy Helped Me Break Cultural Stigmas About Disability
Friday December 6, 2024 2:30pm - 4:30pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin E
I will tell my story with lived experience with a seizure disorder, epilepsy and mental health illnesses. In my Mexican culture Disability is a taboo and I was denied my diagnosis because of it. Listeners will learn how I got diagnosed later in life and how difficult it has been to defeat my inner ableist. This greatly affected my quality of life and the way I viewed myself. I will talk about how Self Advocacy helped me accept myself and how important it is to break stigmas.
Presenters
RH
JC
Friday December 6, 2024 2:30pm - 4:30pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin E Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  TASH Talks

2:30pm CST

Poetry And The Spectrum: Selected Readings By A Caregiver Parent
Friday December 6, 2024 2:30pm - 4:30pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin E
I'm a mom of two children with level 3 autism and also a poet. We live in Santa Cruz, California with their dad, and I'm their paid family caregiver. Recently I completed a chapbook of poetry entitled Wabe-sabe. Through these poems, I explore our lives and the impact that autism--and the people around us who observe but do not understand our family--have on us. My poems are through the lens of a mother, a caregiver, a Turkish-American Muslim, a guide to this world we live in. They are intended to invite you in and give you a glimpse of our experiences. In this TASH Talk, I will read a couple of my poems and invite audience questions.
Presenters
FB
Friday December 6, 2024 2:30pm - 4:30pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin E Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  TASH Talks

2:30pm CST

Primary And Preventative Care Utilization In Adults With IDD
Friday December 6, 2024 2:30pm - 4:30pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin E
Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are more likely to have poorer health outcomes and a shorter lifespan than the general population. Health is influenced by many factors, two of which are disease burden and engagement with primary and preventive care. In this presentation, we will share our study findings of common medical conditions and primary and preventive care utilization in 158 adults with IDD, as well as common caregiver concerns. We will bring our findings to life through a first-hand account from a parent of an adult with IDD, who will share her personal journey of supporting her son to successfully access necessary preventative care, and the impact this had on their family.
Presenters
MB

Michelle Befi

Catalight
Friday December 6, 2024 2:30pm - 4:30pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin E Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  TASH Talks

2:30pm CST

Supporting Employment with Dignity Through First-Hand Experience
Friday December 6, 2024 2:30pm - 4:30pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin E
Nick Sampson has been working at Home Depot for over 17 years. He has had worked hard to find and maintain that employment. Mr. Sampson has had various experiences being supported both positively and also in ways that could be considered, offensive, demeaning, and dehumanizing. We want to share his first-hand experience and use his perspective to discuss how impactful the DSP/Person supported relationship can be and what steps we can take to generate best-outcomes for people we support.
Presenters
AG
Friday December 6, 2024 2:30pm - 4:30pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin E Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  TASH Talks

2:30pm CST

The Sound of Inclusion: Using Podcasts to Shift Perceptions About Inclusive
Friday December 6, 2024 2:30pm - 4:30pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin E
As a medium of storytelling and information dissemination, podcasts hold immense power in shaping public discourse and perceptions. When it comes to inclusive education, they offer a unique platform to highlight diverse voices and experiences, fostering a deeper understanding of inclusivity in learning environments. Through engaging narratives and expert interviews, podcasts can dismantle preconceived notions and play a pivotal role in advocating for educational reforms that accommodate all learners. They serve as a beacon of awareness and a catalyst for change, inspiring communities to embrace and support inclusive practices. In this TASH talk, I will underscore the transformative potential of podcasts in promoting positive attitudes toward inclusive education, thereby contributing to a more equitable society.
Moderators
TV
Friday December 6, 2024 2:30pm - 4:30pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin E Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  TASH Talks

3:24pm CST

Concurrent Breakout Sessions
Friday December 6, 2024 3:24pm - 4:20pm CST
Hyatt Regency
Friday December 6, 2024 3:24pm - 4:20pm CST
Hyatt Regency 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113

3:25pm CST

A Content Analysis of Research: Inclusion in State-Adopted General Education Standards in General Education Classrooms
Friday December 6, 2024 3:25pm - 4:20pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin H
The presenters will share the results of a literature search and content analysis related to research and strategies for including students with extensive support needs (ESN), and/or complex multiple disabilities, in the state-adopted general education standards within general education classrooms. After the analysis, presenters will provide participants with points of issues for discussion regarding future directions for improving research related to students with ESN.
Moderators
avatar for Kathy Gee

Kathy Gee

Professor, California State University, Sacramento
inclusive education, meaningful access to core curriculum; augmentative communication; PBIS; elementary and secondary education; resaerch
Presenters
avatar for Kristin Burnette

Kristin Burnette

Assistant Professor, East Carolina University
avatar for Virginia Walker

Virginia Walker

Professor, UNC Charlotte
avatar for Diane Ryndak

Diane Ryndak

Professor, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
avatar for Amy Clausen

Amy Clausen

Assistant Professor, Winthrop University
Dr. Amy Clausen (she/her) is an assistant professor of special education at Winthrop University. Her focus is preparing teachers of students with extensive support needs. Amy is committed to ensuring her students have access to literature featuring diverse and representative char... Read More →
DB

Dale Baker

Assistant Professor, St. Bonaventure University
MF

Mary Fisher

Professor, Lewis University
Friday December 6, 2024 3:25pm - 4:20pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin H Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

3:25pm CST

Celebrating Families: The Power of Parent Engagement to Support Employment
Friday December 6, 2024 3:25pm - 4:20pm CST
2ND Floor - Foster 1
Join this session to learn about an innovative partnership between the LEAD Center and Parent 2 Parent USA (P2P USA), harnessing the input from parent advisors to craft resources to promote employment and career outcomes for their family members with disabilities. Families also identified resources through which they can access essential supports and services. Hear from family leaders and employment subject matter experts from LEAD Center about the pivotal role families play in envisioning and supporting the people with disabilities in their lives across their lifespan as they journey towards competitive integrated employment.
Moderators
YW

Yvonne Wright

LEAD Center National Disability Institute
Presenters
RS
avatar for Marsha Quinn

Marsha Quinn

Co Executive Director, Parent to Parent USA
Marsha Quinn is the Co-Executive Director for Parent to Parent USA and brings nearly 30 years experience in non-profit marketing and management to its 40 member organizations across the nation.  She works to ensure access to peer to peer emotional support for ALL families of individuals... Read More →
AB

Aurelie Brown

Parent to Parent USA
Friday December 6, 2024 3:25pm - 4:20pm CST
2ND Floor - Foster 1 Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

3:25pm CST

Community Living in California- Is Equity Still Achievable?
Friday December 6, 2024 3:25pm - 4:20pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 5C
We began to provide personalized community living supports in the early 1990's, when people were able to rent, lease, and/or obtain housing vouchers to access a home of their own with the supports they needed. Over the past ten years, opportunities for housing vouchers have become relatively non-existent in CA, rent prices no longer allow people who rely on SSI/SSDI benefits alone to afford rent. The only people able to move into a home of their own now must have a "silver spoon"; (funding from family, sustainable employment, or other secure financing). This creates a huge divide between the "haves' and the "have nots". Adults continue to live with their aging parents. Alternative community living options options have become more restrictive, reverting back to congregate, segregated options, which goes against our philosophy of full inclusion at TASH. We will facilitate a discussion on the FUTURE of Community Living and how we can get the good times rolling again!
Presenters
avatar for Scott Shepard

Scott Shepard

Director, Avenues Supported Living Services
Scott Shepard is the Executive Director of Avenues Supported Living Services, a non-profit agency which provides community living and personalized day supports to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in North Los Angeles County. With Avenues SLS, we had the opportunity... Read More →
Friday December 6, 2024 3:25pm - 4:20pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 5C Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

3:25pm CST

Empowering My Voice: Self-Advocacy and Transition Triumphs
Friday December 6, 2024 3:25pm - 4:20pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 10
In this presentation, Gage Perryman talks about his life and how he learned to stand up for himself and make big decisions. Gage has disabilities, but that doesn’t stop him from going to college and getting involved in activities that help his community and other individuals with disabilities across the state of Minnesota and beyond. He has navigated the complexities of transitioning into adulthood, leveraging self-advocacy skills, participating in inclusive higher education and state-wide community advocacy initiatives, and presenting at national conferences. In this talk, he will dive into the strategies, challenges, and successes he has encountered along the way, sharing useful tips and inspirational stories so that listeners feel able to make their own communities better and more welcoming for everyone. It's a talk about finding your voice, overcoming challenges, and making a difference within your community.
Presenters
avatar for Jennifer Sommerness

Jennifer Sommerness

Researcher, TIES Center, UMN, Minneapolis, MN
Jennifer Sommerness is a distinguished educator and researcher at the TIES Center, at the University of Minnesota. She is known for her dedication to inclusive education and student success, with a profound commitment to educational equity. Jennifer has played a role in shaping the... Read More →
GP

Gage Perryman

Gage Gives Back
Friday December 6, 2024 3:25pm - 4:20pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 10 Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

3:25pm CST

Extensive Support Needs: A Call For Definitional Clarity
Friday December 6, 2024 3:25pm - 4:20pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin F
Terms used to refer to disabilities and the related definitions change over time, evolving in response to changes in social conventions. Currently we often see references to “students with extensive support needs (ESN).” When we look at studies focusing on participants with ESN, we find great variability in participant descriptions, even though all are using the “ESN” phrase; we likely find widely varying communication, academics, and motor skills, as well as co-occurring disabilities. The implications of study results and resulting applications for practitioners will be very different depending upon whom the study actually focuses (i.e., very specific participant descriptions). This session will focus on an analysis of published reviews that specifically state focusing on students with ESN. Results of this research will be examined to present an overview of who the term ESN represents in research and to make recommendations for definitional clarity.
Presenters
avatar for MaryAnn Demchak

MaryAnn Demchak

Professor, Special Education, University of Nevada, Reno
Friday December 6, 2024 3:25pm - 4:20pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin F Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

3:25pm CST

From Experience to Empowerment
Friday December 6, 2024 3:25pm - 4:20pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin A
This session includes a collaborative presentation with a self-advocate and a teacher educator. The session will begin with a first-hand account of the educational experiences of a non-speaking and Autistic individual in both inclusive and self-contained settings, in both a specialized school and in public schools. These educational experiences have informed a list of suggested practices for general educators, special education teachers, and paraeducators on how to best include and challenge students with complex communication needs in the general education classroom. The session will conclude with information on how to leverage voices from the local disability community by inviting self-advocates to present in university courses that are aimed to prepare inclusive-minded educators.
Moderators
avatar for Katie McCabe

