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.

9:00am CST

Person Centered Planning and Website Portfolios in Action

Thursday December 5, 2024 9:00am - 12:00pm CST

2ND Floor - Foster 2

Are you feeling stuck? Are you looking for new tools to expand possibility for students & job seekers? This workshop offers hands-on practice using Person Centered Planning tools to develop Website Portfolios for students & job seekers. The goal is to get unstuck, here's how. We'll start with the best practice of Person Centered Planning. Attendees will practice using tools to expand on skills and contributions, integrating a strengths-based approach. We will dig deep to develop strategies for success in education and employment, and then think creatively about new possibilities.

Next, we'll explore how to use the information effectively. The second half of the workshop dives into creating website portfolios, which are dynamic resumes and marketing tools showcasing skills, experiences, and achievements. Attendees will set up accounts on Wix Tomorrow, a free platform for educators, and explore tools and editor functions, including generative AI, to develop a sample website. So kick off TASH with us and let the good times roll!

Check out some sample website portfolios below:
Roshini's Website Portfolio
Hasen's Website Portfolio

Presenters

Alison DeYoung

Training & Technical Assistance Manager, Wise

Alison DeYoung has worked in the field of transition and employment since 2008 in various roles as a direct support provider, job developer and special education teacher. She worked as the Lead Instructor of Campus Life with Project FOCUS at the University of Arizona, a model demonstration... Read More →

Katherine Titus

Senior TA and Training Manager, Wise

I am interested in talking with people about efforts to dismantle ableist systems, Nothing About Us Without Us efforts, my cats, and college football.

Thursday December 5, 2024 9:00am - 12:00pm CST
2ND Floor - Foster 2 Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113

Day 1 Intensive Workshops

Primary Topic Employment
Themes of Interest Technology
Key Words Person-Centered Planning, Employment, Autonomy, Transition, Capacity Building
Presentation Type General

2:15pm CST

Celebrate Together: Empowering Transitions with Student-Led IEPs!

Friday December 6, 2024 2:15pm - 3:10pm CST

3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin B

In this presentation, we advocate for student-led Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for transition-age adults with intellectual disabilities (ages 18-21). Transitioning from school to adulthood is critical, and empowering these individuals to participate in their IEPs is essential. Research highlights the importance of self-determination, self-advocacy, and engagement for better outcomes in education, employment, and independent living. Our approach includes providing direct instruction for self-advocacy skills, fostering collaboration between students, families, educators, and community agencies, and enhancing communication to improve participation. The presentation includes a student from a post-secondary transition program who adopted a person-centered IEP approach.

Moderators

Graciela Copes

Presenters

Huaiyue Zhang

Talisa Bates

Friday December 6, 2024 2:15pm - 3:10pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin B Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113

Breakout Sessions

Primary Topic Transition, Self-Advocacy
Themes of Interest Self-Determination, Person Centered Practice
Key Words Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), Collaboration, Person-Centered Planning, Self-Determination, Transition to Adulthood, IEP, Transition, Advocacy, Empowerment
Presentation Type Research, General

2:15pm CST

Comparing Literacy Programs for Non-speaking Students with Extensive Support Needs

Friday December 6, 2024 2:15pm - 3:10pm CST

2ND Floor - Foster 2

In this pilot randomized controlled trial, we tested two reading curricula designed to teach early literacy skills to nonspeaking studentsâ€”Early Literacy Skills Builder and Accessible Literacy Learning. Twenty-four participants were randomized to an ELSB, ALL, or control group, and we measured outcomes for all groups at 4 time points for phonological awareness, alphabet knowledge, and word reading. We used growth curve modeling to analyze our data. We found statistically significant effects for both ELSB and ALL compared to the control group on some outcomes, although ELSB outperformed ALL on most measures. We will report on effects of each intervention relative to each other and a control group, and share practical implications for practitioners.

