For many children, learning to read is the process of learning to understand their spoken language in a written form. The relationship between oral language skills and reading skills is well documented. But what happens when there is a disconnect between a child’s ?oral language system and the language?of reading? This webinar will discuss ?oral language as the foundation for reading and the added complexity of learning to read for Black dialect speakers and how not understanding this complexity contributes to illiteracy and inequity.

Looking to re-enter the workforce, or change careers? Presenters will discuss tips, and tools that will help make finding your dream career easier. Join Paralyzed Veterans of America as they explore the Occupational Handbook, O*NET, and the Job Accommodation Network.

This introductory course, which is limited to 30 participants, is designed to teach educators about the core concepts and foundations of UDL, practical applications of UDL to lesson design, and how to support flexible, inclusive instruction. We know from experience and neuroscience that individuals learn in varied ways. Universal Design for Learning (UDL) provides educators with a lens to identify and reduce barriers that limit learning. Join us to discuss how all learners can meet high expectations.

Using the UDL framework and its practical guidelines, participants will:

• Understand and apply the foundational concepts of UDL
• Design using the UDL design process
• Understand the structure of the UDL Guidelines
• Identify UDL in practice

Upon completion of the institute, participants will receive an official CAST certificate. 

Leaders from Maxar Technologies, Blind Institute of Technology and the American Foundation for the Blind will share how to attract and retain employees who are blind or who have low vision.

Mental Health America’s (MHA) 2022 Annual Conference, Forward Together: Recovery, Healing, Hope, will take place in Washington, DC from June 9-11, 2022. The event will bring together hundreds of MHA affiliates, peers, providers, government officials, media, and key stakeholders from across the country to explore the intersecting equity issues that exist in mental health. Learn more about the theme under the information tab.

Fewer than 5% of Diversity Equity and Inclusion have Accessibility in their job title. Is this a promising practice? Is it a positive step to specifically call out accessibility?

Join Craig Leen, of K&L Gates as he discusses this with several key leaders: Jeff Wissel, Disability:IN Chief Accessibility Officer,  Tom Babinszki, VP, Accessibility at eSSENTIAL Accessibility, Neil Milliken, Global Head of Accessibility, ATOS and Raquel Elejabarrieta, Chief Accessibility Officer and ADA Coordinator for Coral Gables, FL.

Presentations will be 90-minute real time virtual sessions and must include time for audience question-and-answers. Presentations should focus on sharing information in one of the following topic areas: Adapted Psychotherapy; Behavior Interventions; Personality Disorders; Anxiety Disorders; Mood Disorders; Psychotic Disorders; Gender & Cultural Diversity; Technology Innovations; Secondary & Vicarious Trauma; Cross System Collaboration; and Families & Caregivers. 

The deadline for submissions is February 18, 2022.

In this webinar, Dr. Christine Wu Nordahl will provide an overview of current research focused on understanding autism in girls and women. Topics will include biological and clinical theories about:

• the difference in the sex ratio of autism
• current insights into neurobiological sex differences in autism
• unique challenges faced by autistic girls and women

Whether you are an Educator, Parent, School or Policy Administrator, this unique three-day education-focused conference is designed to bring communities together to make digital educational resources more inclusive for people of all abilities. 

Participants will interactively build community and momentum around the powerful idea of using Education Technology as a tool of inclusion and progress for students with disabilities.

Although many companies claim to prioritize diversity, few consider disability in those initiatives, according to a report from the Return On Disability Group. Non-profits such as Disability:IN are working to improve those numbers by educating businesses on how to embrace accessibility and disability inclusion.

In this webinar, presenters will be speaking with a panel of young business leaders, including some who participated in Disability:IN’s NextGen Leader Initiatives, about their personal efforts in guiding businesses to embrace full inclusion of people with disabilities.

Join the National Down Syndrome Congress for a one-day conference designed for educators working to enhance outcomes for their students with Down syndrome, autism, and other intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Practical in nature, this conference will engage participants in identifying and implementing strategies applicable to K-12 classrooms. Discussions will provide strategies for educators to enhance instruction through effective reading interventions, differentiated and universally designed curriculum, technology, and behavioral practices. Attendees will leave equipped with ideas, tips, strategies, tools, and solutions that they can implement in the classroom.

HLAA is very excited to be hosting an in-person Convention again. This year the exhibit hall, workshops, demo presentations, plenary sessions, social events and Research Symposium will all be held under one roof at the brand new JW Marriott Tampa Water Street. When you aren’t learning and networking at the most communication accessible convention for people with hearing loss, you can explore Tampa’s new Sparkman Wharf area or cruise down the local Riverwalk.

The General Conference is designed for parents, adult siblings, grandparents, caregivers, and medical and educational professionals. General Conference attendees have access to six workshop cycles. Each cycle offers a selection of 90-minute workshops that registrants attend based on their interests. These interactive workshops are presented by world-renowned experts – from those considered pioneers in early childhood communication to those who have redefined the K-12 classroom, and others leading the studies in areas that affect adults with Down syndrome.

In this webinar, presenters will discuss the need to move beyond personal biases, beliefs, values, and perceptions by realigning the way we think about and engage with each other.

Three Key Learning Points:
· Mitigating unconscious bias and microaggressions in the IDD space
· Understanding phases of microaggression
· How unconscious bias influences our beliefs, values, and perceptions towards the individuals we serve

Join presenters for a 2-day virtual summit to discuss how we can best make sure voters with disabilities have full access to our democracy. As the pandemic continues to put disabled people’s lives at risk and lawmakers restrict voting access across the country, we must work together to break down voting barriers and get out the disability vote.

This event will include:

– Speakers from disability, civil, and voting rights organizations
– Messages from government representatives
– Conversations on a voting access barriers
– Strategies for effective voting outreach and advocacy

The Disability Vote Summit: Breaking Down Barriers to the Ballot is co-hosted by the National Disability Rights Network, the REV UP Voting Campaign at the American Association of People with Disabilities, and the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities.

Event organizers will provide ASL interpreting, live captioning in English and Spanish, and Spanish audio.