Katie McCabe

Assistant Professor, Buffalo State University
Katie McCabe is an Assistant Professor in the Exceptional Education Department at Buffalo State University, with a Ph.D. in Special Education and a minor in Qualitative Research Methods from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. A former special education teacher in rural Upstate New... Read More →
Presenters
KF
KC
Friday December 6, 2024 3:25pm - 4:20pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin A Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

3:25pm CST

He Belongs As He Is: Collective Visions of Authentic Inclusion
Friday December 6, 2024 3:25pm - 4:20pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 9
Despite extensive research demonstrating the positive effects of inclusion for students with Intellectual Disability (ID) in general education, rates of full inclusion for this population remain low. Key components of successful inclusion include leadership that is committed to inclusive pedagogy and a shared vision across all stakeholders, including school staff, family, and community members. This qualitative study analyzes stakeholders’ definitions of inclusion at Sunshine Community Charter (SCC), a public charter (PK-6) whose mission is full, equitable inclusion for all, including those with ID, multilingual learners, and those with multiply-marginalized identities. Using Danforth & Naraian’s (2015) Foundational Priorities for Inclusive Education as a framework for authentic inclusion, our findings demonstrate a streamlined, viable vision for inclusive pedagogy, environments, values, and belongingness for all learners. Implications for systems and policy change are discussed.
Presenters
avatar for Katie Baulier

Katie Baulier

Boston University
avatar for Zach Rossetti

Zach Rossetti

Associate Professor, Boston University
Zach Rossetti, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Special Education in the Teaching and Learning Department at Boston University's Wheelock College of Education & Human Development. His research examines the social belonging and participation of people with intellectual and developmental... Read More →
Friday December 6, 2024 3:25pm - 4:20pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 9 Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

3:25pm CST

Inclusive Education Partnerships: Collaborating to Create Curriculum Access
Friday December 6, 2024 3:25pm - 4:20pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin C
This presentation will explore the development and implementation of a partnership between UNLV’s Office of General Curriculum Access (OGCA) and the Nevada Department of Education’s Office of Inclusive Education (OIE). The collaboration aims to promote inclusive education by providing access to the general curriculum and a continuum of needed supports and services for students with extensive support needs. The OIE works to raise expectations and improve educational and employment outcomes for all students with disabilities through collaborative efforts with state and local partners. Through a partnership with the OIE, the OGCA provides educators with grade-aligned and standards-based curriculum materials, academic and behavioral support resources, and effective professional development. This session will share the challenges, strategies, and successes of the partnership and will provide attendees with actionable insights into creating similar collaborations in their own contexts.
Presenters
JB

Joshua Baker

Professor/Researcher, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Department of Educational and Clinical Studies
JB
CB

Catherine Bacos

Associate Director and Curriculum Specialist, UNLV Office of General Curriculum Access, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Friday December 6, 2024 3:25pm - 4:20pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin C Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

3:25pm CST

Key Components of Successful Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS)
Friday December 6, 2024 3:25pm - 4:20pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 12
As agencies staffed by people with disabilities, Centers for Independent Living (CILs) are uniquely positioned to provide effective pre-employment transition services (Pre-ETS). During this session presenters from Able South Carolina (Able SC) and the Disability Employment Technical Assistance Center (DETAC) will share how Centers for Independent Living (CILs) can collaborate with state vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies and schools to deliver comprehensive pre-ETS, empowering youth and strengthening communities. We will review how the disability rights and independent living movements have shaped the cultural landscape and address five key components of effective transition services: collaboration, accessibility, individualization, disability pride, and problem-solving. Successful transitions benefit the entire community, including businesses, families, and individuals, by promoting a more inclusive workforce and society.
Moderators
avatar for Megan Ketchell

Megan Ketchell

Project Manager, Disability Employment TA Center, The Lewin Group, Part of Optum Serve
Presenters
avatar for Diana Caldwell

Diana Caldwell

Managing Director, The Lewin Group
TH

Troy Hall

Able South Carolina
Friday December 6, 2024 3:25pm - 4:20pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 12 Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

3:25pm CST

Prepare With Us: Self Advocates Educating Teacher Candidates
Friday December 6, 2024 3:25pm - 4:20pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 11
This presentation will describe study results from a recent research project. The purpose of this study was to examine how teacher candidates were impacted by learning from individuals with disabilities through a Self-Advocate Guest Presenter Series. After attending the semester-long Presenter Series, 17 teacher candidates shared their perspectives through semi-structured interviews. During this presentation, we will share the main themes that resulted from our analysis as well as future implications for research and practice.
Presenters
avatar for Amy Andersen

Amy Andersen

Associate Professor, Winona State University
avatar for Julia Snider

Julia Snider

Assistant Professor, Grand Valley State University
Julia is an assistant professor at Grand Valley State University. Julia’s passion is in promoting the meaningful inclusion of students with extensive support needs within the general education classroom through planning and preparing instruction. Her current research examines the... Read More →
Friday December 6, 2024 3:25pm - 4:20pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 11 Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

3:25pm CST

Qualifications, Responsibilities, Training, and Supervision of Paraprofessional Job Coaches
Friday December 6, 2024 3:25pm - 4:20pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 5D
Paraprofessionals are increasingly serving as job coaches at community-based work sites. In this session we share findings from a study that explored the qualifications and responsibilities of job coaches who are employed by schools, the training these job coaches receive to perform their job, and the role of school professionals in directing the activities of job coaches. Discussion will focus on how we can continue to enhance the role, training, and supervision of job coaches who are employed by schools to improve employment outcomes for students with extensive support needs.
Moderators
avatar for Stacy Dymond

Stacy Dymond

Professor, University of Illinois
Stacy Dymond is professor of special education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her research focuses on curriculum issues related to educating secondary and transition-age students with severe intellectual disabilities in inclusive school and community settings... Read More →
Presenters
HB
avatar for Magen Rooney-Kron

Magen Rooney-Kron

Assistant Professor, University of Missouri, St. Louis
Magen is an assistant professor of inclusive education at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Her research focuses on the inclusion of students with significant support needs in work-based learning experiences.
Friday December 6, 2024 3:25pm - 4:20pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 5D Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

3:25pm CST

Research Evaluation of A Statewide Multi-Level Direct Support Workforce Intervention
Friday December 6, 2024 3:25pm - 4:20pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin B
For 30 years a direct support workforce crisis has worsened over time. Long-term services and support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who receive or are waiting for services are threatened. State systems, providers, people who self-direct, & advocates scramble for solutions. Leaders from RI and MN will share evaluation results of their multi-level effort to reduce turnover and vacancy rates. Interventions and outcomes will be shared. Each entity has its unique motivation, responsibility, intervention, and targeted outcomes, and all are informed by multi-stakeholders (e.g., DSPs, people with IDD, families, state agencies, advocates, employers) who co-created a statewide plan to address DSP and supervisor retention. To date, they have collectively reduced statewide turnover to 16% and vacancy rates to 14% (below the national averages). Formative and summative evaluation findings show that efforts produced promising outcomes for sustainability and replication.
Presenters
AH

Amy Hewitt

Institute on Community Integration, University of Minnesota
Friday December 6, 2024 3:25pm - 4:20pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin B Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

3:25pm CST

Special Needs Vouchers Silence the Right to Inclusive Education
Friday December 6, 2024 3:25pm - 4:20pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 5B
The right to education in the least restrictive environment is at the foundation of IDEA. This research-based presentation examines how students with disabilities are losing this right and segregated through voucher programs. The study focused on three of the largest special needs voucher programs in the United States: those in Florida, Georgia and Ohio. These programs and the largest private special education schools within these states were found to be silent on the right to education in the LRE. Descriptions and analysis of how this occurs will show that special needs vouchers are manipulatively framed to undermine inclusive education. Neighborhood schooling and inclusion are rendered invisible and invalid through the “manipulative silences” of “choice” policy. This analysis draws connections between historical segregation, neoliberal ideology and the rhetoric of market choice. Implications regarding segregation, equity, and education policy will be discussed.
Presenters
KH

Kathy Hulgin

University of Cincinnati Clermont College
Friday December 6, 2024 3:25pm - 4:20pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 5B Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

3:25pm CST

The Judith Campaign: Amplifying Voices, Honoring Truth
Friday December 6, 2024 3:25pm - 4:20pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 8
This session allows the attendees to have the opportunity to watch several Judith Campaign videos as they dive into the presenter's world perspective relating to justice, advocacy, equity, and pride for who they are. From there, the presenters will have the chance to discuss their thoughts on the campaign while being open to sharing their world perspective and its importance. The DC Developmental Disabilities Council’s mission is to create change that removes barriers to achieve full inclusion, diversity, and equity through our advocacy. The Judith Campaign's end goal is to celebrate the accomplishments of the individuals we support for their justice, the uncomfortable conversations they share, the direct support they do, finding ways to be included in their community despite their disability/sexual orientation or diverse group, their world perspective through their eyes, and finding solutions to make the world how we want.
Moderators
avatar for Kevin Wright

Kevin Wright

DC Developmental Disabilities Council
Kevin Wright is a native Washingtonian with a learning disability and speech impairment. However, Kevin does not view these as barriers; rather, he believes his quiet nature is his only obstacle. Growing up, Kevin attended two private schools. He attended Accotink Academy in Springfield... Read More →
Presenters
RT

Ricardo Thornton

Project ACTION!
AW

Alison Whyte

DC Developmental Disabilities Council
KW

Keith Wright

Board Member, Project ACTION!
avatar for Thomas Mangrum

Thomas Mangrum

Co-President, Project ACTION!
Thomas Mangrum, Jr., is a strong communicator and self-advocate who is passionate about helping others to be the best they can be. He loves learning new information and sharing it with other self-advocates, his friends and neighbors. He is an excellent presenter having trained locally... Read More →
Friday December 6, 2024 3:25pm - 4:20pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 8 Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

3:25pm CST

The Road to Independence in Communication is A Long and Winding One
Friday December 6, 2024 3:25pm - 4:20pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin G
Independence is commonly seen as one of the primary goals for augmentative/alternative communication (AAC) users. It is also commonly defined as the ability of a person to use their AAC method without assistance. However, many AAC users see independence more broadly in terms of having freedom of expression and self-determination in their lives. They also see that support from skilled communication partners is a critical part of the process. This presentation will focus on the journey that one AAC user has taken towards having greater independence in his communication and in his life. He will share strategies for communication partners to use in supporting AAC users with greater independence in their communication.
Presenters
avatar for Pascal Cheng

