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.

arrow_back View All Dates

8:45am CST

Identification with Disability: Narrative Imagination and Disability Identity

Saturday December 7, 2024 8:45am - 9:45am CST

4TH Floor - Imperial 5B

Whether they have a disability or not, a person must identify with disability in order to fully engage with the movement for a more equitable and inclusive society. This presentations shares a grounded theory of educatorsâ€™ conceptions of disability based on interviews with preservice general educators and teacher education instructors. The theory, identification with disability, is a bridge between narrative imagination (Nussbaum, 1997) and disability identity (Darling & Heckert, 2010; Forber-Pratt & Zape, 2017). Narrative imagination is the ability to understand and share the feelings and experiences of others, and a strong disability identity requires disability acceptance, alignment with the social model of disability, and involvement with collective social change. Educators and family members who identify with disability are most equipped to empower individuals with complex support needs and collaborate to create a more socially just, democratic, and inclusive society.

Presenters

Charles Pittack

University of Kansas

Saturday December 7, 2024 8:45am - 9:45am CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 5B Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113

Breakout Sessions

Primary Topic Human Rights
Themes of Interest Capacity Building for Inclusion
Key Words Identification with Disability, Narrative Imagination, Disability Identity
Presentation Type Research

10:00am CST

Impact of Inclusive Education Focused Short-Term Technical Assistance

Saturday December 7, 2024 10:00am - 11:00am CST

3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin C

New Jersey continues to be the most segregated state, as only 44% of students with disabilities are included in general education 80% of the day or more. The New Jersey Coalition for Inclusive Education (NJCIE) has partnered with the New Jersey Department of Education Office of Special Education (NJDOE OSE) to improve inclusion rates and overall quality of inclusive education in New Jersey schools. Through the New Jersey Inclusion Project (NJIP), NJCIE and NJDOE OSE offered short-term technical assistance support to schools around critical topics, including building an inclusive culture, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), differentiation, co-teaching, and accommodations and modifications. Using results from pre- and post-assessments of content knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and self-efficacy, our mixed-methods study provides insight into the impacts of a feasible and sustainable short-term technical assistance model geared toward improving inclusive attitudes, beliefs, and practices.

Moderators

Cristin Montalbano

All In For Inclusive Education

Presenters

Jessica McQueston

Assistant Professor, Sam Houston State University

Saturday December 7, 2024 10:00am - 11:00am CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin C Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113

Breakout Sessions

Primary Topic Inclusive Education
Themes of Interest Capacity Building for Inclusion
Key Words Inclusive Education, Technical Assistance, Best Practices, Professional Development, Coaching
Presentation Type Research

10:00am CST

Securing The Future: Visions, Decisions, and Advocacy

Saturday December 7, 2024 10:00am - 11:00am CST

4TH Floor - Imperial 5A

Developing a clear, positive vision for the future is a powerful tool for guiding young adults toward a full and meaningful life. In this session, we’ll explore how to use Supported Decision-Making, self-advocacy, and self-determination skills to navigate pathways to adulthood. We’ll discuss practical strategies for transition planning under IDEA and how to use these supports to foster independence and success. Emphasizing belonging, community participation, and valued roles, we’ll provide actionable tips to help young people build confidence and take an active role in shaping their own lives.

Moderators

Leslie Lipson

Educational Equity Strategist and Attorney, Georgia Coalition for Equity in Education (GCEE)

Leslie Lipson is an attorney and a self-described inclusionista. She has been deeply involved in advocacy for and with people with disabilities for over 20 years and currently offers advocacy solutions using general educational and special education law, from a values-based foundation... Read More →

Presenters

Dana Lloyd

DD Program Director, Georgia Advocacy Office

Dana Lloyd has been engaged in advocacy with people experiencing injustice on both a personal and professional level for over two decades. Dana currently serves as director of the Developmental Disabilities program at the Georgia Advocacy Office and coordinates the GA Supported Decision... Read More →

Katie Chandler

Consultant, Georgia Advocacy Office

Katie Chandler, a Project Consultant with Sangha Unity Network, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has worked in the intellectual and developmental disabilities field as a direct support professional, advocate, supervisor, and consultant. In each role, Katie worked to ensure... Read More →

Saturday December 7, 2024 10:00am - 11:00am CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 5A Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113

Breakout Sessions

Primary Topic Self-Advocacy
Themes of Interest Capacity Building for Inclusion
Key Words Supported Decision-Making, Transition, Vision, Autonomy, Education, Self-Advocacy, Self-Determination
Presentation Type General

10:00am CST

We Do Pretty Well With Inclusion: Beliefs About Supporting Students with Complex Support Needs in Rural Settings

Saturday December 7, 2024 10:00am - 11:00am CST

4TH Floor - Imperial 12

This research investigates inclusive practices for rural students with complex support needs (CSN) and examines staff perceptions about their roles in facilitating an inclusive service delivery model. This study addresses concerns about inconsistent inclusive practices within one rural school district. Data collection included content analysis of IEPs, classroom observations, and interviews with special educators and administrators. Findings reveal that students with CSN lacked inclusive placements, highlighting a culture of low expectations and insufficient individualized support in general education settings. Additionally, special education spaces often perpetuated ableist structures, undermining inclusive opportunities. This research underscores the importance of targeted training and resources to promote inclusive practices in rural schools, contributing to the broader understanding of how rural contexts impact inclusive education for students with CSN.

