2021 College Planning & Transition Conference for Neurodivergent Individuals

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2021 College (and Career) Planning and Transition Conference for Individuals who are Neurodiverse Self-Determination and Post-Secondary Transition: Persistence from College to Career Saturday, October 2, 2021 Via Virtual LiveStream on Whova

Tickets: https://whova.com/portal/registration/cpatc_202109/

CONFERENCE OVERVIEW

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Please note all times listed are Pacific Time. Kindly adjust for your time zone.

08:00 08:30 08:30 09:15 09:30 10:30 10:45 11:30 11:45 12:45 01:00 01:45 02:00 02:45 03:00 03:45 04:00 05:00 05:00 05:15

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OPENING COMMENTS MORNING KEYNOTE PARENT PANEL BLOCK A – BREAKOUTS TO DISCLOSE OR NOT… BLOCK B - BREAKOUTS AFTERNOON KEYNOTE COLLEGE/CAREER PANEL CALL TO ACTION CLOSING COMMENTS

DETAILED CONFERENCE SCHEDULE Please note all times listed are Pacific Time. Kindly adjust for your time zone.

If you are not sure, here is a link: https://dateful.com/time-zone-converter Just type “Los Angeles” (conference host city) in one column and your city in the other.

There will be many 15 minute sensory breaks throughout the day. We ask that you use a portion of these times to complete the surveys on each of the sessions to help improve our programing for future events. Your input is very important to us. More details will be provided during the opening address.

FOR ATTENDEES ONLY the conference will be accessed via the Whova platform: https://whova.com/pages/whova-app-user-guide/

OPENING

Open to all conference attendees

WELCOME

08:00 AM to 08:30 AM PDT

KD Harris, MA, Kevin J. Tyrrell, MSAUD, Janet Barakat, MEd

We are pleased that you chose to spend the day with us for our annual college and career conference. The Founders of Let's Talk LD will provide participants an overview of the day's events and provide essential information that will enhance the conference experience for participants.

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MORNING KEYNOTE

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Open to all conference attendees MORNING KEYNOTE ADDRESS

08:30 AM to 09:15 AM PDT

Come To Life! Preparing For Transition & Your Future TOM ILAND, CPA, CHPC, AS Hear stories from an individual on the autism spectrum who left behind a career as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) to become a Certified Human Potential Coach, Ironman triathlete, and the only Toastmasters International Accredited Speaker with autism in the world.

15 Minute Sensory Break 9:15 AM to 9:30 AM

PARENT PANEL Open to all conference attendees CAREGIVERS AND ALLIES PANEL DISCUSSION

09:30 AM to 10:30 AM PDT

Facilitators: Tiffany Jameson, MBA, PHR, PhD (candidate) and Kevin J. Tyrrell, MSAUD, Gilda Evans, Dina Jeorge, Heather Kahler, BA Those who have walked in the shoes of caregivers and allies of persons who happen to be neurodiverse frequently lament that they wished they were armed with the knowledge gained over the course of their journey much earlier in the process so they could have been stronger advocates sooner. The information is often out there, but

finding it, making the necessary connections, and implementing an individualized framework is typically a lonely, bewildering process that is not for the faint-hearted. This panel will share their struggles and successes along their respective journeys in an engaging discussion that demonstrates how both perseverance in service of loved ones and kindness to ourselves (as well as each other) are so essential.

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15 Minute Sensory Break10:30 AM to 10:45 AM

BLOCK

A BLOCK A BREAKOUT SESSIONS

10:45 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. PDT

The following break-out sessions are for attendees who have registered through the Whova Portal. Prompt and sustained attendance is appreciated.

A1

Understanding Neurodiversity Through a Cultural/Intersectional Lens Marcia Brissett-Bailey, BSc (Hons), QCG (PgDip), MA

Joining us from the UK, Ms. Brissett-Baily will offer a deep dive into intersectionality and the importance of looking at neurodiversity through different cultural lenses.

A2

Mind-Body Tools to Support Well-Being and Academic Success for Neurodiverse Learners Niki Elliott, PhD

This interactive session will teach mindful breath and embodiment practices that help neurodiverse learners manage the stress and anxiety that often accompany academic and social challenges. Participants will be empowered with evidence-based tools that will support a lifetime of social and emotional well-being.