Pascal Cheng

Education and Communication Specialist, PC Communication Supports
I currently work for the Howard Center in Burlington, Vermont as an educational and communication specialist, providing training and consultation in the areas of augmentative/alternative communication, assistive technology and literacy for children and adults with developmental disabilities... Read More →
Friday December 6, 2024 3:25pm - 4:20pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin G Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

3:25pm CST

The Role of Safety and Accessibility: Stories Shared By Adults with IDD in A Research Space
Friday December 6, 2024 3:25pm - 4:20pm CST
2ND Floor - Foster 2
Experiences of belonging are a basic human need and the accessibility of belonging might look different for individuals labeled with IDD due to historic and ongoing exclusion. This qualitative, participatory study explored how adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities defined belonging, reflected on experiences of belonging, and co-constructed a conceptualization of belonging together. With a focus on presumptions of competence and epistemic agency, this project includes those with lived experiences in “the process of science” (Shogren, 2023).This presentation seeks to share critical implications (for schools, families, and communities) about the issues of safety and accessibility as taken up by co-researchers during our conversations.
Presenters
BA

Bailey Allred

University of Kansas
Friday December 6, 2024 3:25pm - 4:20pm CST
2ND Floor - Foster 2 Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

3:25pm CST

Youth Leadership and Families: Getting Youth in the Driver's Seat
Friday December 6, 2024 3:25pm - 4:20pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 5A
Federally funded parent centers across the country have been emphasizing youth leadership for students with disability labels for the past several years. This presentation describes one state parent center’s youth and young adult leadership initiative. MPACT (Missouri Parents Act) is Missouri’s federally funded parent training and information center and our leadership programming includes a youth and young adult leadership council, professional development for all staff on youth leadership, and youth leadership strategies infused throughout our transition training materials. Audience members will learn about the value of leadership programming, leadership strategies and resources from parent centers, and strategies for making organizations more supportive of youth leadership. Youth who take on leadership roles now will later be empowered citizens working towards a more equitable and inclusive society.
Presenters
ZM

Zach McCall

MPACT (Missouri Parents Act)
Friday December 6, 2024 3:25pm - 4:20pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 5A Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

4:30pm CST

MCIE Network Reception
Friday December 6, 2024 4:30pm - 6:00pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin D
Presenters
CT
TV
Friday December 6, 2024 4:30pm - 6:00pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin D Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Reception

4:34pm CST

Concurrent Breakout Sessions
Friday December 6, 2024 4:34pm - 5:30pm CST
Hyatt Regency
Friday December 6, 2024 4:34pm - 5:30pm CST
Hyatt Regency 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113

4:35pm CST

12 Strategies For Facilitating Transportation to Work-Based Learning Sites!
Friday December 6, 2024 4:35pm - 5:30pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin F
Work experience, whether paid or unpaid, enables students with disabilities to learn job skills in the real world and clarify their career path. Despite the benefits of work experiences, many educational programs struggle to provide work experiences in the community due to issues surrounding transportation. In this session we will share 12 creative strategies for transporting students with disabilities to community-based work sites and provide tips to consider when selecting strategies. Come join us to discuss this important topic and share your creative solutions for obtaining transportation!
Moderators
avatar for Stacy Dymond

Stacy Dymond

Professor, University of Illinois
Stacy Dymond is professor of special education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her research focuses on curriculum issues related to educating secondary and transition-age students with severe intellectual disabilities in inclusive school and community settings... Read More →
Presenters
avatar for Melanie Phelan

Melanie Phelan

Training Specialist, Illinois Center for Transition and Work - UIUC
I am a training specialist for the Illinois Center for Transition and Work at the University of Illinois. My background is mostly in transition to work for people with significant disabilities. I am passionate about finding paid employment for youth with disabilities where they can... Read More →
avatar for Jessica Sipovic

Jessica Sipovic

Training Specialist, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Jessica Sipovic is a training specialist for the Illinois Center for Transition and Work through the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). She has over 15 years of experience working with children and adults with diverse needs in school, home, and community settings. Most... Read More →
avatar for Nicole Birri

Nicole Birri

Training Specialist, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Friday December 6, 2024 4:35pm - 5:30pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin F Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

4:35pm CST

20-Years of Advocacy: Federally Regulating Restraint and Seclusion in Schools
Friday December 6, 2024 4:35pm - 5:30pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin A
This presentation provides findings from a qualitative document analysis study that examined 20 years of national advocacy documents focused on protecting children from the misuse of restraint and seclusion in U.S. schools. A systematic search resulted in the identification of 35 national advocacy documents. We used a qualitative inductive coding approach to identify themes across education, law, and policy issues, as well as, accounts of child abuse resulting from the misuse of restraint and seclusion in U.S. schools. Our findings bring attention to human rights and IDEA violations in U.S. schools and current challenges at the national level to protect children from the misuse of restraint and seclusion through federal legislation. Attendees will learn to (a) recognize the misuse of restraint and seclusion; (b) impacts on the safety of students, (c) resulting educational, law, and policy issues, (d) proposed federal legislation, and (e) ways to advocate for the protection of students.
Presenters
SB

Sarah Ballard

Illinois State University
Friday December 6, 2024 4:35pm - 5:30pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin A Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

4:35pm CST

Age Isn't Just A Number: Outcomes Among Adults Aging with Disability
Friday December 6, 2024 4:35pm - 5:30pm CST
2ND Floor - Foster 1
As the U.S. population rapidly ages, it is critical that systems are in place to meet the ever-diversifying needs of people receiving services. National Core Indicators—Aging and Disabilities™ (NCI-AD™) Adult Consumer Survey (ACS) illuminate health and service outcomes among people aging with disabilities. We will discuss the current state of healthcare access and prevalence of long-term health conditions that impact this group, as well as how outcomes differ by demographic characteristics. In particular, we will delve into critical social determinants such as food insecurity, relationships, and community access that have unique and compounding effects on aging and disability. Information presented will enhance understanding of ways to support healthy aging and anticipate trends among those using long-term services and supports (LTSS) that are critical to build and maintain person-centered systems of supports.
Presenters
avatar for Stephanie Giordano

Stephanie Giordano

Co-director of National Core Indicators, HSRI
Stephanie co-directs the National Core Indicators project. Her work is driven by a passion for bettering the lives of individuals with disabilities and their families. She is particularly committed to helping public agency staff measure performance in terms of the provision of long-term... Read More →
Friday December 6, 2024 4:35pm - 5:30pm CST
2ND Floor - Foster 1 Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

4:35pm CST

Celebrate Together: Building Collaboration Towards Inclusion!
Friday December 6, 2024 4:35pm - 5:30pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 5C
This session discusses research about how collaboration instruction during teacher education can impact the ability of general and special educators to work with one another to create more inclusive and effective classrooms. We will discuss course design and collaboration best practices and look at data from the course that shows the positive impacts of the experience on preservice teachers and K-12 students including nuances associated with teacher understanding and practices of collaboration.
Presenters
avatar for Emily Evanstein

Emily Evanstein

Assistant Professor, Linfield University
Hello everyone! I am excited to be attending TASH this year! I am an Assistant Professor and the Special Education Endorsement Coordinator at Linfield University in McMinnville, Oregon. I am excited to share the work I do in teacher education and learn from others as well! I would... Read More →
Friday December 6, 2024 4:35pm - 5:30pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 5C Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

4:35pm CST

Community Conversations: A Tool For Campus Collaboration, Inclusion and Action
Friday December 6, 2024 4:35pm - 5:30pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 11
One complexity of inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE) programming is fostering campus-wide collaboration to enhance inclusion. In response to this, the Office of Inclusive Postsecondary Education (OIPE) at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, has adapted and employed the World Cafe Model as a formidable tool to facilitate community conversations. The World Cafe Model brings together stakeholders to explore a current barrier, elicit solutions, and potential action steps. During this presentation, OIPE will describe how they facilitate these community conversations, ensure inclusive representation, and share outcomes of key community conversations around employment, academic engagement, and inclusive practices in Title IX and Conduct processes on campus.
Moderators
avatar for April Regester

April Regester

Department Chair, Associate Professor - Inclusive Education, University of Missouri, St. Louis
Presenters
avatar for Sharon Spurlock

Sharon Spurlock

Director of Family Supports & Quality Enhancement, St. Louis Arc
I'm passionate about helping self-advocates and family create the lives they dream about. I believe that my work is enhanced by an ability to listen deeply and build trusting relationships. I like to talk about family supports, self-determination, post-secondary education, peer supports... Read More →
avatar for Jonathan Lidgus

Jonathan Lidgus

Director of Office of Inclusive Postsecondary Education, University of Missouri - St. Louis
avatar for Lindsay Athamanah

Lindsay Athamanah

Assistant Professor, University of Missouri - St. Louis
KD

Katelend Davis

University of Missouri - St. Louis
CH
Friday December 6, 2024 4:35pm - 5:30pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 11 Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

4:35pm CST

Deploying Universal Design For Learning for College Students with Disabilities and Complex Needs
Friday December 6, 2024 4:35pm - 5:30pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin E
As students become increasingly diverse in institutions of higher education, it is up to the professors involved in the teaching and learning process to determine how to best make students’ learning accessible. This ensures that students with disabilities and complex needs have access to appropriate accommodations. This research study examined the use of UDL in college classrooms to meet student learning needs. The purpose was to determine the perspectives of students on the accessibility of their learning in regard to their traditional undergraduate special education course. We sought to determine the perceptions of the students’ accessibility to the curriculum and their learning experiences. Based on their unique needs and preferences, college learners respond to instruction differently. UDL uses these differences from the starting point to design effective learning opportunities. Providing options for engagement, learning experiences, and products of learning will be explored.
Presenters
CT
KH
Friday December 6, 2024 4:35pm - 5:30pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin E Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

4:35pm CST

Effective Transition Planning For Employment and Independence
Friday December 6, 2024 4:35pm - 5:30pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 5D
This presentation offers evidence-based solutions to bridge the significant gap between current practices and best practices in transition planning for adult independence, job skills, self-advocacy, technology, and post-secondary education. By adopting a growth mindset with strengths-based approach to student-centered transition planning, schools can effectively implement the practical steps detailed in our Transition Matrix. Steps are designed to enhance potential for personal fulfillment, employment, financial stability, independence, and community integration. Participants will receive a comprehensive road map for transition planning. Will’s personal journey from school to employment is a powerful testament to the impact of supportive interventions. His experience underscores challenges students face in being recognized as productive members of society. With tools and supports from LSU PAYCheck program, Will successfully secured competitively integrated employment.
Presenters
TO

