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.
Service providers frequently struggle with limited time and money to create needed assistive technology solutions. This session will discuss and demonstrate over 100 assistive technology solutions that can be created in minutes using the “…ABLE†principles: adjustable, portable, collapsible, reusable, affordable, repurpose, full, washable, repositionable, and more. Discover new and amazing tools, materials, and techniques for rapid creation of assistive technology solutions to support full and inclusive school and community participation.
This presentation will explore the transformative potential of AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot in enhancing the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities. We will demonstrate practical applications of these tools in the workplace, such as improving communication, streamlining tasks, and fostering independence. Additionally, we will discuss how AI can support personal life activities, from managing daily routines to accessing information and learning new skills. Attendees will gain insights into integrating AI technologies to promote autonomy, efficiency, and overall quality of life for individuals with developmental disabilities. Join us to discover innovative strategies for integrating AI to support and empower individuals with developmental disabilities.
Customer Service Relations, Washington State DSHS/DDA
I have been working at DDA for 28 years, and I am a life-long advocate for disability rights. In 2002, I was appointed by President Bush for the President's Committee on Developmental Disabilities where I advocated to change the name of the Committee to use respectful language and... Read More →
In this engaging presentation, presenters will discuss past research on writing instruction for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and describe two recent studies on the effectiveness of an intervention package including constant time delay, sentence frames, and technology-assisted instruction on: (a) writing within a shared story reading and (b) small group writing instruction for students with IDD. Additionally, we will provide teachers with writing examples that can be implemented in their classrooms without the need for additional funding.
Professor, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Fred Spooner is Professor of Special Education at UNC Charlotte. Dr. Spooner has researched and written about instructional strategies for students with severe disabilities since the 1980s. Recently, he has focused on alternate assessment and linking both assessment and instruction... Read More →
Technology to support individuals with intensive support needs is exploding in development and innovation. Based on interviews and conversations with teacher candidates, cooperating teachers, university supervisors, and parents of students with significant disabilities, dissemination of information and current awareness of the application of innovative technology was assessed. A program was designed to provide current information and resources/skills to stay up-to-date with the valuable assistive technologies and artificial intelligence supports.
Schools play a critical role in providing access and to supporting youth's knowledge and skills related to using technology to participate in digital spaces. However, research indicates youth with disabilities, particularly those with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), access and use technology less and have less access to digital citizenship training opportunities. This presentation will discuss a collaboratively developed curriculum we designed to:
(a) expand preservice special education teachers' knowledge of digital citizenship; (b) improve their ability to teach digital citizenship skills and make that instruction accessible; and, (c) integrate digital citizenship skills in both individualized education programs and transition plans.
Friday December 6, 2024 5:45pm - 7:15pm CST
Storyville HallHyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
It is widely understood that communication in the 21st century involves the use of technology for a wide range of communication tasks and interactions. The use of email, texting, and other forms of digital communication is essential for participation in society. This is true for everyone in society whether you communicate by speaking or by other forms of communication such as augmentative/alternative communication (AAC). Effective communication in these different environments requires a variety of technologies that in the case of people who use augmentative/alternative communication (AAC users) need to be individualized to their specific access needs. Gaining access to the right technology and support to use it is often not an easy process and requires ongoing advocacy to ensure success. This presentation will focus on the stories of several AAC users who have used technology successfully for communication.
Education and Communication Specialist, PC Communication Supports
I currently work for the Howard Center in Burlington, Vermont as an educational and communication specialist, providing training and consultation in the areas of augmentative/alternative communication, assistive technology and literacy for children and adults with developmental disabilities... Read More →
Saturday December 7, 2024 8:45am - 9:45am CST
Imperial 5CHyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
Autistic individuals are more likely to have co-occurring health conditions and experience a cascade of health disparities compared to those who are not autistic. While ample research continues to be conducted to decrease disparities, it often is done without the input from autistic individuals. In this qualitative study, we interviewed 15 autistic adults to explore how a healthcare services app could be adapted for autistic adults. Overall, participants agreed that a healthcare services app specific to autistic adults could be beneficial. In addition, participants provided feedback on the types of healthcare services, filter options, and software features in the app. Implications for research and practice will be discussed.