A basic overview of working with Deaf and Hard of Hearing adults who are using post-secondary programs to transition into employment and a brief overview of the benefits of using a schedule A letter to obtain federal employment.
Learning Outcomes
- Understanding when to encourage clients to obtain an schedule A letter.
- How to encourage students to utilize the Disability Resource Center when working with the university’s Career Centers
- How students should be utilizing the last six months of school to seek employment and develop a plan with their VR counselor to be able to be fully employed by the time they graduate.
This presentation will focus on individuals with disabilities who encountered the criminal justice system. It will explore the issues involves and look at some promising programs that are being tried around the country.
“Apple provides many great accessibility settings in their iOS devices. Some AAC apps have built-in accessibility settings as well. This hands-on session will compare and contrast the adjustments which are available in iOS and the PRC-Saltillo AAC apps. The course also examines tool-use learning for AAC, using the Assessment of Learning Process (ALP) framework. Clinicians will gain insights into alternative access evaluation and strategy development through interprofessional collaboration.
Discussions cover assessment, teaching strategies, and adjustments to enhance communication, addressing movement disorders and vision-related issues. Audience participation includes reviewing videos and clinical strategies. This course equips participants with practical approaches to optimize AAC access and communication effectiveness using iOS.”
Learning Outcomes
- Identify the three stages and eight phases of the ALP for AAC.
- Explain three considerations in assessing a client’s level of AAC access proficiency.
- Contrast the iOS accessibility settings with the app-specific access settings.
Resource room teachers wear many hats, acting as educators, problem-solvers, and support systems for students and staff alike. This session will explore best practices for managing the diverse responsibilities of a resource teacher, including scheduling, small and large group instruction, social skills development, teacher collaboration, assistive technology support, behavior plan implementation, and crisis response. Creativity is the key to balancing it all, and technology plays a crucial role in making it possible. From digital tools to innovative strategies, resource teachers can leverage technology to streamline tasks and enhance student learning. Join us to discuss how creativity and tech-savvy solutions make the resource room a hub of support and success for all.
Learning Outcomes
- Leverage Technology for Efficiency and Accessibility – Attendees will explore how technology can streamline scheduling, data collection, and instructional delivery, making resource room responsibilities more manageable and effective.
- Foster Creativity in Problem-Solving – Educators will develop innovative strategies to adapt to the ever-changing demands of the resource room, ensuring flexibility in teaching, collaboration, and student support.
- Enhance Collaboration with General Education Teachers – Participants will gain strategies to effectively support classroom teachers through accommodations, modifications, and assistive technology integration, fostering inclusive education.
- Learning Outcome 4
Develop Proactive Behavior Support Strategies – Educators will leave with tools to create and implement individualized behavior plans that promote student success and a positive learning environment.
In the US Surgeon General's report Parents Under Pressure, he states that "studies point to a complex interplay of bidirectional effects where parental mental health can influence child outcomes". We know that caregivers raising children with disabilities have increased rates of stress, depression, and anxiety. They live with PTSD-like symptoms and many have suicidal ideations. These mental health stressors have downstream consequences for their child. Children with disabilities experience higher rates of abuse, neglect, and abandonment. So how do we break this cycle? We do it by improving our care for caregivers.
Care 4 the Caregivers conducted an evidence-based study and showed that our cohort program improved the quality of life of caregivers, strengthened parent/child relationships, and improved the quality of life of their child.
Learning Outcomes
- Understand the stressors caregivers experience
- Learn about the various aspects of our evidence-based study
- Discover what changes your organizations can make to improve the quality of life of your caregivers
Traditional models of support often focus on deficits, but the Independent Living Initiative (ILI) takes a different approach—one that centers occupational therapy, creativity, and self-determination. This session will explore how an OT-led, strengths-based framework empowers adults with developmental disabilities to shape their own independent living experiences.
Grounded in disability justice, ILI reimagines habilitation services by valuing each individual as a whole person, not just a set of needs to be managed. Through adaptable skill-building, meaningful environmental modifications, and collaborative problem-solving, this model supports autonomy in ways that are flexible and person-driven. Attendees will gain insight into how shifting from a compliance-based system to a strengths-based, OT-centered approach fosters true independence, dignity, and personal agency.
Learning Outcomes
- Learners will identify practical strengths based approaches to areas of growth and independence.
- Learners will identify the role of occupational therapy within disability supports.
Learn what is included in the IEP transition planning process which takes place when student is in 9th grade. Explore the student’s identified strengths, preferences and interests. Discover the intent and purpose of post-secondary transition and every component of the plan. We will also cover what a Summary of Performance and Education and Career Action Plans (ECAP) are and when they are completed. All the above information will be used to set goals for the student to prepare them for post-secondary education/training, employment and independent living.
Learning Outcomes
- Purpose of Post-Secondary Transition
- Components of High School Transition Plan
- Summary of Performance and Education and Career Action Plan (ECAP)
This presentation explores an innovative approach to strengthening inclusive practices for K-12 students with disabilities by embedding High Leverage Practices (HLPs) into educator preparation programs. By aligning coursework and faculty training with evidence-based strategies, this initiative ensures that future educators are prepared to meet diverse student needs effectively. The session will demonstrate how integrating HLPs—aligned with the CEC standards—enhances teacher candidates’ ability to implement inclusive practices, fosters collaboration, and improves student outcomes. Additionally, the importance of faculty development in modeling these strategies will be discussed. Participants will engage in discussions, share best practices, and explore how to apply these approaches within their institutions. This interactive session offers a valuable opportunity to refine curricula and strengthen inclusive teaching practices in educator preparation programs.
Learning Outcomes
- Participants will be able to identify and describe the key components of High-Leverage Practices (HLPs) and explain how they align with CEC standards to promote inclusive practices in educator preparation programs.
- Participants will be able to evaluate the impact of integrating evidence-based strategies into coursework and faculty training on teacher candidate readiness and overall student outcomes.
- Participants will be able to apply best practices and shared strategies from the session to develop actionable plans for refining their institution’s educator preparation curricula to strengthen inclusive teaching practices.
It takes two sides to build a bridge. It takes all participants to create a solid IEP. What can teams do to strengthen the partnership between schools and families in order to facilitate highly effective IEP meetings? This presentation will share a variety of tools and strategies that will not only improve future IEP meetings but create a collaborative culture to support student success.
Learning Outcomes
- Offer tools to help to create a FIEP culture where schools and families collaborate to support student success
- Provide a variety of strategies to strengthen the partnership with families
- Offer options to support schools and families should situations arise