Tracy O'Donnell

Louisiana UCEDD
Friday December 6, 2024 4:35pm - 5:30pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 5D Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

4:35pm CST

Evaluating Impact of AA-AAAS 1% Cap Pursuit on Inclusive Education
Friday December 6, 2024 4:35pm - 5:30pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 5A
The Every Student Succeeds Act indicated alternate assessments (AA) are for students with significant cognitive disabilities. Given the federal government actions to enforce the 1% state cap for AA participation, many students who previously took the alternate assessment are now taking the general state assessment. That means these students must be placed in the general classroom to learn the state standard curriculum. This presents a challenge to educators in educating students who may have been instructed according to modified curriculum and alternate achievement standards. This presentation will discuss results from a mixed methods study including a secondary data analysis, classroom observation, and teacher interview group to determine student characteristics and successes and challenges educators face when teaching students who have moved from the AA to the general assessment. Implications for policy and practice will be discussed. Related tools and resources will be shared.
Moderators
YW

Yi-Chen Wu

Research Associate, National Center on Educational Outcomes / University of Minnesota
Dr. Wu is an experienced psychometrician and the statistical expert for the National Center on Educational Outcomes. She has been working with large-scale assessment data since 2000. She has also had experience on analyzing state-wide assessment datasets and different types of da... Read More →
Friday December 6, 2024 4:35pm - 5:30pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 5A Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

4:35pm CST

How Does Self-Determination Help Me?
Friday December 6, 2024 4:35pm - 5:30pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 5B
This presentation will examine the HCBS Waiver Final Rule and the services and supports that people with disabilities can use to create a fully inclusive life. Concepts of Self-Determination will be discussed with an emphasis on how the theory translates into real life planning for full integration into the community.
Presenters
AG

Areta Guthrey

Disability Information Network
Friday December 6, 2024 4:35pm - 5:30pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 5B Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

4:35pm CST

How to Communicate Disability Policy Accessibly with Your Faith Community
Friday December 6, 2024 4:35pm - 5:30pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 9
Through the principles of universal design and plain language communication, this presentation will share with participants strategies for communicating disability policy within one's faith community. Faith communities can be an essential support system for disabled people. Building disability policy knowledge in faith communities improves the quality of care faith-based direct service agencies provide. Faith communities can better support fellow members with disabilities in their community when they are informed on disability policy. Join Rev. Ben Bond who Co-Chairs the Interfaith Disability Advocacy Coalition in Washington DC. and Corey Himes, Policy Manager, who has been a long-time policy activist in the New Orleans community to learn how to effectively communicate disability policy in your faith community.
Presenters
BB
Friday December 6, 2024 4:35pm - 5:30pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 9 Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

4:35pm CST

Involving Special Education Teachers in Math Research and Curriculum Development
Friday December 6, 2024 4:35pm - 5:30pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 12
Teachers can play a vital role in curriculum development and refinement. This presentation highlights recent mixed methods research on a teacher-implemented multiplicative word problem-solving intervention for students with extensive support needs (ESN) in small groups. We examined the involvement of special education teachers in iterative curriculum development through a multi-year embedded experimental study. Using quantitative data from a multiple-baseline across classrooms single-case design and qualitative data from interviews and observations, we evaluated whether an established evidence-based practice remained effective when implemented by teachers in routine conditions and assessed its usability, feasibility, and acceptability. The presentation will share student outcomes but primarily focus on teachers' perceptions and roles in the research and curriculum development process.
Presenters
avatar for Jenny Root

Jenny Root

Assistant Professor, Florida State University
Jenny would like to talk to you about general curriculum access, teaching math to students with autism/intellectual disability, and how teachers make instructional decisions for students with extensive support needs. Jenny was the 2015 TASH Alice Hayden award winner.
Friday December 6, 2024 4:35pm - 5:30pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 12 Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

4:35pm CST

Legislative Advocacy Among Disability Self-Advocates and Advocates
Friday December 6, 2024 4:35pm - 5:30pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 8
Legislative advocacy is a crucial channel for disability advocates to influence civil rights and disability-related legislation and policy, ultimately improving the quality of life for individuals with disabilities. We conduct a survey study to examine the legislative advocacy experiences of people with disabilities and family members of people with disabilities, and factors impacting their legislative advocacy. We analyze demographic characteristics, the causes they advocate for, organization membership and leadership, frequency of civic engagement, and level of agreements on how social and cultural factors impact their legislative advocacy. Findings of this study will enhance the understanding of the factors that influence legislative advocacy and identify strategies to enhance individual and collective advocacy efforts in the future.
Presenters
WZ

Wen Zeng

University of Missouri, St. Louis
CW

Christopher Worth

1 University Blvd
Friday December 6, 2024 4:35pm - 5:30pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 8 Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

4:35pm CST

Neurodiversity Advisory: Advancing Affirming Practice Within TASH
Friday December 6, 2024 4:35pm - 5:30pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin B
Sparked at the 2022 TASH Conference, the Neurodiversity Advisory has been actively meeting and exploring neurodiversity and what it means for TASH. In this session, we will share resources like updated Terms and Definitions and Elements of Neurodiversity Affirming Practice. We will provide an update on what we're learning related to neurodiversity and ABA. Using the resources developed and insights gained through the work of the Advisory, participants will explore proposed recommendations for TASH to embrace neurodiversity and advance neurodiversity-affirming practice.
Moderators
avatar for Michael McSheehan

Michael McSheehan

Owner/TA Provider, Evolve & Effect, LLC
Michael McSheehan’s life work has been at the intersection of disability and K-12 education. During his twenty years at the University of New Hampshire, he worked on projects for assistive technology, inclusive education, alternate assessment, RTI & PBIS, and MTSS. Michael helped... Read More →
Presenters
avatar for Deborah Taub

Deborah Taub

Owner/CEO, OTL Education Solutions, LLC
MF

Mary Fisher

Professor, Lewis University
avatar for Leah Kelley

Leah Kelley

I am Leah Kelley, EdD, (she/her) an education consultant, writer, activist, parent, and teacher educator, who identifies as Neurodivergent and otherwise disabled. My research interests include connecting disability studies in education (DSE) to educational practice, strength-based... Read More →
avatar for Jean Gonsier-Gerdin

Jean Gonsier-Gerdin

Professor, Teaching Credentials-Special Education, California State University, Sacramento
Friday December 6, 2024 4:35pm - 5:30pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin B Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

4:35pm CST

Reimagining Teacher Preparation: Forging A New Path
Friday December 6, 2024 4:35pm - 5:30pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin G
The stagnant rate of inclusion placements for students with significant support needs remains alarming. Teacher educators play an essential role in preparing teacher candidates to shift outdated practices and implement inclusive practices. As teacher educators, we experience numerous barriers in preparing teacher candidates (Olson & Roberts, 2017). However, teacher educators must be creative and resilient as they work to persist past barriers (Olson & Roberts, 2020). Instead of focusing on the barriers, we sought to envision another way to prepare teacher candidates. The purpose of this study was to learn about what special education teacher educators can do in their role to help shift how teacher candidates are being prepared to include students with significant support needs in K-12 schools. We conducted a focus group with special education teacher educators, who are new to teacher preparation, to gauge their perspectives on avenues for change and steps to get there.
Presenters
avatar for Amy Andersen

Amy Andersen

Associate Professor, Winona State University
Friday December 6, 2024 4:35pm - 5:30pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin G Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

4:35pm CST

Resetting MTSS from Control to Restorative Practices: Promoting Equity and Inclusion
Friday December 6, 2024 4:35pm - 5:30pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 10
This session will present a case study of a culturally and linguistically diverse high school that implemented a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) emphasizing culturally responsive and restorative practices. By analyzing student, adult, policy, and structural factors through an anti-racist and anti-ableist lens, the school's leadership team shifted their disciplinary and support systems from focusing on control to promoting equitable and inclusive practices. The case study demonstrates how MTSS can be used to increase faculty competence in restorative pedagogy, benefiting all students, particularly those with disabilities who are disproportionately affected by punitive disciplinary practices. Attendees will gain practical strategies for implementing a similar approach in their schools.
Presenters
avatar for Josh Bornstein

Josh Bornstein

Fairleigh Dickinson Univ.
Friday December 6, 2024 4:35pm - 5:30pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 10 Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

4:35pm CST

Social-Emotional Skills Impact on Future Reading Achievement For Students with Disabilities
Friday December 6, 2024 4:35pm - 5:30pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin C
A secondary data analysis using the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study: Kindergarten 2011 (ECLS:K 2011), explored the impact of social-emotional skills (SEL) on reading achievement over time for students with disabilities. We found working memory predicts achievement. but no statistically significant differences in achievement or SEL skills across different disability categories.
Presenters
SH

Sarah Hudler

The Ohio State University
Friday December 6, 2024 4:35pm - 5:30pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin C Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

4:35pm CST

Strategies for Opening the Glass Door To Employment Through Employer Engagement
Friday December 6, 2024 4:35pm - 5:30pm CST
2ND Floor - Foster 2
Too often, qualified workers with disabilities struggle to find work because the organizations that support them focus primarily on them.  We must focus equally on preparing employers to successfully source, onboard, and retain employees with disabilities. Join the Administration on Disabilities (AoD) Disability Employment Technical Assistance Center (DETAC)  and Jonathan "Jon" Taylor, Executive Director of the Arkansas Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities, to discuss employer engagement and outreach to advance competitive integrated employment (CIE) for people with disabilities. Jon Taylor was previously a retail field manager with a decade of successful experience in CIE. In this session, Jon will recount his experiences and offer practical tips for how DD Councils, job developers, self-advocates, and other stakeholders can engage with employers to advance CIE and economic outcomes for people with disabilities. The session will review the philosophy of Employment First, emphasize the importance of partnerships, and share DETAC resources.
Moderators
avatar for Megan Ketchell

Megan Ketchell

Project Manager, Disability Employment TA Center, The Lewin Group, Part of Optum Serve
Presenters
avatar for Diana Caldwell

Diana Caldwell

Managing Director, The Lewin Group
JT

Jonathan Taylor

Arkansas Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities
Friday December 6, 2024 4:35pm - 5:30pm CST
2ND Floor - Foster 2 Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

