2020 TASH Conference - Virtual Edition: Full Schedule

Welcome to the 2020 TASH Conference - Virtual Edition website! We’re so glad you are here!

Each year, the TASH Conference brings together individuals with significant disabilities and their allies 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 advocates, leaders, and subject matter experts from every corner of the disability community. Conference attendees play an important role in supporting individuals with significant disabilities to overcome various barriers in order to live their best lives. Central to this work is the premise that individuals reach their optimal potential only when they are given the opportunity to live, work and thrive across the lifespan in the same communities we are all members of. The conference is intentionally designed to support the interests of professors and researchers from leading institutions; those involved in local, state, and federal governments and public policy; special and general educators, and school administrators; home and community-based service providers; students, family members, and most importantly, self-advocates with lived experience.

This year, while we are taking the conference virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we believe that our unique approach to providing exceptional first-rate content and building strong community ties and connections across various stakeholders will yield an extraordinary event! We have taken extra steps to bring people closer together during these times, as well as to create an amazing virtual environment that expands our knowledge, spurs our creative thinking, and focuses on healthy living and having fun! Our conference theme, Feel the Power of Inclusion, reinforces the importance of our continued commitment to promoting a world of equity and opportunity for all, and is predicated on the value of bringing together diverse perspectives and experiences in an effort to build strong human connectivity and spur collective action.

Need technical assistance during the conference? Please email our support staff at helpdesk@tash.org.

12:30pm EST

Communication and Self-Determination for Everyone

Individuals with disabilities cannot meaningfully participate in decision-making without adequate support for communication, and the ability to provide input and direction on one’s own life is a primary purpose for expanding communication skills. In this interactive workshop, several AAC users and other members of TASH’s Communication Access Community of Practice will address key features of supports that promote self-determination via communication access. Resources and ideas will be shared!

Presenters

Amy Hanreddy

Associate Professor, Special Education, California State University, Northridge

Amy Hanreddy is an associate professor in the Department of Special Education at California State University, Northridge. She teaches about inclusive and collaborative practices, with an emphasis on strategies that provide students with disabilities access to meaningful instruction... Read More →

Pascal Cheng

Education and Communication Specialist, Howard Center

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 →

Judy Bailey

Consultant on Communication Access and Positive Supports, Judy C. Bailey Consulting

Judy C. Bailey, M.Ed., currently consults with individuals and families on using pointing, spelling, and typing to communicate, including work on FC Training and Rapid Prompting Method. Ms. Bailey is an endorsed Positive Behavior Support (PBS) Facilitator in Virginia. She is a member... Read More →

Cynthia Blasko

Director/Board Member, Roots of Inclusion

Ryan Duncanwood

SABE, The Arc. TASH. SCDD

fun, loving, caring, California Democratic party, in coming tash board member

Wednesday December 2, 2020 12:30pm - 1:15pm EST
Virtual Platform Online

Breakout Sessions, Track 2

Primary Topic Communication Access
Themes Self-determination
Tags Communication Access, Self-Determination, AAC, Decision-making
Format General

12:30pm EST

The Power of Presuming Competence and Having High Expectations

Families to the MAX is a group of PA families whose children receive special education services. Learn how the changing perspective of adults increase opportunities for successful outcomes for students. Listen to a parent as she shares her child's experiences using AT in the home, school and community. With presuming competence and raising expectations, her story will illustrate the infinite possibilities on how AT is creatively catered to an individual's needs. This presentation exemplifies the importance of collaboration as a parent-led effort that partners with PEAL (Parent Training and Information Center for PA) Pennsylvania Tranining and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN), Hispanics United for Exceptional Children (HUNE) and the Bureau of Special Education.

Presenters

Lorie Brew

SPDG Coordinator, PEAL Center

Lorie Brew is the PEAL Center’s SPDG Coordinator for Eastern Pennsylvania. Much of Lorie’s knowledge about disability-related issues come from individuals with disabilities themselves, families who support someone with a disability, as well as her own personal experience of raising... Read More →

Nicole Gilchrist

Tammi Morton

Thursday December 3, 2020 12:30pm - 1:15pm EST
Virtual Platform Online

Breakout Sessions, Track 2

Primary Topic Communication Access
Themes High Expectations in Families
Tags Presuming Competence, Assistive Technology, Inclusive Practices
Format General

1:30pm EST

Having a Voice in Your Health Care

Howard Center in Burlington, VT provides services to people who use a variety of methods of communication besides spoken English. These include augmentative communication (AAC), American Sign Language (ASL) and other languages besides English. In health care settings, these individuals may not always have access to their preferred method of communication or accommodations for receiving information about their medical care. This can prevent them from having a voice in decisions affecting their health care. A panel of members of the Howard Center Communication Team will share ideas on what agencies can do to provide people with the necessary supports to communicate effectively in health care settings and what health care providers can do to incorporate accommodations for different methods of communications in their patient care.