Moderators

Matthew Brock

Associate Professor, Ohio State University

Matt Brock has two major lines of research including (1) inclusion and peer-mediated intervention for students with significant disabilities, and (2) coaching paraprofessionals to implement evidence-based practices. He currently is implementing a large-scale federally-funded efficacy... Read More →

Presenters

Sarah Hudler

The Ohio State University

Kate Anderson

Graduate Student, The Ohio State University

Kaitlyn Viera

Doctoral Candidate, Ohio State University

Sara Martin

Ohio State University

Jenna Hurlburt

The Ohio State University

Friday December 6, 2024 2:15pm - 3:10pm CST
2ND Floor - Foster 2 Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113

Breakout Sessions

Primary Topic Transition, Inclusive Education
Themes of Interest Self-Determination, K-12 Education
Key Words Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), Collaboration, Person-Centered Planning, Self-Determination, Transition to Adulthood, Early Literacy, Complex Communication Needs
Presentation Type Research

2:15pm CST

Empowering Voices: Participation of Youth Using AAC in Transition Planning

Friday December 6, 2024 2:15pm - 3:10pm CST

4TH Floor - Imperial 5C

Person-centered transition planning empowers people with disabilities to take charge of their goals for the futureâ€” fostering self-determination and meaningful outcomes. However, little is known about the extent to which educators involve youth in transition planning when youth are unable to use speech to be heard and understood. Our research team has been engaging in research focused on understanding the involvement of youth who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) in transition planning. We interviewed youth who use AAC, their parents, their special education teachers, and their speech-language pathologists about their experiences. Key findings highlight the challenges youth face and the support needed from each stakeholder in the transition planning process. Participants will gain powerful insight into these first-hand experiences and will also leave with ideas about the changes needed in practice to empower youth voices in their own transition planning.

Moderators

Elizabeth Biggs

Assistant Professor, Vanderbilt University

Elizabeth E. Biggs, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Special Education at Vanderbilt University and a member of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center. Her work focuses on promoting social, communication, language, and literacy outcomes for children and youth with autism... Read More →

Presenters

Allison Cole

Vanderbilt University, Peabody College

Megan Best

PhD Student in Special Education, University of Illinois Urbana-Champagin

Friday December 6, 2024 2:15pm - 3:10pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 5C Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113

Breakout Sessions

Primary Topic Transition
Themes of Interest Self-Determination
Key Words Transition to Adulthood, Self-Determination, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), Collaboration, Person-Centered Planning
Presentation Type Research

11:15am CST

Creating Student-Designed Space For Non-Speaking/Minimally-Speaking Learners

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

3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin E

Nonspeaking and minimally-speaking learners are among the most marginalized students in school settings. Historically, students without spoken communication have been segregated to self-contained learning environments that offer students little to no choice in their education. While families and advocates still routinely have to fight for access, inclusion, and equity in schools, communities like ours have come together to build learning environments that meet the expressed needs of our nonspeaking and minimally-speaking students. By listening to and learning from these individuals, Reach Every Voice has designed multiple learning environments that our students describe as â€œa space created with disability celebrated [that] feels like a friendâ€™s hug folding me in its warmth.â€ This presentation explores how communities around the nation have successfully designed learning environments driven by the voiced desires of their nonspeaking and minimally-speaking students.

Moderators

Lisa Mihalich Quinn

Executive Director, Reach Every Voice

Lisa Mihalich Quinn, M.A / M.Ed. is a licensed special educator with more than 15 years of experience making academic content accessible for neurodiverse students and learners who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). She is a former Maryland Public Schools teacher... Read More →

Presenters

Anne Butler

Communication /teacher, Reach Every Voice

Over the last few decades, Anne has had a diversity of opportunities as a special educator in elementary and secondary settings. She has also worked at the Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education (MCIE) to further inclusion for all students. For over a decade, Anne worked as a... Read More →

Ingrid Ventura Ellis

Reach Every Voice

Nicholas Barry

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

Breakout Sessions

Primary Topic Community Living
Themes of Interest Autonomy
Key Words Augmentative & Alternative Communication, Student-Directed Learning, Presuming Competence, Person-Centered Planning, Self-Advocacy
Presentation Type General