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

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

11:15am CST

Empowering Independence Through Guardianship Public Policy Reform

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

3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin C

Guardianships, intended as protective measures, are often overused and overly restrictive, depriving individuals of autonomy and decision-making skills. This overreliance fails to recognize the potential of individuals with disabilities and overlooks less restrictive alternatives, such as supported decision-making. Guardianships can also allow entities like medical and service providers to avoid making reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities. The Maine Protection and Advocacy Agency has spearheaded guardianship policy reform for over two decades, culminating in setting a national precedent by being the first to adopt the progressive 2017 Guardianship, Conservatorship, and Other Protective Arrangements Act. This presentation will explore Maineâ€™s innovative strategies, offering insights and lessons. Attendees will understand the successes and challenges in advocating for less restrictive alternatives. Join us to contribute to the guardianship reform dialogue.

Presenters

Lauren Wille

Legal Director, Disability Rights Maine

Staci Converse

Disability Rights Maine

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

Breakout Sessions

Primary Topic Inclusive Education, Human Rights
Themes of Interest Agency Transformation, Self-Determination
Key Words Advocacy, Belongingness, Collaboration, Inclusion, Leadership, Partnerships, Guardianship Reform, Autonomy, Self-Determination, Public Policy Systems Change, Civil Rights
Presentation Type General

3:00pm CST

"Well, THAT Will Never Work!"

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

3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin A

Parents who barrier-busted obstacles to ensure full inclusion throughout their now adult daughter's lifespan, discuss Johnâ€™s recent admission to Kathy about his lack of faith in their ability to break down those barriers. He never shared this before because he wanted to be supportive of her vision and efforts. This presentation shows how our own attitudinal barriers can be as impactful as the systemic barriers that face people who have disabilities. His thoughts eventually evolved into a paradigm shift as successes accumulated. Barrier-elimination became the norm. Alexa benefited by attending regular classes in schools, accessing needed technology, a wheelchair lift on the regular bus, skating in her chair at the ice rink, using a power beach chair, being a statistician of a girls' ice hockey team, attending college, becoming employed, owning a vehicle a home of her own, and more. Stories, steps taken, lessons learned, and how other families can do the same will be shared.

Presenters

Kathy Brill

Owner, Brill Consulting LLC

John Brill

Parent

Saturday December 7, 2024 3:00pm - 4:00pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin A Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113

Breakout Sessions

Primary Topic Community Living
Themes of Interest High Expectations
Key Words Problem-Solving, Self-Determination, Inclusion, Community Living, Parenting, Civil Rights
Presentation Type General

3:00pm CST

Dan Thompson Employment Rallies - Our History and Our Future

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

4TH Floor - Imperial 5D

Washington State upholds a tradition of promoting competitive integrated employment and community inclusion through gatherings and shared learning. In the early 2020s, traditional gatherings were disrupted, leading to the creation of The Dan Thompson Employment Rallies. These rallies reunited legacy leaders in supported employment with people with disabilities, new service providers, government and education partners. Six regional rallies and a statewide event supported full engagement, both in person and online, fostering a powerful dialogue on Employment First, led by those most impacted. Emphasizing inclusive employment, leadership and voices of people with disabilities, these events reenergized our community. Transition students played a crucial role in shaping the vision and narrative and the rallies addressed inequities, ensuring marginalized communities' needs and voices were included in statewide planning. Join us to discover the innovative rally format, themes, and next steps.

Moderators

Heather Evans

Wise

Heather Evans is rooted in the intrinsic worth of all humans, and has had the joy and privilege of working for people with I/DD and their communities for over 20 years. She joins Wise with extensive experience in Supported Employment, from developing new SE Programs, Customized Employment... Read More →

Presenters

Ryan Riggs

Wise

Larry Hill

Anthony Contreras-Sanchez

Wise

Jim Corey

Program Development Director, Wise

With nearly three decades in the disability employment sector, Jim Corey is a key leader in the Pacific Northwest and national Employment First movements for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). As Development Director at WISE, Jim has pioneered programs... Read More →

Saturday December 7, 2024 3:00pm - 4:00pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 5D Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113

Breakout Sessions

Primary Topic Employment
Themes of Interest Competitive Integrated Employment
Key Words Self-Advocates, Leadership, Inclusion, Employment First, Transition Aged Students, Equity, Systems Change, Self-Determination, Capacity Building for Inclusion
Presentation Type General

3:00pm CST

My Home, My Life, My Choice

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

4TH Floor - Imperial 10

Home ownership is often overlooked as a viable option for people with intellectual disabilities. This personal story will reflect the realities of home ownership including the challenges faced but also the positive outcomes including stability (both geographically and financially), opportunities for community connection and relationships, and real self-determination.

Presenters

Robert Tyler

KFI

LyAnn Grogan

CEO, KFI

After ten years of working in a segregated Mental Health setting as a Music Therapist at New Hampshire Hospital and serving as a member of the National Music Therapy Association’s Training Committee LyAnn found inspiration. She was inspired by KFI's mission to provide supports... Read More →

Saturday December 7, 2024 3:00pm - 4:00pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 10 Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113

Breakout Sessions

Primary Topic Community Living
Themes of Interest Housing
Key Words Self-Determination, Home Ownership, Dignity of Risk
Presentation Type General

3:00pm CST

Putting it All Together: Self-Determination, Decision-Making, Communication

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

4TH Floor - Imperial 5A

How can people with disabilities have access to a life on an equal basis with others without access to autonomy, communication and an ability to control their environment? Civil rights policy, legislation, and regulations mean very little without access to these basic principles and tools. Join us to learn how our Supported Decision-Making Project (SDM) discovered that supporting young folks to develop skills in one of these areas was mutually reinforcing in all areas. Gaining decision-making skills brings employment opportunities, greater social connections and higher self-esteem. SDM is an important component of a self-directed and self-determined life. Hear from young people with disabilities how attaining the role of â€˜decision-makerâ€™ required and relied upon the growth and development of additional skills. In addition, we will show that improvements in access to communication and other assistive technology can positively impact decision making abilities.

Presenters

Breakout Sessions

Primary Topic Transition
Themes of Interest Supported Decision-Making
Key Words Capacity Building for Inclusion, Communication Access, High Expectations, Self-Determination, Self Advocacy
Presentation Type General