4:35pm CST

Unleashing Potential: Is A Service Dog Right For You?
Friday December 6, 2024 4:35pm - 5:30pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin H
I'd love to bring my dog everywhere with me! We'd love another pet; let's get a service dog! Does my dog need special training to be a service dog? Can I train my own dog to be a service dog? There are many misconceptions about service dogs and how to obtain one. A service dog trainer and user discuss factors involved in determining if a service dog is right for you. These factors include eligibility and knowledge of ADA; physical factors involved in handling a dog; and financial aspects such as veterinary care, food, medication, and grooming. Housing issues such as space and relief areas, and family issues involving allergies or acquiring a dog exclusively for one family member must be considered as well. Perspective service dog users must also understand the dog training industry and how to select a qualified trainer or organization, and dog training principles if self training a service dog.
Presenters
avatar for Anne Papalia

Anne Papalia

Shippensburg University
Friday December 6, 2024 4:35pm - 5:30pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin H Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Breakout Sessions

4:35pm CST

RPSD Editorial Board Meeting
Friday December 6, 2024 4:35pm - 5:30pm CST
4TH Floor - Reliance Boardroom
Open to all.
Moderators
avatar for Craig Kennedy

Craig Kennedy

Professor, University of Connecticut
Friday December 6, 2024 4:35pm - 5:30pm CST
4TH Floor - Reliance Boardroom Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Committee Meeting

5:30pm CST

Ohio TASH Chapter Meet Up
Friday December 6, 2024 5:30pm - 6:30pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 4 Boardroom
This will be an informal opportunity to meet others from Ohio and learn about our state chapter. Come and talk about your interests and concerns. Let's explore ways to strengthen our connections and efforts to promote inclusion in Ohio.
Presenters
KH

Kathy Hulgin

University of Cincinnati Clermont College
Friday December 6, 2024 5:30pm - 6:30pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 4 Boardroom Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Meetings

5:44pm CST

Networking Poster Reception
Friday December 6, 2024 5:44pm - 7:45pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall
Friday December 6, 2024 5:44pm - 7:45pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Poster Presentations

5:45pm CST

Adapting ELA Texts For Students with Complex Support Needs
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall
Adapted books can serve as a support for students with complex support needs in general education classes. However, creating adapted books can be difficult for a special education teacher with a demanding schedule. Therefore, this session presents a feasible and efficient process for creating adapted books extended from the guidelines originally developed by Apitz et al. (2017). This process begins with special educators becoming familiar with the story through summarizing and outlining the original text. Next, collaboration with the general education teacher is recommended to identify the essential themes and key vocabulary. Special educators are encouraged to follow the book's plot structure and use visual supports, such as images or videos, based on key events in the text. Also included in this session are suggestions on how teachers can more effectively and efficiently adapt books using modern technology tools, such as ChatGPT and DALL-E.
Moderators
avatar for Roxanne Loyless

Roxanne Loyless

Doctoral Student, The University of Kansas
Roxanne Loyless is a second-year Ph.D. student in Special Education at The University of Kansas. Her research interests center on inclusive education practices, strategies, and supports for students with significant support needs.
Presenters
avatar for Jennifer Kurth

Jennifer Kurth

Professor, University of Kansas
Inclusive Education
avatar for Alison Zagona

Alison Zagona

Assistant Professor, University of Kansas - Department of Special Education
I am a researcher and special education teacher educator, and I am passionate about advocating for inclusive educational experiences for students with extensive support needs.
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Poster Presentations

5:45pm CST

Barriers to Regional Center Service Utilization For School-Aged Clients
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall
In this presentation, we will describe a mixed-methods research study completed in collaboration with a Southern California Regional Center. First, we will briefly discuss a secondary analysis of Regional Center client data which revealed significant under-utilization of allocated services for school-aged clients. Then, we will report on a series of focus groups conducted with parents/caregivers of school-aged children (5-22 years) eligible for regional center services. Primary questions for this inquiry focused on barriers and facilitators for service use for families of children with disabilities and how the regional center could improve service delivery to ensure best outcomes.
Presenters
avatar for Hilary Wu

Hilary Wu

PhD Student, UCLA
avatar for Robin Dodds

Robin Dodds

Associate Professor of Early Childhood Special Education, California State University LA
My primary research interests focus on supporting families of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and related Developmental Disabilities in two ways; through Parent to Parent social support and through parent-mediated interventions for social communication. Additionally... Read More →
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Poster Presentations

5:45pm CST

Breaking Down Barriers: Strategies on How to Create an Inclusive PE Class
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall
Teachers face a number of challenges when working with students with disabilities to achieve inclusion for PE. Simple placement of students with disabilities is not sufficient to ensure that the needs of those students are met or that the environment is truly inclusive. Several factors must be considered and addressed to achieve true inclusion: a lack of experience in working with children having disabilities and a limited understanding of barriers that may prevent full participation. During this session, we will identify barriers and how to remove them. different strategies and techniques to create a more inclusive PE setting and provide a variety of modifications that will work for all students.
Presenters
LB

Lauren Baldino

All In For Inclusive Education
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Poster Presentations

5:45pm CST

Building Partnerships For Teachers and Siblings of Individuals with IDD
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall
During transition planning, the partnerships formed between the family and the school are essential to post-high school success, and family involvement must be prioritized (Kellems & Morningstar, 2010). When family members (i.e., siblings) are involved in transition planning, the comprehensive understanding of the transition-aged youth is enhanced (e.g., Seltzer et. al., 2005). Siblings fulfill beneficial roles within the family unit, and their involvement in transition planning and partnership with their sibling’s teacher can promote positive post-school outcomes in the areas of employment, education, independent living, and more. This poster presentation will discuss what a sibling-teacher partnership is and it’s importance. Moreover, the development and administration of a scale assessing the sibling-teacher partnership will be highlighted. Attendees at this poster presentation will learn ways to support the sibling-teacher partnership for transition-aged youth and family members.
Presenters
CS
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Poster Presentations

5:45pm CST

Career and Technology Education Micro-Credentials in Co-Taught Classes
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall
This session will review a Career and Technical Education (CTE) microcredential pilot project in Indiana in both Early Childhood and Automechanics Pathways. These microcredentials were created using industry standards so that they can be utilized so students with disabilities can earn microcredentials of skillsets. The microcredentials can be utilized by students as part of portfolio requirements for the Indiana alternate diploma and to obtain future employment, as the student will be able to list the microcredentials on their resumes and present them to future employers. We will discuss literature that supports microcredentials for students with disabilities, the microcredential design process, and future steps.
Presenters
MP

Mary Pearson

Indiana University
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Poster Presentations

5:45pm CST

Celebrating Authentic Experiences That Enhance Appreciation of Diversity
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall
This session presents information on a pilot program for undergraduates enrolled in a teacher education program. Teaching candidates have the opportunity to participate with faculty mentors and peers in a very engaging format. This project is designed to supplement learning and broaden one’s perspective of teaching students who have disabilities and to enhance one’s understanding and appreciation for different cultures, attitudes, beliefs, and perspectives. It is a culmination of what teacher candidates learned in terms of accessibility and inclusion as well as reflecting upon the themes of cultural humility and knowledge. A major part of cultural humility is understanding and analyzing your own reactions in a thoughtful and intentional way, which includes being tolerant, respectful, curious, and empathetic towards other cultures. Thus, teacher candidates self-reflect upon a series of related experiences by examining all aspects of events and experiences from different perspectives.
Presenters
avatar for Randy Seevers

Randy Seevers

Associate Professor, University of Houston-Clear Lake
Randy Seevers received his B.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Special Education from The Ohio State University. His experience includes working with a wide range of learners across the life span. He is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Counseling, Special Education, and... Read More →
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Poster Presentations

5:45pm CST

Communication Opportunities For Preschoolers with Disabilities and Complex Communication Needs
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall
For children, social interaction plays a critical role in overall social, emotional, and cognitive development, however, not every child has equal opportunity to engage socially with their peers. Specifically, children with disabilities and complex communication needs (CCN) have limited meaningful opportunities to interact with their peers in inclusive educational spaces. To better support young children with CCN in early childhood educational settings, it is imperative to understand what opportunities exist naturally for social interaction and communication. This observational study investigates these naturally occurring communication opportunities for students with disabilities and CCN as well as other contextual factors that may impact social communication in inclusive classroom settings.
Presenters
JH

Jenna Hurlburt

The Ohio State University
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Poster Presentations

5:45pm CST

Decrease SIB Behaviors with Students with Extensive Support Needs
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall
This poster defines what self-injurious behaviors are and how to modify behaviors to decrease these behaviors with students with extensive support needs. Students with Extensive Support Needs (ESN) often display self-injurious behaviors (SIB), which is defined as any occurrence where an individual engages in hitting or slapping themselves by making a connection with any part of their body with a closed or open fist or banging head to make an audible sound. This behavior also includes pinching, scratching, or biting, any instance where on the skin it leaves a mark or breaks the skin, causing bleeding. Understanding this behavior can lead to better support for students and opportunities for them to be involved in more inclusive educational settings.
Presenters
avatar for Susan Gollihugh

Susan Gollihugh

Doctoral student, Sam Houston State Universtiy
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Poster Presentations

5:45pm CST

Determining Egocentric Networks of Families and Youth with Disabilities
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall
The transition to adulthood for youth with disabilities and their families can be challenging, as they learn to navigate new post-school environments, often without the necessary supports. Ideally, youth with disabilities connect to necessary post-school services while they are still in high school. However, families regularly report having limited information on post-high school options, & describe services as fragmented or unavailable (Gibson et al., 2017). The absence of strong post-school connections can inhibit community inclusion and may contribute to poor post-school employment, education, & community living outcomes (Prince et al., 2017; Sanford et al., 2011). To help further understand the personal networks and connectedness of youth, families, and transition team members, this research describes the use of egocentric network methodology and a data collection software to study the networks that families interact with as their youth gets ready to transition out of high school.
Presenters
CS
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Poster Presentations

5:45pm CST

Employment Preparation Activities Across Inclusive Post-Secondary Education Programs
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall
We conducted a survey examining the effective strategies for promoting employment readiness among individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) attending inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE) programs. Analysis of data from 59 programs reveals the importance of person-centered planning and specialized instruction. However, while paid employment significantly predicts post-graduation success, only a minority of programs offer these opportunities. Collaboration with vocational agencies and career centers is also vital, yet partnerships are lacking in many programs. Addressing these gaps in support can significantly contribute to facilitating successful transitions from postsecondary education to meaningful employment for individuals with I/DD.
Presenters
avatar for Amy Clausen

Amy Clausen

Assistant Professor, Winthrop University
Dr. Amy Clausen (she/her) is an assistant professor of special education at Winthrop University. Her focus is preparing teachers of students with extensive support needs. Amy is committed to ensuring her students have access to literature featuring diverse and representative char... Read More →
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Poster Presentations

