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.

1:00pm CST

Emergent Leadership, You are the Leader You’ve Been Waiting For!

Thursday December 5, 2024 1:00pm - 5:00pm CST

Imperial 5A

Who is the leader you are looking for. In this session, we hope to turn that question on its head. â€œHow do we encourage others to be courageous and embrace their leadershipâ€ As supportive leaders, we can nurture a culture of kindness and connectedness that creates a fertile ground for people to build relationships and step into their own leadership roles with confidence. Are there ways for us to build up others in ways that empower them to challenge the status quo? Is there way to build a culture where courage isnâ€™t needed? Where people just do â€œthe next right thingâ€? How does privilege impact leadership? Have we set up a culture that allows for everyone to be able to bring issues to light? How do we make space for relationships that allow marginalized people to be able to grow and exercise leadership? Please join us for a very interactive session with lots of conversation and fun. We will explore what qualities of a leader are and define the kind of leaders we want and need.

Moderators

Sheldon Schwitek

Co-Founder/ Consultant, In the Company of Others

Sheldon Schwitek has been supporting individuals with complex behavioural needs in the United Statesb and in Canada for over decades. He was introduced to the founding members of the Marsha Forest Center in 1990 and became a facilitator of the person-centered processes of MAPS, PATH... Read More →

Presenters

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 →

Jodie Benvie

Support Coordinator, KFI

Thursday December 5, 2024 1:00pm - 5:00pm CST
Imperial 5A Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113

Day One Intensives

Primary Topic Community Living
Themes of Interest Capacity Building for Inclusion
Key Words Inclusion, Self-Direction, Community, Support-Brokerage, Person-Centered
Presentation Type Research

4:35pm CST

Community Conversations: A Tool for Campus Collaboration, Inclusion and Action

Friday December 6, 2024 4:35pm - 5:30pm CST

Imperial 11

One complexity of inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE) programming is fostering campus-wide collaboration to enhance inclusion. In response to this, the Office of Inclusive Postsecondary Education (OIPE) at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, has adapted and employed the World Cafe Model as a formidable tool to facilitate community conversations. The World Cafe Model brings together stakeholders to explore a current barrier, elicit solutions, and potential action steps. During this presentation, OIPE will describe how they facilitate these community conversations, ensure inclusive representation, and share outcomes of key community conversations around employment, academic engagement, and inclusive practices in Title IX and Conduct processes on campus.

Presenters

April Regester

Department Chair, Associate Professor - Inclusive Education, University of Missouri, St. Louis

Friday December 6, 2024 4:35pm - 5:30pm CST
Imperial 11 Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113

Breakout Sessions

Primary Topic Inclusive Education
Themes of Interest Post-Secondary Education
Key Words Inclusive, Post-Secondary Education, Community, Conversations, Collaboration
Presentation Type General

4:35pm CST

Effective Transition Planning for Employment and Independence

Friday December 6, 2024 4:35pm - 5:30pm CST

Imperial 5D

This presentation offers evidence-based solutions to bridge the significant gap between current practices and best practices in transition planning for adult independence, job skills, self-advocacy, technology, and post-secondary education. By adopting a growth mindset with strengths-based approach to student-centered transition planning, schools can effectively implement the practical steps detailed in our Transition Matrix. Steps are designed to enhance potential for personal fulfillment, employment, financial stability, independence, and community integration. Participants will receive a comprehensive road map for transition planning. Willâ€™s personal journey from school to employment is a powerful testament to the impact of supportive interventions. His experience underscores challenges students face in being recognized as productive members of society. With tools and supports from LSU PAYCheck program, Will successfully secured competitively integrated employment.

Presenters

Tracy O'Donnell

Louisiana UCEDD

Friday December 6, 2024 4:35pm - 5:30pm CST
Imperial 5D Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113

Breakout Sessions

Primary Topic Transition
Themes of Interest Transition to Employment
Key Words Equity, Inclusion, Opportunity, Post-Secondary Education, Competitive Integrated Employment, Transition, Person-Centered, Strengths-Based Approach, Growth Mindset, Community
Presentation Type General

5:45pm CST

Parent Cafes: Space to Connect for Complex Care Family Caregivers

Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST

Storyville Hall

Parents and caregivers of children with medical complexities (CMC) and adults with intellectual or developmental disability (AIDD) report feelings of isolation and loneliness, with difficulty in finding and engaging mitigating social supports. Parent Cafes, developed by Be Strong Families, is a model with evaluative proof that participant families improve strength and resilience. Cafes create a safe and supportive environment where participants come together to share experiences, joys, and concerns. The Indiana Complex Care Coordination Collaborative (IC4) developed, implemented, and evaluated monthly statewide virtual parent-led cafes focusing on empowering families to connect in community, learn about resources, and increase protective factors.

Presenters

Erika Thomison

Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
Storyville Hall Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113

Poster Presentations

Primary Topic Diversity and Social Impact
Themes of Interest Family Support
Key Words Caregiver, Social Connection, Support, Community, Resource Network, Empowerment

11:15am CST

Where I Belong: Cora's Story

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

Imperial 5C

This presentation will present the methods and findings from a case study that explored the phenomenon of belonging from the perspective of Cora, a school-aged child with an intellectual disability and significant support needs. Findings from the study illuminated how Cora's microsystem influence her sense of belonging in the school, neighborhood, and her community.

Presenters

Alexandra Raines

Saturday December 7, 2024 11:15am - 12:15pm CST
Imperial 5C Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113

Breakout Sessions

Primary Topic Inclusive Education
Themes of Interest K-12 Education
Key Words Belonging, Inclusion, School-Aged, Community
Presentation Type Research