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.

8:00am CST

Early Career and Doctoral Student Pre-Conference

Thursday December 5, 2024 8:00am - 12:00pm CST

4TH Floor - Imperial 5D

Early Career and Doctoral Student Pre-Conference

Katie McCabe: Introductions

8:00-8:50
TASH Through the Decades: Empowering the Future to Preserve a Legacy of Advocacy and Inclusion
Moderator: Diane Ryndak
-Fred Spooner
-Kathy Gee
-Amanda Miller
-Jessica Bacon

9:00-9:50
Navigating the Balance Between Teaching and Research
Moderator: Peg Duffie
-Natalie Andzik
-Amy Andersen
-Samantha Gross Toews

9:00-9:50
Networking, Ghosting, and Everything in Between
Moderator: Sarah Hudler
-Virginia Walker
-Jessica McQueston
-Magen Rooney-Kron
-Debbie Taub

10:00-10:50
Thriving and Surviving: Essential Strategies for Navigating the Early Years in Academia and Beyond
Moderator: Lindsay Athamanah
-Kristin Burnette
-Emily Malouf
-Alison Zagona

10:00-10:50
Shifting the Model: Centering Disabled People in Teacher Education
Moderator: Becca Heinze
-Jen Newton

11:00-11:50
How to Research What you Really Care About
Moderator: Andie Sweetman
-Kristen Lansey
-Grace Francis
-Andrea Ruppar
-Jenny Kurth

Moderators

Peg Duffie

Rebecca Heinze

University of Arizona

Sarah Hudler

The Ohio State University

Katie McCabe

Assistant Professor, Buffalo State University

Katie McCabe is an Assistant Professor in the Exceptional Education Department at Buffalo State University, with a Ph.D. in Special Education and a minor in Qualitative Research Methods from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. A former special education teacher in rural Upstate New... Read More →

Diane Ryndak

Professor, University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Andie Sweetman

Presenters

Jen Newton

Ohio University

Grace Francis

Assistant Professor, Special Education, George Mason University

Andrea Ruppar

The University of Wisconsin-Madison

I'm an Associate Professor of Special Education at University of Wisconsin-Madison. I study educational decision making for students with extensive support needs.

Jennifer Kurth

Professor, University of Kansas

Inclusive Education

Alison Zagona

Assistant Professor, University of Kansas - Department of Special Education

I am a researcher and special education teacher educator, and I am passionate about advocating for inclusive educational experiences for students with extensive support needs.

Emily Malouf

Research Scholar, Vanderbilt University

Kristen Lansey

Assistant Professor, University of Arizona

Kirsten Lansey (she/her), Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of special education. Her overarching goal is to conduct research, teaching, and service that contributes to systemic educational change so that students with complex support needs receive inclusive and equitable learning... Read More →

Kristin Burnette

Assistant Professor, East Carolina University

Fred Spooner

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 →

Kathy Gee

Professor, California State University, Sacramento

inclusive education, meaningful access to core curriculum; augmentative communication; PBIS; elementary and secondary education; resaerch

Amanda Miller

Jessica Bacon

Montclair State University

Thursday December 5, 2024 8:00am - 12:00pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 5D Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113

Meetings

8:00am CST

Early Career and Doctoral Student Pre-Conference

Thursday December 5, 2024 8:00am - 12:00pm CST

4TH Floor - Imperial 5C

Moderators

Lindsay Athamanah

Assistant Professor, University of Missouri - St. Louis

Peg Duffie

Rebecca Heinze

University of Arizona

Sarah Hudler

The Ohio State University

Katie McCabe

Assistant Professor, Buffalo State University

Diane Ryndak

Professor, University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Andie Sweetman

Presenters

Amy Andersen

Associate Professor, Winona State University

Natalie Andzik

Associate Professor, Northern Illinois University

Dr. Natalie Andzik is an Associate Professor in the Department of Special and Early Education at Northern Illinois University. Natalie's research interest grew from her experiences as a special educator in California. There, she worked with students with mild to significant disabilities... Read More →

Jessica Bacon

Montclair State University

Kristin Burnette

Assistant Professor, East Carolina University

Kathy Gee

Professor, California State University, Sacramento

inclusive education, meaningful access to core curriculum; augmentative communication; PBIS; elementary and secondary education; resaerch

Emily Malouf

Research Scholar, Vanderbilt University

Jessica McQueston

Assistant Professor, Sam Houston State University

Amanda Miller

Jen Newton

Ohio University

Magen Rooney-Kron

Assistant Professor, University of Missouri, St. Louis

Magen is an assistant professor of inclusive education at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Her research focuses on the inclusion of students with significant support needs in work-based learning experiences.

Fred Spooner

Professor, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Deborah Taub

Owner/CEO, OTL Education Solutions, LLC

Samantha Gross Toews

Assistant Professor, Cal State University Northridge

Samantha Toews is an assistant professor at California State University Northridge in the Special Education Department. She was previously a special education teacher at WISH Charter School. Her research focusses teacher preparation and professional development to promote inclusive... Read More →

Virginia Walker

Professor, UNC Charlotte

Alison Zagona

Assistant Professor, University of Kansas - Department of Special Education

I am a researcher and special education teacher educator, and I am passionate about advocating for inclusive educational experiences for students with extensive support needs.