5:45pm CST

Families as Partners in Promoting Positive Competitive Integrated Employment Outcomes
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall
When it comes to securing competitive integrated employment (CIE), families may be an integral part of the process. Family members often provide support to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across a variety of domains, including employment. For families to establish effective partnerships and help promote CIE outcomes, the field needs a more in-depth understanding of the current state of family involvement and its relationship with accessing and supporting employment outcomes. To fill this knowledge gap, a scoping review was conducted. The review revealed facilitators (i.e., advocacy, knowledge of supports and services, family expectations, contributing to obtaining employment, building a support network, and family member working), barriers (i.e., lack of family support, socioeconomic status, lack of knowledge, perceptions on abilities, and family challenges), support needs, and overall familial perspectives on employment outcomes.
Presenters
DS
CS
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Poster Presentations

5:45pm CST

Good Intentions Aren't Enough: Dismantling Ableism Within the Walls of our Classrooms
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall
Many autistic adults express dissatisfaction with their K-12 school experiences and face social rejection more often than their non-autistic peers. However, autistic youth’s voices are rarely included in educational research or policy-making. In this study, we examined autistic people’s perceptions of ableism in American K-12 school systems through interviews with 19 autistic adolescents and adults in a qualitative, community-participatory study. We found seven major themes in these interviews: Erasure Conformity Isolation Oppression Hidden curriculum Misaligned school priorities Authority Our research highlights the systemic barriers autistic people face in educational settings that either go unnoticed or are intentionally ignored. We examine the impact of said barriers on outcomes and experiences that extend beyond the classroom. Specifically, we examine these themes’ negative impacts on identity formation, self-advocacy, and self-acceptance for autistic student
Presenters
BV
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Poster Presentations

5:45pm CST

How Inclusive is AAC Research? A Scoping Review
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall
Traditionally, AAC researchers have defined topics for investigation. However, it is important to include AAC users in research to ensure that it addresses their needs and priorities and that it results in increased awareness and uptake to improve outcomes. This scoping review aimed to identify whether AAC users have been involved in the research conducted to address issues related to adults with cerebral palsy who use AAC, and, if so, in what types of studies. Through a systematic search, only 34 data-based studies from the last twenty years were identified that focused on adults with CP who used AAC. Nine of those studies involved an AAC user in at least one research process (conceptualization of the problem, determining research methods, collecting study data, analyzing study data, and disseminating study findings). To improve the outcomes of research, there is an urgent need to involve AAC users in studies conducted to understand and support their needs.
Moderators
avatar for Kelsey Steffen

Kelsey Steffen

I am interested in partnering with individuals with disabilities to inform research directions within the augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) community. I have a deep interest in disability justice, self-determination, and the transition into adulthood for individuals... Read More →
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Poster Presentations

5:45pm CST

Inclusion of Individuals with Intellectual Disability in Qualitative Research
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall
This presentation will focus on practical methods researchers can use to include individuals with intellectual disability in qualitative research. This requires reconceptualizing the communication difference. Some challenges impede the inclusion of those individuals in qualitative research that mainly uses interviewing. For example, expected methodological issues and challenges include sampling, informed consent, and participant fatigue, as well as the quantity and quality/credibility of the data. Solutions to address these challenges will be discussed point by point. Additionally, strategies to facilitate hearing voices from participants with intellectual disabilities will be covered, including dyadic interviewing, visual/audio methods, and accessible focus groups. Finally, helpful tips for interviewing people with intellectual disabilities will be presented, focusing on building rapport and trust, effective questioning, triangulation, and interview scheduling.
Presenters
avatar for Geonhwa Kim

Geonhwa Kim

Doctoral Student, University of Kansas
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Poster Presentations

5:45pm CST

Inclusion Opportunities at Secondary Schools: Stakeholder Perspectives
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall
Students with IDD are not typically included in school engagement for both academic and social activities. Though laws seek to encourage inclusive education for all students, at the Secondary School level, inclusion is lacking due to academic expectations in the classroom, social opportunities, buy in from both staff and fellow students, and because of typical expectations and norms in a public high school.  In order to remedy this problem, we propose that school stakeholders work together in order to create inclusion opportunities for all students.  This presentation discusses inclusion successes and perspectives held by a variety of stakeholders: teachers, related service providers, students with and without disabilities, parents, and school administrators. A call to action is offered for all stakeholders to find innovative, intentional, and joyful opportunities for true engagement for all students.  
Presenters
SE

Sarah Espanol

George Mason University
CE

Christina Eagle

George Mason University
HB

Heather Boccanfuso

Head of School, Meeting Street
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Poster Presentations

5:45pm CST

Inclusivity Through Creativity: Utilizing Film, Fashion and Broadcasting
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall
In this poster presentation, people of  all abilities, who have discovered a unique way of changing mindsets. will share successes, challenges observations and insights we gained while creating inclusive spaces within our communities and in the entertainment and fashion industry!  Discover the positive impact successful inclusion can have when formulated through creativity and collaboration as we discuss how to develop tools to create more inclusive opportunities your own neighborhoods.
Presenters
CC

Christina Cannarella

Mother Road Studios
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Poster Presentations

5:45pm CST

Investigating the Disability Training Experiences of Pediatric Residents in Michigan
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall
This study will utilize a mixed-methods design (i.e., survey with follow-up interviews) to explore the training experiences of pediatric residents and their perceived self-efficacy in caring for children with disabilities and children with medical complexities. The goal of this study is to identify the needs, resources, and gaps in training and preparation for pediatric residents to work with children with disabilities (including CMC).
Presenters
EJ
avatar for Sarah Douglas

Sarah Douglas

Associate Professor, Michigan State University
Dr. Sarah Douglas is an Associate Professor at Michigan State University where she directs the RADD lab (Research on Autism and Developmental Disabilities). Her work focuses on paraeducator supports, augmentative and alternative communication, children with extensive support needs... Read More →
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Poster Presentations

5:45pm CST

Literacy Goals and Attainment for Students with Limited Speech
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall
All students benefit from comprehensive literacy instruction. Literacy instruction is especially important for students with disabilities who have limited speech because aided augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices rely on printed language for communication. When students use aided AAC without literacy skills, they depend on the words and symbols provided by others. With literacy skills, students can say anything they want with only 26 letters of the alphabet. This poster will present research focused on the nature of literacy-focused individualized education program (IEP) goals of elementary-aged students with intellectual and developmental disabilities who were nonspeaking or had limited speech. We analyzed IEP goals for 36 elementary students with limited speech, exploring (a) the nature of literacy goals and (b) how parents viewed these goals. We will share findings and provide guidance to ensure access across literacy domains.
Presenters
RG

Rebecca Gianforte

Vanderbilt University
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Poster Presentations

5:45pm CST

Meta-Synthesis of IEP Analysis Studies for Students with Extensive Support Needs
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall
This study describes a meta-synthesis of studies (K = 12) using qualitative methods to analyze IEP documents comparing studies that addressed students with high-incidence disabilities compared to studies that addressed students with extensive support needs.
Presenters
MS

Michelle Squitieri

Lehigh University
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Poster Presentations

5:45pm CST

Navigating Advocacy: Youth with Disabilities Share Their Experiences and Perspectives
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall
Self-advocacy is an essential component of transition planning for youth with disabilities. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA, 2004) mandates students with disabilities are included in transition planning to the greatest extent possible. Additionally, the Workforce and Innovation Act (WIOA, 2014) requires specific pre-employment transition services, one of which includes self-advocacy training. Despite federal requirements, youth with disabilities often report not being active members of their transition planning and self-advocacy is often tied to school and work-based settings. Our research team investigated self-advocacy experiences of transition-aged youth with disabilities through one-on-one interviews led by researches with and without disabilities. Key findings highlight youths’ advocacy experiences across settings, how they are empowered to advocate, and their suggested improvements to special education for other students with disabilities.
Moderators
avatar for Megan Best

Megan Best

PhD Student in Special Education, University of Illinois Urbana-Champagin
Presenters
avatar for RaeAnne Lindsay

RaeAnne Lindsay

Coordinator for Section 504 project, Vanderbilt University, Peabody College
I am a Licensed Social Worker in the state of Illinois. I received a Masters Degree from the School of Social Work at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. I am a Disability Advocate and the reining Ms. Wheelchair USA 2024-2025. I currently work at Vanderbilt University in... Read More →
avatar for Zach Rossetti

Zach Rossetti

Associate Professor, Boston University
Zach Rossetti, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Special Education in the Teaching and Learning Department at Boston University's Wheelock College of Education & Human Development. His research examines the social belonging and participation of people with intellectual and developmental... Read More →
avatar for Oscar Hughes

Oscar Hughes

Postdoctoral researcher, University of Massachusetts Boston
My research supports self-advocacy and self-determination, examines the experiences of LGBTQ+ people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities, and promotes access to sexuality education.
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Poster Presentations

5:45pm CST

Parent Cafes: Space to Connect for Complex Care Family Caregivers
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall
Parents and caregivers of children with medical complexities (CMC) and adults with intellectual or developmental disability (AIDD) report feelings of isolation and loneliness, with difficulty in finding and engaging mitigating social supports. Parent Cafes, developed by Be Strong Families, is a model with evaluative proof that participant families improve strength and resilience. Cafes create a safe and supportive environment where participants come together to share experiences, joys, and concerns. The Indiana Complex Care Coordination Collaborative (IC4) developed, implemented, and evaluated monthly statewide virtual parent-led cafes focusing on empowering families to connect in community, learn about resources, and increase protective factors.
Presenters
ET
MC

Mary Ciccarelli

Indiana University School of MEdicine
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Poster Presentations

5:45pm CST

Parent Perspectives on Post-School Employment
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall
Transitioning from childhood to adulthood is a major life event. For parents of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) the process may seem especially challenging. As parents consider their child’s support needs, they may have concerns and questions about post-school options, including options related to employment. The Individualized Education Program (IEP) team therefore plays an important role in helping to connect parents with the information they need to support their child’s transition to adulthood.
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Poster Presentations

5:45pm CST

Peer Support Arrangements for Students with Extensive Support Needs
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall
When students with extensive support needs (ESN) are included with their same-aged typically developing peers in general education settings, it is not meaningful if they are not interacting with peers or the curriculum. Peer support arrangements address this problem by guiding peers without disabilities to provide academic and/or social support students with ESN in general education settings through training conducted by a teacher or paraprofessional. In this systematic literature review, we replicated the Brock & Huber (2017) review of 11 studies and identified 4 additional studies that examined peer support arrangements as an intervention for students with ESN. Several of those studies include evidence of peers benefiting from providing support. We conclude that peer support arrangements are an effective intervention for social outcomes and are a promising intervention for academic outcomes in a variety of general education settings for students with ESN.
Presenters
SM

