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.

10:00am CST

30+ Years of Self-Advocacy: Sharing Successes, Strategies and Stories

Thursday December 5, 2024 10:00am - 12:00pm CST

Celestin Ballroom: Celestin H

Join Project ACTION!, DCâ€™s self-advocacy coalition, to explore successful advocacy strategies to ensure your voice is heard as you advocate to shape the services you receive, in your relationships, to get high-quality healthcare, in your workplace, and to create partnerships. Using their 30+ years of experience, Project ACTION! members will engage participants in discussions, role plays and leadership training activities using strategies they found useful so people can represent their own interests and the interests of others. Project ACTION! members will share their experiences working with advisors and serving on over 30 boards, committees and workgroups focused on systems change, human rights and policy development. In this interactive session, learn how to identify decision-making boards on which you want to be represented, lead your individual service planning meeting, advocate for the support you might need to effectively serve on boards, recruit members and allies, and more.

Moderators

Rebecca Salon

Presenters

Thelma Green

Treasurer, Project ACTION!

Thelma Green is the Treasurer and Past Co-President of Project ACTION!, the District’s self-advocacy coalition of adults with developmental disabilities. Green is a strong self-advocate who has trained locally and across the country on a variety of topics including supported decision-making... Read More →

Leonard Stevens

Project ACTION!

Vanessa Monroe

Executive Member, Project ACTION!

Vanessa Monroe is a District of Columbia resident and Project ACTION! member. Vanessa is also a talented artist who works of out Art Enables studios in Washington, DC. She has sold many of her art pieces. She is also a strong self-advocate and speaks up for issues that are of... Read More →

Lindsey Wilkes

Project ACTION!

Ricardo Thornton

Executive Member, Project ACTION!

Donna Thornton is a strong self-advocate and presenter. She worked for over 30 years at the National Institutes of Health and retired in 2018. She is a passionate mentor to people new to self-advocacy. She believes everyone should have the right and supports to pursue a career... Read More →

Thomas Mangrum

Co-President, Project ACTION!

Thomas Mangrum, Jr., is a strong communicator and self-advocate who is passionate about helping others to be the best they can be. He loves learning new information and sharing it with other self-advocates, his friends and neighbors. He is an excellent presenter having trained locally... Read More →

Thursday December 5, 2024 10:00am - 12:00pm CST
Celestin Ballroom: Celestin H Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113

Day One Intensives

Primary Topic Self-Advocacy
Themes of Interest Self-Determination
Key Words Self-Advocacy, Empowerment, Self-Determination, Rights, Relationships

2:30pm CST

Supporting Employment with Dignity Through First-Hand Experience

Friday December 6, 2024 2:30pm - 4:30pm CST

Celestin Ballroom E

Nick Sampson has been working at Home Depot for over 17 years. He has had worked hard to find and maintain that employment. Mr. Sampson has had various experiences being supported both positively and also in ways that could be considered, offensive, demeaning, and dehumanizing. We want to share his first-hand experience and use his perspective to discuss how impactful the DSP/Person supported relationship can be and what steps we can take to generate best-outcomes for people we support.

Presenters

Ari Gleicher

Makom

Friday December 6, 2024 2:30pm - 4:30pm CST
Celestin Ballroom E Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113

TASH Talks

Primary Topic Human Rights
Themes of Interest Self-Determination
Key Words Self-Determination, Human Rights, Dignity, Respect, Employment Supports

4:35pm CST

20-Years of Advocacy: Federally Regulating Restraint and Seclusion in Schools

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

Celestin Ballroom: Celestin A

This presentation provides findings from a qualitative document analysis study that examined 20 years of national advocacy documents focused on protecting children from the misuse of restraint and seclusion in U.S. schools. A systematic search resulted in the identification of 35 national advocacy documents. We used a qualitative inductive coding approach to identify themes across education, law, and policy issues, as well as, accounts of child abuse resulting from the misuse of restraint and seclusion in U.S. schools. Our findings bring attention to human rights and IDEA violations in U.S. schools and current challenges at the national level to protect children from the misuse of restraint and seclusion through federal legislation. Attendees will learn to (a) recognize the misuse of restraint and seclusion; (b) impacts on the safety of students, (c) resulting educational, law, and policy issues, (d) proposed federal legislation, and (e) ways to advocate for the protection of students.

