2023 IHD Evidence for Success Disability Conference

Opening Speaker: Tawara Goode

A nationally recognized leader in the field of cultural and linguistic competence, Tawara Goode is an assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, D.C. She is the director of the National Center for Cultural Competence (NCCC) at Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development (GUCCHD) as well as the Deputy Director of the GUCCHD’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities.  

Professor Goode serves as a principal investigator for federal and private sectors/contracts focused exclusively on the development and implementation of programs and initiatives to advance and sustain cultural and linguistic competence and national and international recognition as a thought leader in the field. Her research interests involve the role of cultural and linguistic competence in addressing health and health care disparities among racially, ethnically, and culturally diverse populations, including those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Closing Speaker: Laura Nadine Dooley

Accomplished musician, educator, and autism advocate Laura Nadine Dooley understands firsthand the struggles and triumphs of living with autism. She has spent over 15 years advocating for a neurodiverse educational model after she and her son were diagnosed with ASD in 2006. She developed an approach for teaching music to students with various learning profiles and invented a MusicBoard, inspired by facilitated communication, to make composition and music theory accessible to non-speaking students.

Laura runs Enlightened Audio, an online and in-person hybrid music school with a mission to make music education accessible. She has self-published two books, recorded various albums, and was the main subject of the biographical documentary, The Shadow Listener: A Voice for Autism, directed by John Schaefer. She also composes music for films, including the Astoria Zuker Award-winning documentary LISTEN. Laura continues to post on her blog, The Shadow Listener, at lauranadine.net, where she provides the layered perspective of someone living with autism, teaching autistic students, and raising a son with autism––what she calls a ”3 Shoes Perspective”.

Preconference Workshop A: Judith Schoonover

Judith Schoonover, MEd, OTR/L, ATP, FAOTA is an OT and former teacher. A nationally and internationally recognized speaker, Judith presents on school-based occupational therapy, transition, literacy, play, and assistive technology, and has authored numerous articles and chapters. She is passionate about creating accessibility solutions from easily found materials. Judith serves on the National Joint Committee (NJC) for the Communication Needs of Persons with Severe Disabilities; she is a Strand Advisor for The Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) and is a managing editor for the Assistive Technology Outcomes and Benefits Journal. Judith is a recent recipient of the Joy Zabala Spirit Award.

At IHD’s 2023 Evidence for Success Disability Conference, we are fortunate to have Judith Schoonover lead an AT Make & Take preconference workshop as well as present during a breakout session at the main conference.

Preconference Workshop B: AbleDocs, Inc.

AbleDocs, a leader in the field of document accessibility, has partnered with AzTAP (the Arizona Technology Access Program) to launch a series of trainings that focus on ICT (or digital) accessibility standards and best practices.

At our 2023 IHD Evidence for Success Disability Conference, AbleDocs President and CEO Adam Spencer will lead a hands-on ICT skill-building in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint preconference workshops, as well as present a breakout session focusing on user experience to demonstrate some challenges presented by documents that are not fully accessible.

AIVRS Training: Dr. Catherine Ipsen

Dr. Catherine Ipsen has a PhD in Multidisciplinary Studies and an MA in Economics from the University of Montana. She is the Principal Investigator on the Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities (RTC:Rural), a large grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research. Ipsen’s research interests primarily focus on Vocational Rehabilitation service delivery and employment strategies to serve consumers in rural communities, including self-employment as a strategy to overcome gaps in rural employment opportunity.

Mo Buti

A favorite with our conference attendees every year, Mo is a practiced professional in the field of disabilities providing services and support to those with disabilities, their families & schools with over 32 years of experience. She managed autism programs/services for over 6,000 students as Director of Autism & Intellectual Disabilities at Chicago Public Schools. She was also a special education teacher, autism itinerant, and special education administrator. Mo possesses a M.Ed-BD, M.Ed-ADMIN, QIDP certification, Director of Special Education degree/certificate from Illinois and her Type 75 Administrator certification. Mo is a dynamic, international speaker and well-respected authority on autism, intellectual disabilities.

