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.
Quality and collaborative transition plans for students with significant support needs has emerged as an area requiring continued improvement. This qualitative research study sought to understand how the current process of transition planning was implemented for students with significant support needs from the perspectives of current stakeholders working through the transition process. This presentation shares our findings, provides recommendations for use of best practices, and includes recommendations and resources to assist in creating meaningful plans for youths with significant support needs as they seek to transition to greater inclusive communities.
This session presents preliminary findings about an online family engagement intervention guided by the Charting the Charting the LifeCourse curriculum. Presenters will share insights from family members about how this knowledge translation strategy influenced their vision for "the good life"Âť for their sons and daughters. Presenters will share findings about how the intervention impacted families' attitudes, expectations, and activities that can lay the groundwork for effective transition planning leading to employment for young adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities. The session will also addresses how this engagement strategy and others can be accessible to all families, including those from culturally/linguistically diverse backgrounds.