2024 TASH Conference: Full Schedule

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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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

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 →

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

Primary Topic Community Living
Themes of Interest Financial Planning
Key Words ABLE, ABLE Accounts, Special Needs Trust, Expenses, Financial, Financial Planning, Planning, Future Planning.
Presentation Type General

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

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

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 →

Katie Emmett

Utah State University Institute for Disability Research, Policy and Practice

Nancy Strahan

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

Primary Topic Community Living
Themes of Interest Capacity Building for Inclusion
Key Words Community-Based, Inclusion, Skill-Building, Direct Support Professionals, Training
Presentation Type General

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

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

Meghan Burke

Vanderbilt University

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

Primary Topic Community Living
Themes of Interest Family Support
Key Words Intellectual Disabilities, Families, Caregiver Support
Presentation Type Research

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

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

Primary Topic Community Living
Themes of Interest Emergency Preparedness
Key Words Law Enforcement, Collaborative Approach to Awareness, Self-Efficacy, Autism/Developmental Disability, Training
Presentation Type General

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

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

Primary Topic Community Living
Themes of Interest Systems Change
Key Words Self-Advocacy, Supporting-Families, All, Cross-Disability, Systems-Change
Presentation Type General

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

Filiz Buecher

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

Primary Topic Community Living
Themes of Interest Discrimination & Ableism
Key Words Human Animal Bond, Suicide Prevention, Dogs
Presentation Type General

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

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

Primary Topic Community Living
Themes of Interest Housing
Key Words Equity, Legislative Advocacy, California for All (except us?), Community Living, Housing, DSP Wages vs. Fast Food Wages
Presentation Type General

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

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

Primary Topic Community Living
Themes of Interest Direct Support
Key Words Direct Support Workforce, Program Evaluation, Staff Stability
Presentation Type Research

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 Indicatorsâ€”Aging and Disabilitiesâ„¢ (NCI-ADâ„¢) 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

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

Primary Topic Community Living
Themes of Interest Aging Issues
Key Words Aging, Disability Trends, Long-term Services And Supports, Aging In Place
Presentation Type Research

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

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

Primary Topic Community Living
Themes of Interest Self-Determination
Key Words Self-Determination, Integration Independence, Person-Centered, Advocacy
Presentation Type General

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

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

Primary Topic Community Living
Themes of Interest Capacity Building for Inclusion
Key Words Service Dogs, Inclusion, American with Disabilities Act
Presentation Type General

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

Hilary Wu

PhD Student, UCLA

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

Primary Topic Community Living
Themes of Interest Agency Transformation
Key Words Services, Parents and Caregivers, School-Aged Children, Focus Groups
Presentation Type Research

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

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

Primary Topic Community Living
Themes of Interest Family Support
Key Words Supporting-Families, HCBS, Waiver, Person-Centered