Mo Buti will be leading a number of different breakout sessions at our 2023 conference.

Marc Gold & Associates

Marc Gold & Associates (MG&A) is a training organization specializing in employment and community participation for persons with significant disabilities. We are delighted to have two key MG&A team members join us to present a 2-session workshop at our conference:

Therese Fimian has worked in the disability employment field for 20+ years, overseeing national workforce, education, and demonstration programs to increase access to employment and economic empowerment for individuals with disabilities. Therese directed a national initiative that created several hundred customized employment positions established partnerships with businesses. She works with national, state and local organizations to develop and improve strategy, policy and practice to increase access to resources that result in employment for individuals with disabilities. Therese joined MG&A in 2019 and became president of the organization in 2022.

Randy Dicks‘ work in the human service field ranges from working with the homeless, to working in a rape crisis center, to working with people with criminal histories, as well as with those who experience mental health, physical, and intellectual disabilities. Randy has found that Customized Employment truly is a way for people with significant barriers to employment to find meaning and purpose through a job making real wages. Randy joined MG&A in 2013. His areas of focus are Discovery and Customized Job Development. Randy is the Certification Manager and is responsible for leading the Mentors-in-training process for MG&A.

Shelley Haven

A highly prized presenter at our conferences annually, Shelley Haven is a certified Assistive Technology Professional (ATP), Rehab Engineering Technologist (RET), and former engineer who specializes in matching students with appropriate technology. Her consulting practice, Technology to Unlock Potential, serves families, educators, and schools both online and in person with a focus on learning differences, ADHD, and executive functioning. During her 36 years in assistive technology, Shelley previously directed AT for Stanford University’s Office of Accessible Education and helped create the Schwab Learning Center at Stanford for students with learning differences and ADHD. She also teaches an online college course for UCSC Extension titled “Assistive Technology for Learning Differences”.

Investigating the hot topic of generative AI (artificial intelligence), Shelley will present a 2-part hype-free discussion explaining what artificial intelligence is, what makes ChatGPT ground-breaking, and exploring applications for enhancing learning at this year’s conference.

Chris Lanterman

Chris Lanterman is an Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Specialties at Northern Arizona University. Dr. Lanterman began his teaching career as a special education teacher at Rough Rock Community School on the Navajo Nation and at Coconino High School in Flagstaff. Chris is a blind educator whose teaching and research focus on inclusive practice. His primary areas of expertise are in universal design for learning and disability studies. Chris has been a member of the faculty at Northern Arizona University since 2002.

At the conference, Dr. Lanterman will highlight Universal Design for Learning (UDL) with a double session designed to provide participants with an overview of the tenets of UDL, the strengths and challenges for effective implementation, and well as the opportunity to apply the principles to hypothetical and actual learning contexts.

Mike Marotta

Mike is a RESNA Certified Assistive Technology (AT) Professional who has been providing direct services to individuals with all disabilities for almost 30 years. Mike is the 2017 ISTE Inclusive Learning Network Outstanding Educator. Mike is a nationally and internationally recognized presenter who was previously a trainer for California State University at Northridge (CSUN), providing practical and in-depth training to professionals interested in specializing in AT. In addition, Mike is an adjunct professor at Ramapo College of New Jersey (NJ) where he teaches Masters level educators in AT and Universal Design for Learning. Mike is the Director of the Richard West AT Advocacy Center at Disability Rights New Jersey and serves on the CAST Accessible Educational Materials Advisory Board and is a member of the Faculty at the Center on Technology and Disabilities.

Magic Performance: Cody Clark

During our networking reception on Wednesday evening, magician and disability advocate Cody Clark will be preforming.

Using his experience with autism, Cody takes a personalized approach to his shows to ensure everyone feels included, combining the art of magic with a message that our differences are nothing to be scared of, but simply a different way of thinking.