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.
Parenting, or the act of caring for a very young child, is a social occupation that, initially is a survival mechanism for the child. Parent and child are interdependent in a way unlike any other relationship. Parenting a child with extensive support needs adds an extensive layer to this relationship with the adult taking on multiple additional roles in a day. Because of this, the majority of time spent together is working towards a goal leaving little time for the parent to engage with their child just for the sake of doing together. Through examples from a case study, I argue that there is value in non-goal oriented doing for children with extensive support needs and their caregivers. Cherishing children with extensive support needs as their whole complete human selves is important and leads to stronger relationships, communication and meaningful engagement. By doing together for the sake of doing, structures and spaces allow for opportunities to grow belong and do.
