SYMPOSIUM & AWARD DINNER DETAILS

Thursday, July 25, 2019
1:00 PM – 9:00 PM Eastern Time
George Washington University Marvin Center
Washington, DC

TASH is celebrating those who have made history in the disability field, and who have worked tirelessly in the legal field for equity, opportunity, and inclusion for people with disabilities. TASH is pleased to announce the third annual Outstanding Leadership in Disability Law Symposium and Award Dinner, to be held on Thursday, July 25 at the George Washington University Marvin Center in Washington, DC. A half-day symposium will explore the intersections between Diversity, Disability, and the Law followed by a reception and dinner to honor Barbara Ransom for her exceptional leadership in disability law.

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ABOUT OUR DISTINGUISHED HONOREE – BARBARA RANSOM
ABOUT OUR DISTINGUISHED HONOREE – BARBARA RANSOM

Barbara Ransom received her B.S.Ed. in 1971 with the thought that she would do what she had been born to do — be a teacher — for the rest of her life. Barbara applied her teaching credentials to almost every level of education — wisely leaving the middle school experience to more stalwartly comrades. For more than a quarter of a century, Barbara has represented individuals, classes and advocacy organizations in the pursuit of ensuring that persons with disabilities receive rights secured through the U.S. Constitution, Americans with Disabilities Act, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and various state constitutions and civil rights laws. Recognizing that our nation has been made richer for its ability to fashion laws that value the humanity and potential in each of us, Barbara has used these laws to the best of her ability to ensure that school districts, state and local public servants, businesses — and even some opposing counsel and judges — remain mindful of the soul of America.

AGENDA
Professional Membership1:00-5:00 | Legal Symposium
Welcome by Ruby Moore, President, TASH

Topic 1: Intersectional Perspectives on Barriers to Education
The panelists will explore disproportionate over and underrepresentation of students of color in special education, which in turn results in segregation and denial of access to the general education curriculum; of systemic exclusion of students of color from quality education environments; and the related phenomenon of tracking and placement of disabled students of color in lower-level educational settings.

Introduction – Jenny Lengyel, Parent of students with disabilities, TASH Board Vice President
Moderator – Judith Gran, Disability Rights Attorney and Partner, Reisman Carolla Gran & Zuba, LLP
Panelists
Selene Almazan, Legal Director of the Council of Parent Attorneys (COPAA)
Theresa Perry, Professor of Africana Studies and Education, Simmons University
Kris Young, Student

Topic 2: Intersectional Perspectives on Barriers to Criminal Justice
The panelists will analyze the how ableism and privilege create and sustain the cradle-to-prison pipeline, and the related phenomena of criminalization of disability and marginalized racial identity that begin in school and result in the imposition of technologies of control and methods through which disabled people, particularly at the margins of the margins, face policing and surveillance.

Introduction – Jean Gonsier-Gerdin, Professor, Teaching Credentials-Special Education, California State University, Sacramento
Moderator – Tanesha Williams, Director of Organizing and Community Building, Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM)
Panelists
Barbara Ransom, Director, NAG for Justice
Beverley Cush Evans, Professor of Education, Lesley University
Taylar Nuevelle, Who Speaks for Me
Marlyn Tillman, Parent, Community Activist; Certified University of Georgia Fanning Institute Community Leadership Program Curriculum Facilitator; and Co-chair of the Gwinnett Parent Coalition to Dismantle the School to Prison Pipeline (Gwinnett SToPP)

Topic 3: Intersectional Perspectives on Barriers to Employment and Equity
The panelists will present strategies that enable people with disabilities survive and thrive in the workplace, while changing and transforming ableist cultures and expectations that actively deprive disabled people of meaningful opportunity and access in competitive and integrated employment.

Introduction – David Taylor, Jr., Secretary and Board Member, TASH
Moderator – Ptahra M. Jeppe, Legislative Advocate
Panelists
Anil Lewis, Executive Director, Jernigan Institute at National Federation of the Blind
Jennifer Mathis, Deputy Legal Director & Director of Policy & Legal Advocacy, Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
Mia Ives-Rublee, Disability Coordinator, Women’s March
NaQuran Smith, Executive Office of the Mayor of the District of Columbia, Office of Disability Rights

Closing Remarks with Barbara Ransom and Judith Heumann

Professional Membership5:00-9:00 | Reception and Award Dinner

5:00 pm:

Reception

6:00 pm:

Welcome

7:00 pm:

Introduction

7:15 pm:
Keynote Presentation
A portrait of Vanita Gupta, a South Asian woman with shoulder-length dark hair parted slightly to her left. It is an official DOJ portrait, so there is a brown wood-panel wall and a U.S. flag in the background.Vanita Gupta is the President of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and formerly the Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, and the Deputy Legal Director of the American Civil Liberties Union.
8:00 pm:

Presentation of the Award

8:30 pm:

Closing

Professional Membership Hotel Accommodations

A small room block has been secured at the Hyatt Place Washington DC/Georgetown/West End2121 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20037. This property is five blocks from our meeting venue, George Washington University’s Marvin Center.

The special rate is $199/night plus tax for the nights of July 24 and 25, and includes complimentary Wi-Fi and hot buffet breakfast. This rate is available through July 9, 2019, or until our room block is sold out, whichever comes first. Reserve your room online or call 800-992-0698 and mention the group code “g-tash” to receive this reduced rate. If you need assistance reserving an accessible room, contact Ashley Blake at Ashley.blake@hyatt.com.

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TICKET PRICING AND HOTEL
Professional MembershipTicket Pricing

Rates are available to register for the entire event, the symposium only or the reception and awards dinner only.

Full Event Reception &
Dinner Only
Symposium
Only
Luminary $350
Professional $175 $125 $60
Self-Advocate/Family/Student $60 $50 $15
SPONSORSHIP & ADVERTISEMENT OPPORTUNITIES

As a sponsor of TASH’s Outstanding Leadership in Disability Law Symposium & Award Dinner, your company/organization will be given a platform to share its story and build brand awareness. Attendees include thought leaders, professionals, policymakers, self-advocates and more! Your investment helps further TASH’s impact on the lives of people with disabilities and helps ensure that they’ll live a life of full inclusion. View our sponsorship and advertisement prospectus.

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