Speaking and Workshops

 Learners bring a wide range of strengths, needs, and experiences to any environment. This session explores how to design inclusive, accessible learning experiences using principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), flexible supports, and practical accommodations. Participants will learn how to proactively reduce barriers while also providing targeted strategies to support learners who need additional structure or support.

Tools and strategies may include assistive technology (low- and high-tech), visual supports, movement and sensory-based approaches, and adaptable learning tools that can be used across educational, professional, and home settings.

• Participants will apply at least one inclusive design strategy that supports all learners, including those with diverse learning needs. 
• Participants will use at least one new accommodation to assist students who are struggling with SLDs. (Dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, and more).
• Participants will implement at least one assistive technology option (low- or high-tech) to assist students with SLDs.

The transition to college is a major developmental shift for both students and the families who support them. This session is designed to help parents and caregivers navigate this transition with clarity, confidence, and intention.

Participants will explore how to support students as they build independence, manage academic and social expectations, and navigate new environments. Special attention will be given to supporting students with diverse learning, attention, and executive functioning needs (including ADHD, learning differences, and autism), while maintaining a strengths-based and student-centered approach.

By the end of the session, participants will leave with practical strategies to support student success, communicate effectively, and balance involvement with independence during this important transition.

• Participants will explore the shift from direct support to guided independence while learning to navigate the emotional adjustments that come with this transition, including managing uncertainty, anxiety, and change.

• Participants will learn how to support student success by encouraging responsibility, organization, and follow-through, while also understanding appropriate boundaries and communication with faculty and staff.

• Participants will examine how students navigate new environments, relationships, and identity development, while recognizing when additional support or campus resources may be needed.

• Participants will develop strategies for maintaining meaningful communication while promoting independence, as well as supporting goal-setting, career exploration, and long-term growth.

Are you a parent or professional who takes care of children who have Autism? Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) is an Autism profile that is characterized by heightened anxiety, which causes demand avoidance. During the Pathological Demand Avoidance in Autistic Children presentation, you will learn strategies to assist with preventing meltdowns and aid in de-escalation of big emotions. 

• Participants will learn to recognize when PDA may be a reason for behavioral issues. 
• Participants will learn de-escalation techniques. 
• Participants will leave the seminar with tools and strategies to assist them in providing support and teamwork to those with demand avoidance resulting from anxiety.

Executive functioning includes working memory, cognitive flexibility (flexibility in thinking), and inhibitory control. These are challenging skills to learn yet teens and young adults need these skills to successfully move into adulthood. This workshop will explain what executive functioning is and how to facilitate the learning of these skills for teens and young adults. 

• Participants will learn what executive functioning is and how it affects daily life.
• Participants will learn ways to facilitate executive functioning skill growth in teens and young adults.
• Participants will leave with ideas for activities and supports to assist with the process of facilitating executive functioning skill growth.

Are you a parent or professional who helps children who have oppositional behaviors? Is mainstream behavior management not working well? Trauma, anxiety, and chemical imbalances can all factor into this complex issue. Mainstream behavior management strategies may not be effective for those with oppositional behavior patterns.

• Participants will learn strategies to assist with preventing meltdowns and aid in de-escalation of big emotions. 
• Participants will learn ways to prevent miscommunications and how to foster a diverse and inclusive environment.
• Participants will learn how to encourage participation in self-advocacy and problem-solving.

Social and emotional learning are necessary before academic gains can be made reliably. Students who struggle with SEL often have lower test scores and less understanding of topics covered in school. They are also at risk for not graduating from high school. How can we help?

• Participants will learn about social skills and emotion regulation.
• Participants will learn how to effectively model social and emotional skills and strategies.
• Participants will leave with strategies to assist students in learning mood regulation and social skills.

Autism rates have historically increased each year. Professionals will work with children with autism at some point in their career. Parents may not expect to have a child with autism, yet have to hit the ground running to support their child. How can we support children and young adults with a diagnosis of autism as they grow and learn? What are the best ways to handle tough situations? How do we set children with autism up for success, so they are less likely to need a guardian in adulthood? 

• Participants will learn about coping strategies and how to find support during difficult situations.
• Participants will learn about the wide umbrella of autism.
• Participants will leave with action steps to take and strategies to assist with decision-making.

What should first-year teachers know about children with special needs and special needs education? Learn about your responsibilities when your students have IEPS, how to work with parents as stakeholders, and how to ask for help if you are in over your head. If you are new to teaching or new to teaching students with special needs, this presentation is for you!

• Participants will learn the lingo related to IEPs and ESE. (OHP, ASD, EBD, FAPE, LRE, etc.)
• Participants will learn about their responsibilities when a student has an IEP, BIP, and/or 504 plan.
• Participants will leave with action steps to stay organized and start off the year with positivity and solid working relationships with students, parents, and school staff.

As a teacher and consultant, I will give you strategies to use in your early childhood classroom. This presentation is greared towards prekindergarten to third grade classrooms. ln this presentation, I will decode the reading continuum and provide activity ideas for your classroom. Please let me know if you have a specific task or age/stage group on which you wish me to focus. Put my experience to work for you!

As a teacher and consultant, I will give you strategies to use in your ESE or multi-age classroom for a variety of ages and stages. ln this presentation, I will decode the reading continuum and provide activity ideas for your classroom. Please let me know if you have a specific task or age/stage group on which you wish me to focus. Put my experience to work for you!

As a parent of children with special needs, teacher, and consultant, I will give you strategies to use in your homeschool classroom. ln this presentation, I will discuss special needs, curriculum options, strategies to help with meltdowns, and more! Put my experience to work for you!

As a parent of children with special needs, teacher, and consultant, I will give you strategies to use in your homeschool classroom. ln this presentation, I will discuss special needs, curriculum options, strategies to help with meltdowns, and more! Put my experience to work for you!