BLOCK A BREAKOUT SESSIONS (Continued)

A3

10:45 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Neurodiversity in the Workplace Bridget McElroy, MSW, LSW

The transition from college to career is stressful and daunting for all students, but autistic and other neurodivergent students face a unique set of challenges during this journey.

Despite strong skill sets and educational backgrounds, fewer than one in six autistic adults is in full-time employment (Roux et al., 2015). Higher education professionals have the potential to influence employment outcomes for neurodivergent students. Through discussion and case studies, we will present strategies that disability support services, career centers, and other campus stakeholders can implement to achieve this goal. A specialized support model, increased campus collaboration, and partnerships with neurodiverse-friendly employers can ensure that your neurodivergent students enter the workforce alongside their peers.

Objectives: a) Understand the unique challenges facing neurodivergent job seekers during their journey through career exploration, goal identification, and job searching b) Identify strategies for effectively preparing neurodivergent students for the job search, as well as support models for job seekers c) Explore ways to connect with neurodiversity-friendly employers and increase internship, co-op, and job opportunities

A4

College Transition: Finding and Accessing the Services that “Fit” Adam Lalor, PhD

For students with disabilities, it is critical that that disability and universally-available support services are considered during the college transition process. Research has shown that accessing such services predicts persistence and graduation. Join Dr. Adam Lalor, a former disability services professional and admission officer, for a presentation about searching for and accessing disability and non-disability services in college that will fit your specific needs. Q&A will follow.

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BLOCK A BREAKOUT SESSIONS (Continued)

A5

10:45 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Transition Planning as an Act of Radical Love Bibi Pirayesh, EdD

While we traditionally think of college as a time when students find their voice, for many students with learning disabilities the transition to college means the loss of support, advocacy, and eventually, their voice. The pressures to conform, the pressures of independent living, the lack of professor knowledge about learning disabilities, and the expectations of college often create a perfect storm that can render even the most well-adjusted students helpless. There is robust research showing the unequal effect of this on racialized children. But what if we used this time of turmoil as a time of opportunity to teach students radical love for themselves? What if we used this time to teach them how to center their voice, how to engage in community building, and how to set an example of resistance for their typically developing peers against the hierarchical and often white supremacist spaces of higher education? What if we asked students to see their college education as a practice of freedom and of political awareness as it was originally meant to be? This session aims to engage these questions from the perspective of educational therapy and advocacy and argue that we must help students turn their vulnerability into their power.

A6

Building Independence and Self-Determination in your Children Janet Barakat, MEd

Raising children is one of the most challenging and rewarding jobs in the world. Raising a child with a disability is an even greater challenge. As a parent, you provide love, encouragement, support, direction, independence, self-determination, discipline and so much more to your children. Parents want their children to do well in school, stay out of trouble, and do awesome things as adults. This workshop will address how parents can build independence and self-determination from an early age and share strategies on what you can do at home that can help you feel more fulfilled as a parent. During this workshop, you will gain an understanding of how expectations influence your child’s self-esteem. You will gain increased knowledge on how to raise a child who is able to thrive and be okay when they fail. You will have an increased understanding of the importance of ongoing communication and role modeling. Additionally, you will gain increased knowledge of resources and strategies to begin using today.

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A7

One Person's Journey - College to Career Carrie Hall, BA

Carrie is the founder of Autistic Women’s Alliance, an organization that mentors autistic women to secure employment and flourish professionally. This endeavor was prompted Page | 8 by the lessons learned over the arc of her journey from college to career. A graduate of California State University, Northridge, she worked for over a decade in IT and Healthcare Industries before landing at SAP through the Autism at Work program. At SAP she is a User Assistance Developer, a Fellow with Autism at Work, as well as a colead of Autism Inclusion Network ENG (Employee Network Group).

A8

Helping College Students Meet their Academic and Creative Potential Julie Loppacher, MEd

The Kortschak Center for Learning and Creativity (KCLC) is the University of Southern California’s leader is student support. Designed to help students with learning differences meet their academic and creative potential. Through its unique design of research, training and service rooted in a multi-disciplinary framework, KCLC has resources to fit all students regardless of where they find themselves on their academic journey.

