Held in Washington, D.C., during July, the Special Education Legislative Summit (SELS) is an opportunity for educators from across the country to make a difference by advocating for change with Members of Congress. Come together with fellow educators and leaders in the field to learn more about advocacy and meet with your representatives to share what's really happening in the field of special education. Hill visits will take place in person subject to the in-person policies of Congressional offices.

The Goal of CEC Leadership Institute is: To provide component leaders with opportunities to connect with and learn from their peers, evaluate common operational practices, formulate membership programming ideas, strengthen operational knowledge and practices, and develop a deeper understanding of how the CEC community of leaders can support and sustain an impactful experience for all CEC and component members.

Learning Objectives for Leadership Institute Attendees:

• Identify operational expectations and best practices 
• Describe examples of creative programs, solutions and offerings developed by other Units and Divisions
• Design new member engagement strategies in the areas of social media, websites, membership campaigns, surveys, events and more
• Evaluate current component practices to identify areas of success and opportunities for growth 

The Autism conference provides comprehensive, evidence-based information to assist educators, other professionals, and families in developing effective educational programming for all students with autism spectrum disorders. There are three ways to participate in the National Autism Conference again this year: in-person, virtual registration, or online registration.

National Autism Conference Outcomes:

•     Cite specific research findings concerning autism spectrum disorders and relate them to assessment, instruction, and progress determination, including specific communication.
•     Describe appropriate interventions, materials, and progress-monitoring practices based on continuous instructional evidence in the areas of cognition, language, social skills, and motor skills.
•     Identify, analyze, and apply evidence-based practices for the treatment of students with autism spectrum disorders in cognition, communication, and social and motor skills.
•     Formulate practical and evidence-based instructional plans for students with autism spectrum disorders in order to have them progress in the general education curriculum with specific accommodations in language, cognition, and social and motor skills.
•     Incorporate the use of instructional technology and visual-graphic organizers into the instruction of students with autism spectrum disorders in order to increase organizational skills and improve achievement.
•     Relate specific assessment and intervention procedures to the general education curriculum and academic standards and benchmarks, including specific applications to communication-based approaches.

Good advocacy skills help parents obtain the supports their children need. Learn skills to ensure that IEP members truly hear your perspective, take you seriously, and know that you understand the IEP process and your rights.

Both born with autism, Temple Grandin and Sean Barron now live famously successful social lives. However, this wasn’t always the case. Temple’s logical mind controlled her social behavior. Logic informed her of the decision to obey social rules and avoid unpleasant consequences. Sean's emotions controlled his social behavior. Baffled by social rules, isolated and friendless, he made up his own social rules and applied them to others. When others inevitably broke his rules, he felt worthless and unloved. Both Temple and Sean ultimately came to terms with the social world and found their places in it.

Whether you are a person with autism, a caregiver in the autism community, or just someone who’s interested in an outsider’s view of society, their powerful stories will enthrall and enlighten you!

This APSE webinar will share the game-changing and unique ways in which improvisation can build skills that will greatly increase workplace development and opportunities for those with disabilities like few other programs have achieved. This session will provide case studies, data, videos, and maybe even some interactive improv play to demonstrate the effects and benefits of the program.  Caregivers and employers alike rave about the effects improvisation has had on those that participate.  Be ready for an exciting, innovative, and interactive session!

The Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Conference is ADvancing States’ national conference that annually brings together state, federal, and local policymakers as well as leaders who administer, manage, and deliver waiver and other HCBS programs.  The purpose of the HCBS Conference is to share practices and policies that improve state systems delivering long-term services and supports (LTSS) for all ages and abilities.

This webinar will provide an overview of how service animals are defined under Title II and Title III of the ADA, which address access for individuals with disabilities using service animals in state and local government facilities and in places of public accommodation.

Tener habilidad de defensa ayuda a los padres a obtener el apoyo que sus hijos necesitan. Aprenda a poder ser escuchado por los miembros del equipo de la escuela y que realmente tengan en cuenta su punto de vista, lo tomen en serio y entiendan que usted conoce el proceso de IEP al igual que sus derechos.