Thursday December 5, 2024 8:00am - 12:00pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 5C Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113

Meetings

5:00pm CST

Inclusive Practices Editorial Board Meeting

Thursday December 5, 2024 5:00pm - 6:00pm CST

4TH Floor - Imperial 3 Boardroom

Presenters

Andrea Ruppar

The University of Wisconsin-Madison

I'm an Associate Professor of Special Education at University of Wisconsin-Madison. I study educational decision making for students with extensive support needs.

Jennifer Kurth

Professor, University of Kansas

Inclusive Education

Thursday December 5, 2024 5:00pm - 6:00pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 3 Boardroom Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113

Meetings

7:30am CST

Inclusive Education Community of Practice Meeting

Friday December 6, 2024 7:30am - 8:30am CST

4TH Floor - Imperial 3 Boardroom

Presenters

Mary Fisher

Professor, Lewis University

Friday December 6, 2024 7:30am - 8:30am CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 3 Boardroom Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113

Meetings

8:00am CST

New England Chapter Meet Up

Friday December 6, 2024 8:00am - 8:30am CST

4TH Floor - Imperial 4 Boardroom

Friday December 6, 2024 8:00am - 8:30am CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 4 Boardroom Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113

Meetings

11:00am CST

RPSD Senior Editorial Board Meeting

Friday December 6, 2024 11:00am - 12:00pm CST

4TH Floor - Imperial 4 Boardroom

Closed meeting for the senior editorial board members of RPSD.

Moderators

Craig Kennedy

Professor, University of Connecticut

Friday December 6, 2024 11:00am - 12:00pm CST
4TH Floor - Imperial 4 Boardroom Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113

Meetings

2:15pm CST

Community Living Community of Practice

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

4TH Floor - Reliance Boardroom

Get to know the Community Living Community of Practice. Join us for our annual get together.

Presenters

Jennifer Lengyel

Executive Director, Total Living Concept

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 →

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

Meetings

2:28pm CST

Employment Community of Practice

Friday December 6, 2024 2:28pm - 3:30pm CST

3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin D

You are invited to attend the Employment Community of Practice meeting, whether you are a member or interested in joining. The Employment CoP will discuss topics to inform the annual Work Plan aimed at improving employment rates for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and eliminating sub-minimum wages. It also selects the recipients of the Marc Gold Employment Award.

Presenters

Ruby Moore

Executive Director, Georgia Advocacy Office

Ruby Moore is the Executive Director of the Georgia Advocacy Office, the designated Protection and Advocacy System for People with Disabilities in Georgia. Ruby is nationally known for her work in the disability field over the past 45 years, particularly in the areas of employment... Read More →

Sponsors

Cesilee Coulson

Executive Director, Executive Director

Wise, founded in 1985, is a private, not for profit organization dedicated to expanding and sustaining employment opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We consult with: People with Disabilities; Families; Employment Agencies; National, State and... Read More →

Friday December 6, 2024 2:28pm - 3:30pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin D Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113

Meetings

5:30pm CST

Ohio TASH Chapter Meet Up

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

4TH Floor - Imperial 4 Boardroom

This will be an informal opportunity to meet others from Ohio and learn about our state chapter. Come and talk about your interests and concerns. Let's explore ways to strengthen our connections and efforts to promote inclusion in Ohio.

Presenters

Kathy Hulgin

University of Cincinnati Clermont College

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

Meetings

7:30am CST

Early Career Research Network Business Meeting

Saturday December 7, 2024 7:30am - 8:30am CST

2ND Floor - Foster 1

This meeting is for Early Career Researchers, including doctoral students and early career faculty, who would like to connect about promoting the values of TASH through research and teaching. During the meeting, the ECRN will share updates about the previous year and have time to network. All are welcome!

Moderators

Megan Carpenter

Katie McCabe

Assistant Professor, Buffalo State University

Saturday December 7, 2024 7:30am - 8:30am CST
2ND Floor - Foster 1 Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113

Meetings

8:00am CST

TASH Business Meeting

Saturday December 7, 2024 8:00am - 8:30am CST

3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin D & E

Presenters

Michael Brogioli

Executive Director, TASH

Michael J. Brogioli joined TASH to serve as Executive Director in October, 2021. Michael (Mike) brings over twenty years of senior management experience in the nonprofit sector including past leadership positions as executive director of the Autism Coalition for Research and Education... Read More →

Saturday December 7, 2024 8:00am - 8:30am CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin D & E Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113

Meetings

4:15pm CST

Advocacy Around the World: Fionnathan Productions

Saturday December 7, 2024 4:15pm - 5:15pm CST

3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin A

An opportunity to meet and engage with Fionn & Jonathan Angus, who are Citizen Network Global Ambassadors and who will be panelists at the Saturday afternoon General Session on Advocacy Around the World; Fionnathan Productions "exists to have fun and change the world, to trouble our understanding of ability, to reveal superstars in our midst, and to prove that, in fact, we are people we've been waiting for."

Presenters

Fionn & Jonathan Angus

Co-CEOs, Fionnathan Productions

Saturday December 7, 2024 4:15pm - 5:15pm CST
3RD Floor - Ballroom: Celestin A Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113

Meetings

Primary Topic Self-Advocacy
Key Words Self-Advocates