Presenters

Pascal Cheng

Education and Communication Specialist, Howard Center

Tracy Thresher

Washington County Mental Health Services

Tracy Thresher is a native Vermonter who lives and works in Vermont. Tracy began using Facilitated Communication in 1990 and was one of the first individuals with autism in Vermont to be introduced to the method. He has presented at local, statewide and national workshops and conferences... Read More →

Thursday December 3, 2020 1:30pm - 2:15pm EST
Virtual Platform Online

Breakout Sessions, Track 2

Primary Topic Communication Access
Themes Self-determination
Tags Communication, Access, Accommodations, Inclusion
Format General

2:30pm EST

Wearable Technology Plus Video Review: Physiologic Data Strengthens Communication Supports

To support the TASH theme, Feel the Power of Inclusion, we explore how communication approaches might evolve to consider previously ignored stressors that impact short and long-term communication outcomes. Students with complex communication needs are often also facing invisible physiologic barriers, such as high heart rate, sleep deprivation, GI issues, or sensory overload. Scientific research shows that brain processes needed for effective communication are impacted when the student is not in a calm state. Many students with communication disabilities have exposure to previous trauma and hyper-vigilance to threat, yet, these backgrounds are rarely considered in establishing baseline communication capability and future goals. When these elements are factored in, communication can be greatly improved. Wearable technology and video review can change the way we understand these hidden communication barriers and offers new insight to better coach students towards communication goals.

Presenters

Cynthia Blasko

Director/Board Member, Roots of Inclusion

Grant Blasko

My name is Grant Blasko. I am a 21-year-old autistic college student from Mercer Island, Washington, and a devoted advocate and member of the neurodiversity community. My primary communication method is augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). My goal is to highlight the... Read More →

Thursday December 3, 2020 2:30pm - 3:15pm EST
Virtual Platform Online

Breakout Sessions, Track 2

Primary Topic Communication Access
Themes Outcomes vs. Programs
Tags Technology, Inclusion, Co-regulation, Empathy, Communication
Format General

3:30pm EST

Audio Description as an Aesthetic Innovation

Audio Description (AD) is a translation of images to words - the visual is made verbal and aural and oral. Using words that are succinct, vivid, and imaginative, media describers convey the visual image from television and film content that is not fully accessible to a significant segment of the population (more than 26 million Americans experience significant vision loss) . The theory of inclusive design describes one common approach to accessibility. The main tenets are: 1) the designers consider as many different human abilities, limitations and needs as possible; and 2) these factors should be included from the beginning of the design process. Innovative practice suggests how access techniques can be incorporated within the development of a film. It is then not an "add-on" but an aesthetic innovation and an organic part of the work that can benefit all people.

Presenters

Joel Snyder

President--Director, Audio Description Associates, LLC-Audio Description Project of the American Council of the Blind

Dr. Joel Snyder is known internationally as one of the world’s first “audio describers,” a pioneer in the field of Audio Description, a translation of visual images to vivid language. Since 1981, he has introduced audio description techniques in over 44 states and 62 countries... Read More →

Thursday December 3, 2020 3:30pm - 4:15pm EST
Virtual Platform Online

Breakout Sessions, Track 2

Primary Topic Communication Access
Themes Assistive Technology & Apps
Tags Audio Description; Blindness
Format General

5:15pm EST

A Systematic Review of Mand Training Parameters for Students with IDD in Schools

Many individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) fail to acquire manding repertoires (i.e., requesting) sufficient for success in a range of environments. Further, those without this essential repertoire may exhibit increased levels of problem behaviors to access reinforcers or escape aversive stimuli. Since school plays a critical role in the lives of most children with IDD, educators are responsible for ensuring all students receive adequate instruction in the use of mands. Unfortunately, many educators may be unfamiliar with procedures for implementing mand training and many may not see themselves as responsible for communication instruction. To more strongly advocate for the inclusion of mand training procedures in schools and teacher preparation programs, it is important to better understand literature related to mand training in schools. In the current poster, the presenters will provide data related to mand training for students with IDD in schools.