This session will introduce attendees to the skills and strategies that the Kortschak Center for Learning and Creativity has been using to support students with learning differences for more than a decade! Attendees will gain access to resources on topics such as time management, self-care, organization, and reading. Additionally, there will be opportunity to engage in dialogue around success strategies for college students during these ever-changing times.

15 Minute Sensory Break

11:30 a.m. – 11:45 p.m.

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GENERAL SESSION 11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. PDT Open to all conference attendees TO DISCLOSE (NEURODIVERSITY) OR NOT TO DISCLOSE? THAT IS THE QUESTION. Rebecca Beam, Tiffany Jameson, MBA, PHR, PhD, Hilary Kokenda, BS, Michael Aronsson, BA One of the most frequent and anxiety-induced questions asked of professionals is whether revealing one’s neurodiversity will undermine opportunities to attain academic and professional goals that are within their capabilities. Given the misinformed impressions of others, is it better to simply withhold it and quietly internalize the consequences? Or, is revealing one’s neurodiversity an affirmative way to confront and ultimately change those misinformed impressions? This session will take on this thorny topic with an insightful discussion on the myriad of contexts this question can come into play and offer strategies to help successfully navigate them.

15 Minute Sensory Break

12:45 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

BLOCK

B BLOCK B BREAKOUT SESSIONS

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01:00 p.m. – 01:45 p.m. PDT

The following break-out sessions are for attendees who have registered for through the Whova Portal. Prompt and sustained attendance is appreciated.

B1

Connecting to Community-Based Resources to Improve Postsecondary Outcomes Gilda Evans

The Autism Resource Podcast helps parents, educators, support staff and those with different needs become advocates in their own communities! Most of the communitybased resources featured on the website and the podcast can be generalized for most children with a disability. This session is an opportunity for you to learn from Gilda's vast knowledge of the community-based practitioners and her extraordinary understanding of how to access the appropriate services and supports for your child in his or her postsecondary journey. Gilda will provide an overview of the resources and information available on the Autism Resource Podcast website, as well as engage in a lively discussion about issues, concerns, and unmet needs that we face as a community.

B2

LD Alliance by Eye to Eye Cole Hendricks, BA

In this session we will be going over Eye to Eye's brand-new program called LD Alliance.

The LD Alliance is a young adult-led movement working to eliminate the stigma of learning disabilities and attention disorders by reframing and celebrating them as the learning differences that they are. Through a growing network of clubs at high schools and colleges across America, The LD Alliance is empowering, organizing, and mobilizing young adults with the resources, supports and tools they need to develop as leaders, build community, raise awareness, engage in advocacy, and ultimately transform the experience of learning differently for generations to come.

BLOCK B BREAKOUT SESSIONS (Continued)

B3

01:00 p.m. – 01:45 p.m.

Empowering Neurodiverse Scholars Jessica Nombrano Larsen, MA

Serving as a case-study that has relevance to all neurodiverse scholars, this presentation will focus on Jessica’s work with autistic students in the Empowering Autistic Scholars at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo. EAS is an innovative new program that empowers autistic students at Cal Poly by providing them with the individualized academic, professional, and socio-emotional supports and professional opportunities they need to be successful. Students receive peer mentoring, academic and career advising, and one-on-one technical and design skills training. Students also gain hands-on research experience: they are paid as research assistants to work with their autistic peers on a community based participatory research project to develop universal design for learning (UDL)-based online workshops tailored to the needs of incoming students (and fully accessible to autistic students).

B4

“The Doctor is in” discussing Mental Health: Improving the Motivation, Grit, and Self-Determination of Neurodivergent Individuals in Postsecondary Life Jim Varga, MD, FAAP, Founding Partner 10th St. Pediatric Medical Group and KD Harris, MA (facilitator)

Drawing on four decades of experience working with special needs children and their families, Dr. Varga will cover a variety of issues from challenges securing proper medical care to practical concerns related to Activities of Daily Living (ADL). During this wonderfully informative, "The Doctor Is In" Session, topics will include, but not be limited to, 1) the importance of good sleep hygiene; 2) the role that emotions play in ADHD and SLD; 3) the effects of social media on cognitive functioning, specifically attention and working memory; 4) managing mental health care; 5) how advances in neuroscience can benefit motivation, grit, and persistence while also promoting creativity and a growth mindset; 6) managing medication prescriptions, especially ADHD medications in postsecondary life.