Presenters

Sarah Ballard

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

Breakout Sessions

Primary Topic Human Rights
Themes of Interest Public Policy
Key Words Advocacy, Restraint, Seclusion, Human Rights, Federal Legislation
Presentation Type Research

4:35pm CST

Neurodiversity Advisory: Advancing Affirming Practice within TASH

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

Celestin Ballroom: Celestin B

Sparked at the 2022 TASH Conference, the Neurodiversity Advisory has been actively meeting and exploring neurodiversity and what it means for TASH. In this session, we will share resources like updated Terms and Definitions and Elements of Neurodiversity Affirming Practice. We will provide an update on what we're learning related to neurodiversity and ABA. Using the resources developed and insights gained through the work of the Advisory, participants will explore proposed recommendations for TASH to embrace neurodiversity and advance neurodiversity-affirming practice.

Moderators

Michael McSheehan

Owner/TA Provider, Evolve & Effect, LLC

Michael McSheehan’s life work has been at the intersection of disability and K-12 education. During his twenty years at the University of New Hampshire, he worked on projects for assistive technology, inclusive education, alternate assessment, RTI & PBIS, and MTSS. Michael helped... Read More →

Presenters

Deborah Taub

Owner/CEO, OTL Education Solutions, LLC

Mary Fisher

Leah Kelley

I am Leah Kelley, EdD, (she/her) an education consultant, writer, activist, parent, and teacher educator, who identifies as Neurodivergent and otherwise disabled. My research interests include connecting disability studies in education (DSE) to educational practice, strength-based... Read More →

Jean Gonsier-Gerdin

Professor, Teaching Credentials-Special Education, California State University, Sacramento

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

Breakout Sessions

Primary Topic Human Rights
Themes of Interest Discrimination & Ableism
Key Words Ableism, Neurodiversity, Affirming, Rights
Presentation Type General

11:15am CST

Voice is A Civil Right!!!!!

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

Foster 1

We all agree that communication and the ability to communicate is an essential part of our lives. Everyone communicates somehow. Too often with people with disabilities we hear staff say "I understand what they mean" or "When he/she does this, I know it means that" However, all too often we as support/advocates stop there and do not encourage the person to increase their communication so that others can understand also. What we need to understand is when people do not have communication/a voice that is understood by many they are vulnerable and at risk for abuse, exploitation, segregation and institutionalization. As providers, advocate and supporters, it is our responsibility to support people to develop and grow their voice and use it to advocate for themselves. We as providers, supporters and advocates cannot remain the interpreters and voices for others. We are exploring ways to support people to develop their voices and be their own advocates.

Presenters

Jennifer Lengyel

Executive Director, Total Living Concept

Saturday December 7, 2024 11:15am - 12:15pm CST
Foster 1 Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113

Breakout Sessions

Primary Topic Communication Access
Themes of Interest Other
Key Words Communication, Civil Rights, Person Centered
Presentation Type General

3:00pm CST

Neurodiversity Advisory: Grappling with Implications for Practice

Saturday December 7, 2024 3:00pm - 4:00pm CST

Imperial 5C

The TASH Neurodiversity Advisory has created a resource articulating the Elements of Neurodiversity Affirming Practice. In this session, participants will use the Elements resource to reflect on current issues in education, employment, communication access, human rights, and community living. We will explore what our practice looks like and doesn't look like when we embrace neurodiversity and advance neurodiversity-affirming practice.

Moderators

Michael McSheehan

Owner/TA Provider, Evolve & Effect, LLC

Presenters

Deborah Taub

Owner/CEO, OTL Education Solutions, LLC

Mary Fisher

Leah Kelley

Amy Hanreddy

Robyn Reagan

Villa Esperanza Services

Jean Gonsier-Gerdin

Professor, Teaching Credentials-Special Education, California State University, Sacramento

Saturday December 7, 2024 3:00pm - 4:00pm CST
Imperial 5C Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113

Breakout Sessions

Primary Topic Human Rights
Themes of Interest Discrimination & Ableism
Key Words Ableism, Neurodiversity, Affirming, Rights
Presentation Type General

3:00pm CST

Self-Advocacy and Health Relationships

Saturday December 7, 2024 3:00pm - 4:00pm CST

Celestin Ballroom: Celestin C

So many things touch our lives as self-advocates. Members of Project ACTION!, DCâ€™s self-advocacy coalition, have learned that we can accomplish so much more when we work with partners. We are stronger together. In this session, you will get to hear from several members who have participated in a collaboration to ensure people with disabilities can get the access they need to be in healthy, safe relationships. Hear about the trainings they created and shared with other self-advocates to decide how they would be in relationships they choose, not their coordinator or manager. In this interactive session, presenters will talk about their experiences, what they have learned about getting the "love" they want, with audience discussio

Saturday December 7, 2024 3:00pm - 4:00pm CST
Celestin Ballroom: Celestin C Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113

Breakout Sessions

Primary Topic Self-Advocacy
Themes of Interest Relationships & Sexuality
Key Words Relationships, Self-Advocacy, Person Centered, Rights, Sexuality, LGBTQ
Presentation Type General