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

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 â€œcurrent stateâ€ with self-advocates, families, and internal team members, and how we used that assessment to develop a project pl

Moderators

Nicholas Burton

N. Burton Consulting

Presenters

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

Primary Topic Diversity and Social Impact
Themes of Interest Person Centered Practice
Key Words People, Person Centeredness, Culture, Equity, Values
Presentation Type General

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

Joathan Edwards

Edwards, Jonathan

My photography

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

Primary Topic Diversity and Social Impact
Themes of Interest Capacity Building for Inclusion
Key Words Inclusion, Oral History, Community Buillding, Diversity
Presentation Type General

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

Renee Hall

SABE

Jacqueline Cuevas

SABE

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 Diversity and Social Impact
Themes of Interest Self-Determination
Key Words Self Advocacy, Lived Experience, Hidden Disability, Self Acceptance
Presentation Type General

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 â€œstudents with extensive support needs (ESN).â€ When we look at studies focusing on participants with ESN, we find great variability in participant descriptions, even though all are using the â€œESNâ€ 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

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

Primary Topic Diversity and Social Impact
Themes of Interest Disability Theory
Key Words Extensive Support Needs, Definitional Issues
Presentation Type Research

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 Councilâ€™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

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

Ricardo Thornton

Project ACTION!

Alison Whyte

DC Developmental Disabilities Council

Keith Wright

Board Member, Project ACTION!

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

Primary Topic Diversity and Social Impact
Themes of Interest Capacity Building for Inclusion
Key Words Journey, Undiscovered, Deserve, Integrity, Tale, History
Presentation Type General

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

Benjamin Bond

Friday December 6, 2024 4:35pm - 5:30pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 9 Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113

Breakout Sessions

Primary Topic Diversity and Social Impact
Themes of Interest Other
Key Words Universal Design, Plain Language, Disability Policy, Faith Communities
Presentation Type General

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

Erika Thomison

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

Primary Topic Diversity and Social Impact
Themes of Interest Family Support
Key Words Caregiver, Social Connection, Support, Community, Resource Network, Empowerment

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

Nicole Barker

Open Doors for Multicultural Families

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

Primary Topic Diversity and Social Impact
Themes of Interest Systems Change
Key Words Bridging, Disruption of Norms, Building Through Stories and Reflections

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

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

Primary Topic Diversity and Social Impact
Themes of Interest Discrimination & Ableism
Key Words Ableism, K-12 Curriculum, Personel Prep
Presentation Type Research