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 the millions of 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, Building Diverse and Inclusive Communities, reminds us that equity, opportunity, and inclusion relies on the input of broad perspectives and experiences.
A 6th grader on the autism spectrum learns to advocate for his needs by determining how to receive instruction in the general education classroom. Assistive technology was used in order for him to choose prior to each class whether to receive instruction in class with his peers or virtually with his same peers through Google Meet and Brigit. Behaviors (aggression, screaming, and biting) immediately dropped and uninterrupted instruction in general education increased.
