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

3:25pm CST

Empowering My Voice: Self-Advocacy and Transition Triumphs

Friday December 6, 2024 3:25pm - 4:20pm CST

Imperial 10

In this presentation, Gage Perryman talks about his life and how he learned to stand up for himself and make big decisions. Gage has disabilities, but that doesnâ€™t stop him from going to college and getting involved in activities that help his community and other individuals with disabilities across the state of Minnesota and beyond. He has navigated the complexities of transitioning into adulthood, leveraging self-advocacy skills, participating in inclusive higher education and state-wide community advocacy initiatives, and presenting at national conferences. In this talk, he will dive into the strategies, challenges, and successes he has encountered along the way, sharing useful tips and inspirational stories so that listeners feel able to make their own communities better and more welcoming for everyone. It's a talk about finding your voice, overcoming challenges, and making a difference within your community.

Presenters

Jennifer Sommerness

Researcher, TIES Center, UMN, Minneapolis, MN

Jennifer Sommerness is a distinguished educator and researcher at the TIES Center, at the University of Minnesota. Known for her dedication to inclusive education and student success, and a profound commitment to educational equity, Jennifer has played a role in shaping the landscape... Read More →

Gage Perryman

Gage Gives Back

Friday December 6, 2024 3:25pm - 4:20pm CST
Imperial 10 Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113

Breakout Sessions

Primary Topic Self-Advocacy
Themes of Interest Self-Determination
Key Words Transition, Inclusive, Higher Education, Post-Secondary Outcomes, Person-Centered, Planning, Supported Decision-Making, Belonging, Inclusion
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

4:35pm CST

How Does Self-Determination Help Me?

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

Imperial 5B

This presentation will examine the HCBS Waiver Final Rule and the services and supports that people with disabilities can use to create a fully inclusive life. Concepts of Self-Determination will be discussed with an emphasis on how the theory translates into real life planning for full integration into the community.

Presenters

Areta Guthrey

Disability Information Network

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

Breakout Sessions

Primary Topic Community Living
Themes of Interest Self-Determination
Key Words Self-Determination, Integration Independence, Person-Centered, Advocacy
Presentation Type General

5:45pm CST

South Dakota Developmental Disabilities Study: Supporting Families

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

Storyville Hall

A&M partnered with South Dakota to assess the Family Support 360 waiver and the Shared Living component of the CHOICES waiver, and to issue recommendations to maximize impact of these programs in helping to support South Dakotans with I/DD in the most interdependent settings possible. We worked with South Dakota Department of Human services to create a trajectory for the vision for developmental disabilities services. We used the Charting the LifeCourse trajectory tool to map out what was important for both people and their families, and the system. We started with the end in mind: the vision for DD services in South Dakota. Then, we partnered together to identify steps along the path to realizing the vision, including pitfalls to avoid.

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

Poster Presentations

Primary Topic Community Living
Themes of Interest Family Support
Key Words Supporting-Families, HCBS, Waiver, Person-Centered