Sara Martin

Ohio State University
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Poster Presentations

5:45pm CST

Peer-Mediated Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions For Preschoolers with Disabilities
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall
This presentation discusses a single-case design study using NDBIs as a peer-mediated intervention for preschool aged children with autism and developmental disabilities. Data will be collected in Fall 2024. This study will be conducted in inclusive special education classrooms, which are currently the standard practice for providing special education services for children with a wide variety of special learning needs. Preschool aged peers will be trained and coached in strategies, that align with the fidelity markers of Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs) for engaging with children with disabilities during center time. This study also aims to examine the effects intervention on the communication, play, and social skills for children with disabilities. This presentation will provide information to assist in understanding the impact of peer-mediated NDBIs on key skills for children with disabilities. Recommendations and suggestions will be provided.
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Poster Presentations

5:45pm CST

Professional Development Needs of Special Educators Working with Transition-Age Students
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall
Many adults with disabilities struggle with employment, college participation, and independent and community living post-high school, particularly people with disabilities who have extensive support needs. Improving professional development and support for special education teachers instructing youth and young adults with disabilities who have extensive support needs is a critical step to improving post-school outcomes. Therefore, to address this issue, we conducted a statewide survey exploring the professional development needs of special education teachers instructing transition-aged youth with extensive support needs. Our aims were to understand teachers' confidence in implementing evidence-based transition practices/strategies, training received, knowledge of community supports/opportunities, the extent to which teachers received training on those supports, and preferences for future professional development.
Presenters
avatar for Allison Cole

Allison Cole

Vanderbilt University, Peabody College
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Poster Presentations

5:45pm CST

South Dakota Developmental Disabilities Study: Supporting Families
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall
A&M partnered with South Dakota to assess the Family Support 360 waiver and the Shared Living component of the CHOICES waiver, and to issue recommendations to maximize impact of these programs in helping to support South Dakotans with I/DD in the most interdependent settings possible. We worked with South Dakota Department of Human services to create a trajectory for the vision for developmental disabilities services. We used the Charting the LifeCourse trajectory tool to map out what was important for both people and their families, and the system. We started with the end in mind: the vision for DD services in South Dakota. Then, we partnered together to identify steps along the path to realizing the vision, including pitfalls to avoid.
Presenters
avatar for Erin Leveton

Erin Leveton

Director, Alvarez & Marsal Public Sector Services, LLC
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Poster Presentations

5:45pm CST

Stories Braiding Synergy & Belonging
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall
Connecting communities and systems create a dynamic approach to Bridge, Disrupt, and Build. Prioritizing individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with a focus on multicultural backgrounds and languages. Bringing forth perspectives and knowledge through the stories of themselves, caregivers, parents, and service providers. Recognizing that without connection, we can't make change; strengthening collaboration and building healthy partnerships so that individuals within the special education system can access learning, relationships, and opportunities to create a strong future for themselves.
Presenters
NB

Nicole Barker

Open Doors for Multicultural Families
MC

Melanie Cates

Open Doors for Multicultural Families
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Poster Presentations

5:45pm CST

Supporting Complex Communication Needs of Children with Extensive Support Needs
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall
Communication skills are essential to everyday life to express our thoughts, needs, feelings, and to connect with others. Thus, access to communication should be available to all. Yet, due to complex communication needs, many children with significant cognitive disabilities do not have access to reliable communication modes. For these presymbolic communicators, we must take on creative approaches to improve access to communication. I used qualitative interviews to explore how 10 educators of young children with significant cognitive disabilities think about supporting complex communication needs. Findings suggest that, in addition to extensive support needs, factors such as, quality of relationships, school environments, and perceptions of disability affect communication outcomes. Findings also highlight strengths in educators’ commitment to their students but identify a discord between educators’ expectations and beliefs vs. actual feasibility due to school environment and resources.
Presenters
CB

Chi Baik

PhD Student, University of Washington
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Poster Presentations

5:45pm CST

Survey of Interagency Collaboration in Illinois: A Preliminary Study
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall
The proposed presentation will discuss the results of a study on interagency collaboration in Illinois. Linkages and relationships among disability providers are the main focus of the study. The study will utilize collaboration mapping highlighted in Frey et al., 2006. The visual representation of collaboration will be a useful aid to see how many linkages exist between disability providers and the strength of those linkages among the disability providers. The baseline data in the study collected will be utilized to determine how effective interventions are at improving collaboration among disability providers. The primary focus will be disability providers that provide employment-related services, including schools that provide employment-focused training.
Presenters
avatar for David George Strauser

David George Strauser

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Poster Presentations

5:45pm CST

The Black Box of Collaboration: Preliminary Qualitative Results
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall
Policy requirements and incentives emphasize interagency collaboration (IDEA, 2004; WIOA, 2014). Despite evidence of interagency collaboration improving postsecondary outcomes for students with disabilities, there are noted challenges in collaboration (Saleh et al., 2019). Difficulties exist despite the prevalence of conceptual interagency collaboration models (Kwiatek et al., 2023). Reconceptualizing research on interagency collaboration to emphasize collaboration theory will provide new insights into the process of interagency collaboration that may better address barriers to interagency collaboration (Thomson & Perry, 2006; Wood & Gray,1991). An exploratory qualitative study was conducted using collaboration theory. Vocational rehabilitation counselors in Central Illinois were asked to describe the process of collaboration in the provision of school-to-work employment-focused transition services. The results of the exploratory study are discussed.
Presenters
avatar for David George Strauser

David George Strauser

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Poster Presentations

5:45pm CST

To Include All Students: Why We Fight
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall
The fight for inclusion of students with disabilities post-Brown v. Board of Education emphasizes the civil right to education for all. Segregated education denies this right and perpetuates outdated practices. Inclusive education, proven effective, ensures access to grade-level instruction, empowering students for self-directed lives. It also combats disability stigma, fostering empathy and understanding. Moreover, inclusion facilitates meaningful relationships, vital for mental well-being. Ultimately, inclusion ensures equitable access to education and upholds the fundamental principle that education is a civil right for all students.
Presenters
CS

Charles Semanko

Low Incidence Special Education Teacher, University of Kansas - Dept of Special Education
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Poster Presentations

5:45pm CST

Using Logic to Leverage Inclusive Multi-Tiered Systems of Support
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall
Multi-tiered systems of support inclusive of students with extensive support needs are receiving increased attention as researchers point to improved outcomes and opportunities in general education contexts for students with disabilities. I synthesized 21 studies from 2014 to 2024 which included a review of assumptions and contextual factors either recommended or identified in the literature as factors associated with implementation of inclusive multi-tiered systems of support. Assumptions included beliefs, values, visions, and culture as well as family and community perspectives. Contextual factors included policy and leadership supportive of inclusive practices for students with extensive support needs.
Presenters
avatar for Lisa Morin

Lisa Morin

Doctoral Student, University of Florida
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Poster Presentations

5:45pm CST

Voices Not Yet Heard: Implementation of a State Instructional Mandate on Disability History and Awareness
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall
Survey findings about implementation of a state instructional mandate on disability history and people with disabilities indicated that, while participants (irrespective of general or special education assignment) believed this instructional content was critical for K-12 students, they were not aware there was a mandate and required significant resources to meet this mandate and ensure that disabled people were involved in content design and implementation. Suggestions for change with a particular focus on including people with complex learning needs in curriculum development and implementation are provided.
Presenters
MF

Mary Fisher

Professor, Lewis University
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Poster Presentations

5:45pm CST

Why Should We Teach Digital Citizenship? A Curriculum For Pre-Service Special Educators
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall
Schools play a critical role in providing access and to supporting youth's knowledge and skills related to using technology to participate in digital spaces. However, research indicates youth with disabilities, particularly those with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), access and use technology less and have less access to digital citizenship training opportunities. This presentation will discuss a collaboratively developed curriculum we designed to:

(a) expand preservice special education teachers' knowledge of digital citizenship;
(b) improve their ability to teach digital citizenship skills and make that instruction accessible; and,
(c) integrate digital citizenship skills in both individualized education programs and transition plans.
Presenters
avatar for Kim Fisher

Kim Fisher

Assistant Professor, Illinois State University
Kim Fisher is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Special Education at Illinois State University. She studies how social networks and social capital promote community participation and social inclusion for adolescents and young adults with IDD and the role access to information... Read More →
JW
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Poster Presentations

5:45pm CST

Year Two: Pre-Service Teachers' Reflections on A Variety of Placement Settings
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall
Last year, I had the privilege of presenting with a group of students who had never seen inclusive practices, this year my university extended my grant funding to continue this line of research. Through university support, we are taking students on a study abroad trip to the Czech Republic, where inclusive opportunities are minimal. The purpose of this research is to allow undergraduate pre-service teachers to experience a variety of placement settings both in the United States and the Czech Republic.  Additionally, data will be analyzed across two cohorts of students who are visiting inclusive placements for the first time. Pre-service teachers will complete a pre- and post- reflection on their experiences. Additionally students will record their initial reaction to a variety of placement sites to see differences and changes their perceptions during the semester. These video and written reflections will be analyzed qualitatively for themes.
Moderators
avatar for Kristin Burnette

Kristin Burnette

Assistant Professor, East Carolina University
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Storyville Hall Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  Poster Presentations

7:00pm CST

TASHbash Dance
Friday December 6, 2024 7:00pm - 9:00pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin E
Come have fun and dance the night away at the TASHBash Dance!  All are welcome.  Light refreshments.
Friday December 6, 2024 7:00pm - 9:00pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin E Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
  TASHBash Dance
 
