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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Inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE) is now a transitional opportunity for many students with intellectual/developmental disabilities. ThinkCollege, a national technical assistance, research, and evaluation center dedicated to developing, expanding, and improving higher education options for students with intellectual disability, now recognizes over 325 programs across the United States that provide these educational experiences. Transitioning to college from an IEP supported K-12 experience, students and families strive to engage in valued ways in higher education by finding the right fit of program for the interests and desires of the potential students and their families. Getting it "right" by preparing well during high school, growing in autonomous ways and developing a growth mindset are key. This session celebrates evidence of effectiveness for IPSE enfleshed with the experiences of a family and its members who qualify for IPSE sharing their preparation strategies.
Self-advocacy and participation in student clubs and organizations for students with IDD in inclusive postsecondary education is vital to their experience, just as it is for college students without IDD. However, with the historically recent inclusion of students with IDD in postsecondary education, our knowledge of campus involvement, particularly in student government, is limited. The purpose of this session is to give voice to a student with and a student without IDD to share their experiences working together to create meaningful change and documented gains in access for students with IDD on a large Southern public four-year campus. This session hopes to empower participants with key skills and information to support students with IDD to get involved, engaged, and included on their campuses.
Students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (or IDD) have most recently been welcomed into the halls of institutions of higher education (or IHEs) thanks in part to the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008. As the research agenda begins to blossom, the most critical voices to include are those of the students entering the halls of IHEs – students with IDD. Two students enrolled in an IPSE at a major IHE in the southeastern United States will lead a discussion on their experience, what they have learned on their college campus, and how they apply their experiences in inclusive spaces daily. The conversation will cover academics, employment, independent living, community access, and recreation/leisure activities. Participants should be prepared for a fun, lively, and engaging conversation with students!