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BLOCK B BREAKOUT SESSIONS (Continued)

B5

01:00 p.m. – 01:45 p.m.

I’m Graduating, and I Don’t Know What I Want To Do Learning About Your SPIN Janet Barakat, MEd, MEd

When a person knows their strengths, preferences, interests, and needs it helps them to make better choices about education, employment, and independent living. This workshop is a hands-on workshop where students will take some surveys and answer some questions and begin to think about what they are good at and where those strengths might lead them as they move into adulthood. Research shows that when we build on our strengths, we make better choices about education, employment, and independent living. In addition, we will explore how your values, beliefs, and personality play a role in making decisions about your future. I’ll provide some additional tool to use to further explore your SPIN as you make decisions about your future.

B6

Neurodiversity as a Competitive Advantage Rebecca Beam

This presentation challenges the prevailing ableist “deficit” model framework by asserting that the unique talents and insights offered by many persons who happen to be neurodiverse can be leveraged as a competitive advantage professionally. An increasing number of companies have come to recognize the abilities of these individuals as underutilized competitive assets and an essential part of a diverse and inclusive workforce.

B7

Nine Essential Skills for College Success Michelle Resnick, EdM, MA and Bonnie Landau, PPS, APCC

In this session attendees will learn how to integrate the mastery of the 9 essential skills for college success into the K-12 experience as we prepare our students to transition to higher education. We will also address some of the supports available in college.

15 Minute Sensory Break

01:45 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

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AFTERNOON KEYNOTE Page | 13 Open to all conference attendees

Afternoon Keynote Address

02:00 p.m. – 02:45 p.m. PDT

JOHN MARBLE John Marble is the founder of Pivot and is a writer and speaker on innovation, autism, and neurodiversity. In 2009, he was appointed by President Obama to the United States Office of Personnel Management. There, his work focused on workforce development, innovation, and incorporating into government services the best practices and thinking of Silicon Valley. In addition to his White House service, he has served as an advisor and aide to Secretary Hillary Clinton, Senator John Kerry, and Vice President Al Gore.

John lives in San Francisco. He is autistic.

15 Minute Sensory Break

02:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

COLLEGECAREER PANEL Open to all conference attendees ltldTalks College & Career Transition

03:00 p.m. – 03:45 p.m. PDT

KD Harris, MA, Facilitator; M. Aronsson, BA M. McCann MS, MDiv, BA, D. Gillman, BS, A. Harris, BS, E. Harris, MA, J. Larsen, MA, C. Hall, BA, J. Mathias, J. Snyder One of the most popular sessions at our College Conference, our dynamic panel of college scholars and career professionals discuss the good, the great, the bad, and the ugly of postsecondary life when you are a neurodivergent person.

15 Minute Sensory Break 03:45 p.m. – 04:00 p.m.

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CALL TO ACTION

Open to all conference presenters and attendees Conference Debrief, Call to Action and Q&A

04:00 p.m. – 04:45 p.m. PDT

Presenters will reflect on some of the salient points raised over the course of the conference day and put forth actionable ways to implement lessons learned in an engaging open forum with conference attendees. New resources will be made available to those who participate in this session.

CLOSING

Closing Address and Conference Wrap-Up

04:45 p.m. – 05:00 p.m. PDT

Founders of Let’s Talk recognize the individuals instrumental in bringing this fifth conference to fruition and put forth steps how we can build upon the momentum of the conference to build and sustain an impactful and community of practice.

MANY THANKS!

SEE YOU IN 2022

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WITH CONFERENCE PARTNERS

AND

Conference Sponsors It would not be possible to produce our annual College and Career Conference without the thoughtful and generous support of our benefactors.

Although our organization is 100% volunteerpowered, there are costs associated with every program and event we produce. If not for our donors, none of our programs could be offered to you at reduced or no cost. We all owe our donors a debt of gratitude.

We would like to extend our sincerest thanks to the following families and organizations:

Brad and Lisa Freer Dina, Jordan Jeorge, and Jean-Luc Gaudry The Capital Group Companies Charitable Giving Programs We are grateful to you for always believing in the possibilities and promise of our work.

Let's Talk LD is a 501(c)(3) Corporation EIN 82-4893345

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