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  • Collaboration
  • Collaboration Maps
  • Collaboration Theory
  • Collaborative Approach to Awareness
  • Communication
  • Communication Access
  • Community
  • Community Access
  • Community Buillding
  • Community Engagement
  • Community Living
  • Community-Based
  • Community-Based Participatory Research
  • Community-Based Work Experiences
  • Community-Led
  • Competency
  • Competitive Employment
  • Competitive Integrated Employment
  • Competitive Integrated Employment.
  • Complex Communication Needs
  • Complex Support Needs
  • Conversations
  • Cotaught
  • Creativity
  • Cross-Disability
  • Cultural Humility
  • Cultural Responsiveness
  • Cultural-Competency
  • Culture
  • Curriculum
  • Curriculum Adaptations
  • Customized Employment
  • Dance
  • Data-Based Decision Making
  • Deafblindness
  • Decision-Making Skills
  • Definitional Issues
  • Deserve
  • Developmental Delays
  • Diagnostic Accessibility
  • Differentiation
  • Digital Citizenship
  • Dignity
  • Dignity of Risk
  • Direct Support Professional
  • Direct Support Professionals
  • Direct Support Workforce
  • DirectSsupport
  • Disabilities
  • Disability
  • Disability Ally
  • Disability Characterizations
  • Disability Connectedness
  • Disability Culture
  • Disability Data
  • Disability Education Reform
  • Disability Identity
  • Disability Inclusion
  • Disability Inclusive Employment
  • Disability Labeling
  • Disability Policy
  • Disability Providers
  • Disability Studies
  • Disability Trends
  • Disabled Womens Health
  • Disparities
  • Disruption of Norms
  • Dissonance
  • Diversity
  • Diversity and inclusion
  • Doctors
  • Dogs
  • Doing
  • DSP Wages vs. Fast Food Wages
  • Early Career Special Education Teachers
  • Early Childhood
  • Early Childhood Special Education
  • Early Literacy
  • Education
  • Education System
  • Educational Barriers IDD
  • Educational Decision-Making
  • Educational Outcomes
  • Educational Placement
  • Educational Strategies
  • Educational Values
  • Educator Perceptions
  • Empathy of Understanding
  • Employer Engagement
  • Employment
  • Employment First
  • Employment Readiness
  • Employment Supports
  • Empowerment
  • Engagement
  • Equity
  • Evaluation
  • Evidence
  • Evidence-Based Practice
  • Evidence-Based Practices
  • Expectations
  • Expenses
  • Experiential Learning
  • Extensive Support Needs
  • Fabrication
  • Factors
  • Faith Communities
  • Families
  • Family
  • Family Advocacy
  • Family Engagement
  • Family Involvement
  • Family Training
  • Family-Professional Collaboration
  • Family-School Partnership
  • Family/Caregivers
  • Fashion
  • Federal Legislation
  • Film
  • Financial
  • Financial Planning
  • Focus Groups
  • Future Planning.
  • General Curriculum Access
  • General Education
  • General Education Classroom
  • Generative Artificial Intelligence
  • Goal
  • Grassroots
  • Growth
  • Growth Mindset
  • Guardianship Reform
  • HCBS
  • Health
  • Health Equity
  • Health Self-Management
  • Healthcare
  • Healthcare Inequities
  • Hidden Disability
  • High Expectations
  • High-Quality Employment
  • Higher Education
  • History
  • Home Ownership
  • Hospitals
  • Housing
  • Human Animal Bond
  • Human Rights
  • IDEA
  • Identification with Disability
  • IEP
  • IEP Development
  • Implementation
  • Implementation Science
  • Inclusion
  • inclusion in general education classrooms and curriculum
  • Inclusion Starts Now
  • Inclusion; Collective Vision; Definition; Intellectual Disability; Foundational Priorities of Inclusion
  • Inclusionary
  • Inclusive
  • Inclusive College; Post Secondary Programs; Designing Support for Students with Intellectual Disabilities
  • Inclusive Economic Growth
  • Inclusive Education
  • Inclusive Education I/DD
  • Inclusive Educators
  • Inclusive Health Care Education
  • Inclusive Higher Education
  • Inclusive IEPs
  • Inclusive Instruction
  • Inclusive Post-Secondary Education
  • Inclusive Postsecondary Education
  • Inclusive Practices
  • Inclusive Research
  • Inclusivity
  • Independence
  • Individualized Education Program
  • Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals
  • Individualized Education Programs
  • Innovation
  • Instruction
  • Instructional Leadership
  • Integration Independence
  • Integrity
  • Intellectual Disabilities
  • Intellectual Disability
  • Interagency Collaboration
  • Interdisciplinary Collaboration
  • Intersectionality
  • Intervention Development
  • Interventions
  • Interviews with People with Disabilities
  • Job Coach
  • Job Coaches
  • Journey
  • K-12 Curriculum
  • K-12 Education
  • Kindergarten Transition
  • Knowledge and Skills
  • Language
  • Language-Access
  • Latina
  • Law Enforcement
  • Leadership
  • Legislative Advocacy
  • Lesson Planning
  • Leveraging Strengths
  • LGBTQ
  • Licensure
  • Linguistically and Culturally Diverse
  • Listening Service Provision
  • Literacy
  • Lived Experience
  • Logic Model
  • Long-term Services And Supports
  • Math
  • Meaningful Lives
  • Medical Education
  • Medical Self-Advocate Partnership
  • Medicine
  • Mentoring
  • Meta-Synthesis PLAAFPs LRE
  • Microcredentials
  • Mindfulness
  • Mixed Methods
  • Mixed Methods Research
  • Moral Conviction
  • Mother
  • Multi-tiered System of Support
  • Multi-Tiered Systems of Support
  • Multidisciplinary Approach
  • Multiple Case Study
  • Narrative Imagination
  • Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions
  • Neurodivergence
  • Neurodiversity
  • Neuroinclusion Systemic Changes
  • Non-Verbal
  • Nonspeaking
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Opportunity
  • Oral History
  • OTL
  • Paraprofessional
  • Paraprofessionals
  • Parent Centers
  • Parent Participation
  • Parent Perspectives
  • Parenting
  • Parents
  • Parents and Caregivers
  • Parents/Guardians
  • Participation
  • Participatory
  • Participatory Action Research
  • Participatory Research
  • Partnership
  • Partnerships
  • Pathways
  • Peer Relationships
  • Peer Support
  • Peer-Mediated Intervention
  • Peer-Mmediated intervention
  • Peers
  • People
  • People-First
  • Perceptions
  • Person Centered
  • Person Centeredness
  • Person-Centered
  • Person-Centered Planning
  • Person-Centered Practice
  • Personel Prep
  • Personnel Preparation
  • Physical Education
  • Placement Predictors
  • Plain Language
  • Planning
  • Podcasts
  • Policy
  • Politics
  • Positionality
  • Post Secondary Employment Training
  • Post-School Outcomes
  • Post-Secondary Education
  • Post-Secondary Inclusive Programs
  • Post-Secondary Outcomes
  • Power of Attorney
  • Power-Sharing
  • Pre-Employment
  • Pre-Service Education
  • Preschool
  • Preservice General Education Teachers
  • Presuming Competence
  • Preventative Care
  • Primary Care
  • Problem-Solving
  • Professional Development
  • Professional Learning
  • Program Evaluation
  • Public Policy
  • Public Policy Systems Change
  • Qualitative
  • Qualitative Research
  • Quality Assurance
  • Quality Improvements
  • Quality of life
  • Racial Disparities
  • Racism
  • Radio
  • Raise Inclusive Kids
  • Re-Evaluation
  • Reading
  • Reflections
  • Related Services
  • Relationship
  • Relationships
  • Research
  • Research to Practice
  • Resource Network
  • Respect
  • Restorative Practice
  • Restraint
  • Retention
  • Rights
  • Rural Education
  • School
  • School Community
  • School-Aged
  • School-Aged Children
  • Schools
  • Seclusion
  • Section 504
  • Segregated
  • Selection
  • Self Acceptance
  • Self Advocacy
  • Self Determination
  • Self-Advocacy
  • Self-Advocacy; Self-Determination; Empowerment; Creativity
  • Self-Advocate
  • Self-Advocates
  • Self-Determination
  • Self-Direction
  • Self-Efficacy
  • Self-Employment
  • Self-Expression
  • Service Delivery Model
  • Service Dogs
  • Services
  • Sex Education
  • Sexism
  • Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare
  • Sexuality
  • Shifting Mindset
  • Siblings
  • Significant Cognitive Disabilities
  • Significant Needs
  • Significant Support Needs
  • Skill-Building
  • Social Advocacy
  • Social Change
  • Social Communication
  • Social Connection
  • Social Emotional Skills
  • Social Interactions
  • Special Education
  • Special Education Teacher
  • Special Education Vouchers
  • Special Needs Trust
  • Specialized Health Care
  • Specifically Designed Instruction
  • Staff Stability
  • Stakeholder Perspectives
  • State-adopted general education standards
  • Stop Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault to People with Disabilites
  • Strategies
  • Strength Based
  • Strengths-Based Approach
  • Strengths-Based IEPs
  • Student Government
  • Student-Centered
  • Student-Directed Learning
  • Students
  • Students with Complex Support Needs
  • Students with ESN
  • Students with Extensive Support Needs
  • Success
  • Successes and Barriers
  • Suicide Prevention
  • Support
  • Support-Brokerage
  • Supported Decision-Making
  • Supporting-Families
  • Supports
  • Supports Disability
  • Survey
  • Sustainable
  • Sustiainable Entrepreneurship
  • System Change
  • Systematic Review
  • Systemic Change
  • Systemic Change; Coaching
  • Systems Change
  • Systems-Change
  • Tale
  • Teacher Beliefs
  • Teacher Education
  • Teacher Peparation
  • Teacher Preparation
  • Teacher Professional Development
  • Teacher Training
  • Teachers
  • Teachin
  • Teaching
  • teaching strategies for individuals with extensive support needs
  • Technical Assistance
  • Technology
  • Technology in Employment
  • Television
  • Theories of Disability
  • Togetherness
  • Training
  • Transformation
  • Transition
  • Transition Across the Lifespan
  • Transition Aged Students
  • Transition Educators
  • Transition From High School
  • Transition from Sheltered Work
  • Transition Planning
  • Transition Services
  • Transition to Adulthood
  • Transition to Employment
  • Transition to Work
  • Transition-Aged Youth
  • Transportation
  • Trauma
  • Trauma-Informed
  • Trauma-Informed Education
  • Turnover
  • Typing to Communicate
  • UDL
  • Undiscovered
  • Universal Design
  • Universal Design for Learning
  • Universally Designed Systems
  • Urban Education
  • User-Centered Design
  • Values
  • Video Modeling
  • Video Prompting
  • Vision
  • Visual Impairment
  • Vocational Rehabilitation
  • Waiver
  • Work
  • Work Experiences
  • Work-Based Learning Experiences
  • Workforce
  • Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
  • Workforce Strategies
  • Wraparound
  • Writing
  • Youth and Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
  • Youth Leadership
  • Youth Participatory Action Research
  • Presentation Type
  • General
  • Research
  • Popular