Presenters

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 →

Saturday December 7, 2024 10:00am - 11:00am CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 12 Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113

Breakout Sessions

Primary Topic Inclusive Education
Themes of Interest Capacity Building for Inclusion
Key Words Rural Education, Qualitative Research, Educator Perceptions, Service Delivery Model
Presentation Type Research

11:15am CST

Deciding What to Teach: Prioritizing Outcomes For Students with CSN

Saturday December 7, 2024 11:15am - 12:15pm CST

3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin A

To help teachers identify priority grade-aligned learning goals to be taught in general education settings for students with complex support needs, we developed a priority planning intervention and tested it with 41 teachers. We determined if the priority planning intervention changed teacher planning for inclusive academic instruction, identified the general education content teachers prioritized, assessed the social validity of the priority planning intervention, and measured the extent to which students learned prioritized goals when taught entirely in general education classrooms. Our findings revealed that teachers were more likely to develop instruction based on the general education curriculum after the intervention. Teachers developed primarily math, communication, and academic vocabulary goals. Students were successful in learning those prioritized goals when taught entirely in general education settings, and teachers reported the intervention was helpful and efficient.

Moderators

Jennifer Kurth

Professor, University of Kansas

Inclusive Education

Presenters

Samantha Gross Toews

Assistant Professor, Cal State University Northridge

Samantha Toews is an assistant professor at California State University Northridge in the Special Education Department. She was previously a special education teacher at WISH Charter School. Her research focusses teacher preparation and professional development to promote inclusive... Read More →

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.

Saturday December 7, 2024 11:15am - 12:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin A Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113

Breakout Sessions

Primary Topic Inclusive Education
Themes of Interest Capacity Building for Inclusion
Key Words Academic Instruction, Planning, Complex Support Needs
Presentation Type Research

3:00pm CST

Bridging Beliefs and Guidelines: Exploring Educators' Views on Paraprofessional Implementation

Saturday December 7, 2024 3:00pm - 4:00pm CST

4TH Floor - Imperial 11

This study investigated the alignment between special education teachers' beliefs and professional guidelines regarding the roles and responsibilities of paraprofessionals. Paraprofessionals, essential in providing support to students with disabilities, often receive inconsistent training and are assigned varied tasks across educational settings. Through a national survey of certified special education teachers, this research explored how educators' beliefs align with the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) guidelines and explores differences in these beliefs across various educational placements (general education, resource, self-contained, and separate schools). The findings reveal significant variations in alignment, with higher agreement observed in inclusive settings. This study underscores the need for tailored professional development to enhance paraprofessional support and highlights the impact of educational context on teachers' perceptions and expectations.

Presenters

Mary Mansouri

Doctoral Student, University of Kansas - Department of Special Education

Mary Curran Mansouri is a doctoral student at the University of Kansas in the Department of Special Education. Her research focuses on inclusive education and understanding interactions that enhance learning and socialization for students with complex support needs.

Saturday December 7, 2024 3:00pm - 4:00pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 11 Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113

Breakout Sessions

Primary Topic Inclusive Education
Themes of Interest Capacity Building for Inclusion
Key Words Paraprofessionals, Teacher Beliefs, Inclusive Education, Students with Complex Support Needs, Teacher Preparation
Presentation Type Research

4:15pm CST

Unleashing Neurodivergence in Education Work and Society

Saturday December 7, 2024 4:15pm - 5:15pm CST

4TH Floor - Imperial 5B

Neurodiversity is a concept that acknowledges and celebrates the natural variations in human neurological functioning. Neurodivergence is the term for when someone's brain processes, learns, and/or behaves differently from what is considered "typical." Within this spectrum lies many conditions often misunderstood and stigmatized in society. This presentation advocates for a paradigm shift in how we perceive and approach neurodivergence, emphasizing the importance of embracing neurodiversity in education, work, and society at large. Attendees will leave this session with a comprehensive understanding of neurodiversity; ability to assess and challenge the traditional view of neurodivergence as a deficit; demonstrate tailored support and accommodations for neurodiverse students; explain the benefits of leveraging Neurodiversity in the workplace; and empowerment to challenge stereotypes, break down barriers, and advocate for policy changes that promote acceptance and inclusion.

Presenters

Dr. Jessica Hicksted

Software Developer/ Research Advocate / Volunteer Director, CACI / ND Outloud! / Invisible Disabilities Association

Dr. Jessica Hicksted, a speaker, researcher, and advocate, specializes in Industrial Organizational Psychology and Information Systems to advance neurodiversity and accessibility in the workplace. She developed the WIDE Insights (Workplace Invisible Disability Experience) to help... Read More →

Saturday December 7, 2024 4:15pm - 5:15pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 5B 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 Neurodivergence, Social Change, Inclusion, School, Work, Social Advocacy, Empathy of Understanding
Presentation Type General