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

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

Jennifer Kurth

Professor, University of Kansas

Inclusive Education

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

Primary Topic Inclusive Education
Themes of Interest Self-Determination
Key Words Self-Determination, Inclusive Education, Teacher Education
Presentation Type Research

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

Graciela Copes

Presenters

Huaiyue Zhang

Talisa Bates

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

Primary Topic Transition, Self-Advocacy
Themes of Interest Self-Determination, Person Centered Practice
Key Words Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), Collaboration, Person-Centered Planning, Self-Determination, Transition to Adulthood, IEP, Transition, Advocacy, Empowerment
Presentation Type Research, General

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 studentsâ€”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

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

Sarah Hudler

The Ohio State University

Kate Anderson

Graduate Student, The Ohio State University

Kaitlyn Viera

Doctoral Candidate, Ohio State University

Sara Martin

Ohio State University

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

Primary Topic Transition, Inclusive Education
Themes of Interest Self-Determination, K-12 Education
Key Words Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), Collaboration, Person-Centered Planning, Self-Determination, Transition to Adulthood, Early Literacy, Complex Communication Needs
Presentation Type Research

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 futureâ€” 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

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

Allison Cole

Vanderbilt University, Peabody College

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

Primary Topic Transition
Themes of Interest Self-Determination
Key Words Transition to Adulthood, Self-Determination, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), Collaboration, Person-Centered Planning
Presentation Type Research

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

Ari Gleicher

Makom

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 Human Rights
Themes of Interest Self-Determination
Key Words Self-Determination, Human Rights, Dignity, Respect, Employment Supports

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

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

Primary Topic Communication Access
Themes of Interest Self-Determination
Key Words Independence, Self-Determination, Self-Expression, Communication
Presentation Type General

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