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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5:45pm CST

Poster #3: 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 youthsâ€™ advocacy experiences across settings, how they are empowered to advocate, and their suggested improvements to special education for other students with disabilities.

Moderators

Megan Best

PhD Student in Special Education, University of Illinois Urbana-Champagin

Presenters

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 →

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 →

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

Primary Topic Self-Advocacy
Themes of Interest Self-Determination
Key Words Self-Advocacy, Transition-Aged Youth, Transition Planning, Empowerment
Presentation Type Research