Presenters

Dr. Melissa Tapp

Assistant Professor

Dr. Melissa Tapp is an assistant professor of special education in the teacher education department and joined Catawba in 2022. Dr. Tapp completed her Ph.D. (2022) and M.Ed. (2010) in special education at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Previously, she has worked in... Read More →

Thursday December 3, 2020 5:15pm - 5:30pm EST
Virtual Platform Online

Poster Presentations

Primary Topic Communication Access
Themes Research to Practice
Tags Mand Training, Communication, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Research, School
Format Research

5:15pm EST

Supporting Intentional Communication Skills for Children with Profound and Intellectual Multiple Disabilities

Excluding communication situations pose problems for an increasing number of children with pre-symbolic communication skills and profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD) (Brady, Snell, et al., 2016). In consequence of insufficient development conditions, some children with PIMD experience difficulties in establishing intentional communication (IC) with their social environment (Bernasconi & Bšing, 2017). Despite the steady increase in numbers of these children, there is a lack of pedagogical models to support these children in the development of IC (Endres, 2018). Against this background, the purpose of the study is to explore conditions of the development of IC for children with PIMD in pedagogical situations in Germany. To explore these conditions, I chose a Reflexive Grounded Theory Methodology (RGTM) framework (Breuer, Muckel & Dieris, 2018). First results indicate that the engagement of reference persons is a central component in the intervention.

Presenters

Annika Endres

Thursday December 3, 2020 5:15pm - 5:30pm EST
Virtual Platform Online

Poster Presentations

Primary Topic Communication Access
Themes Supported Decision-making
Tags Intention Communication, PIMD, Intervention, Children
Format Research

5:15pm EST

Teaching AAC Device Users with Autism to Switch Languages

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices are used to provide individuals with a mode to communicate. AAC devices are typically programmed in the language used at school. For students who are dual language learners, this may limit their ability to communicate within their home, family, or community. Therefore, it is imperative that educators and service providers consider the linguistic diversity of students in the implementation of communication interventions involving AAC devices. One way to acknowledge linguistic diversity of dual language learners is to teach students to switch between their native language and language spoken in the school environment. A multiple-baseline across participants design will be used. It is hypothesized that including the home language in the programming of AAC devices may increase the likelihood of the device being used in the home environment.

Presenters

Kendra Antill

Visiting Assistant Professor, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Thursday December 3, 2020 5:15pm - 5:30pm EST
Virtual Platform Online

Poster Presentations

Primary Topic Communication Access
Themes Assistive Technology & Apps
Tags PECS, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Dual Language Learners, AAC
Format Research

3:30pm EST

Publishing in Inclusive Practices, the New TASH Practitioner Journal

Come meet the Editors of the new TASH practictioner journal, Inclusive Practices! In this session, we will discuss how to publish in Inclusive Practices, a peer-reviewed practitioner journal that speaks directly to front-line workers to improve the lives of people with severe disabilities. This session is designed for anyone interested in writing a research-to-practice article, or aspiring to write a practitioner-friendly article in the field of severe disabilities. The session will provide an overview of the types of manuscripts published in Inclusive Practices, the peer review process, followed by time for participants to ask questions and obtain input on their publication ideas.

Presenters

Andrea Ruppar

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

Associate Professor, University of Kansas

Inclusive Education

Tuesday December 8, 2020 3:30pm - 4:15pm EST
Virtual Platform Online

Breakout Sessions, Track 2

Primary Topic Inclusive Education, Diversity & Social Impact, Community Living, Communication Access, PBIS, Human Rights, Transition, Self-Advocacy, Recreation & Leisure, Employment
Format Research

12:30pm EST

The Paraeducator's Role in Increasing Meaningful Engagement Among Students who Use AAC

This study was designed to investigate the effects of a paraeducator-implemented intervention for a student with autism who used an AAC device. A multiple probe design was used to evaluate the communication intervention. Following training, data from each paraeducator indicated an increased rate of the communication support, and as a result, the student displayed an increase in initiation.

Presenters

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 →

Wednesday December 9, 2020 12:30pm - 1:15pm EST
Virtual Platform Online

Breakout Sessions, Track 2

Primary Topic Communication Access
Themes Self-determination
Tags AAC, Paraeducator, Training, Communication
Format Research

2020 TASH Conference - Virtual Edition

12:30pm EST

Amy Hanreddy

Pascal Cheng

Judy Bailey

Cynthia Blasko

Ryan Duncanwood

12:30pm EST

Lorie Brew

Nicole Gilchrist

Tammi Morton

1:30pm EST

Pascal Cheng

Tracy Thresher

2:30pm EST

Cynthia Blasko

Grant Blasko

3:30pm EST

Joel Snyder

5:15pm EST

Dr. Melissa Tapp

5:15pm EST

Annika Endres

5:15pm EST

Kendra Antill

3:30pm EST

Andrea Ruppar

Jennifer Kurth

12:30pm EST

Natalie Andzik

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