Message from the Executive Director

Policy advocacy is front and center at this time of year and especially as we look forward to the annual Disability Policy Seminar (DPS), March 23–24, in Washington, DC. TASH is once again a partner organization of the DPS, alongside The Arc, Autism Society, American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Association of University Centers on Disabilities, Caring Across Generations, Disability Belongs, National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals, United Cerebral Palsy, and Self Advocates Becoming Empowered.

Attendees will hear from policy experts from the advocacy community and Congress on Medicaid, Social Security, Education, the direct support workforce and other issues; the DPS includes a Hill Day on March 24, when attendees as part of their State Teams will visit Congressional offices. Please note that online registration ends on March 13 (with an option to register on-site during the event). I hope many of you can come to Washington in March as we join our allies to continue to make our voices heard.

TASH also looks forward to starting up a “Medicaid Advocacy Project” next month, thanks to the generous support of the WITH Foundation, to engage individuals with disabilities and allies as we navigate a new and very challenging landscape in the months ahead. More information is to come.

In the meantime, please consider participating in a National Call Day on March 5th to let Congressional offices know our opposition to moving IDEA programs out of the U.S. Department of Education. You can find more information and a call script in this link. Lastly, you can find additional policy and advocacy information and resources at TASH’s Advocacy Tools & Resources page.

With appreciation,

Michael Brogioli

TASH News

Call for Proposals and Key Dates

The Call for Proposals for the 2026 TASH Conference is open now, through Tuesday, May 12, 2026. To access the proposal application forms, visit our Conference website. Scroll down to the “Call for Proposals” section to access information about the Research format, General format or Research Colloquium. All proposals will undergo a de-identified peer review; results will be shared at the beginning of July.

This year’s Conference will be held at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on December 3 – 5, 2026. This year’s Conference theme is Liberty and Justice for All.

2026 Key Dates

TASH’s Parents and Families Workshop Series Starts March 4

Are you just beginning to figure out how to advocate for your child? Facing new challenges as your child enters adolescence or early adulthood? Or starting to think about long-term planning? Join us for TASH’s three-part Parents and Families Workshop Series, facilitated by Gary Shulman, MS. Ed. This interactive series creates space to learn practical strategies while connecting with other families navigating similar journeys. It will be three Wednesdays, March 4, 11 and 18, 2026, 2:00 – 3:30 PM Eastern. Learn more and register here.

Disability Policy Seminar is March 23 – 24

The 2026 Disability Policy Seminar is March 23 – 24 at the Westin Hotel Downtown, Washington, D.C. Online registration ends on Friday, March 13. You can register onsite the day-of. For the schedule of trainings, registration and Hill Day Congressional visits, go to the Disability Policy Seminar website.

Monthly Minute Poll

Take a minute to take TASH’s Monthly Minute Poll. This month’s question is, What makes you feel moss connected to TASH? You can submit your answer here. We will share the results in next month’s TASH in Action newsletter.

Seeking Member Testimonials

TASH would like to continue featuring a member each month and a testimonials about what TASH membership means to them. If you would like to be featured in a future member spotlight, you can submit your testimonial here. We would love to hear from you! Thank you!

We’re Here. Then, Now, Always.
The Evolving Role of DD Councils in Employment
3:00–4:30 PM Eastern, Tuesday, March 10, 2026

In recognition of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month (DDAM), join the Disability Employment Technical Assistance Center (DETAC) for a webinar featuring partners from the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD), the Nebraska DD Council, and NACDD self-advocate apprentice, Bryan Dooley. During this session, NACDD will introduce this year’s DDAM theme and explore how DD Councils play a critical role in moving the needle on employment by convening partners, influencing systems, and elevating effective practices through capacity building. The Nebraska DD Council will highlight key state-level initiatives, partnerships, and lessons learned in their work to impact employment outcomes across Nebraska. NACDD apprentice, Bryan Dooley, will also share how councils can meaningfully incorporate lived experience into policy and practice, drawing from his own employment journey.

Presenters
Jill Jacobs Executive Director, NACDD	Kristen Larsen Executive Director, Nebraska Council on Developmental Disabilities	Becki Koehler Independent Consultant, Nebraska	Bryan Dooley Community Inclusion Specialist, Solutions for Independence

Charting the Course to Employment Success With Family Supports and Cross-System Partnerships

Employment is a core component of a good life. The University of Missouri-Kansas City, Institute for Human Development’s Charting the LifeCourse framework helps individuals and families of all abilities and ages articulate a vision for a good life, identify needed supports, and navigate pathways to achieve the lives they want to live. The framework recognizes that people need different supports at different life stages and that no single service system can meet all needs. This webinar explores how family engagement and cross-system approaches can help remove barriers to achieving meaningful employment outcomes for people with disabilities across the lifespan. Watch it as a recording here.

Follow DETAC on social media for news and resources:

Spotlight on Research

Call for Nominations:
Editor of Inclusive Practices

The Editorial Search Committee is now accepting applications from scholars interested in serving as the Editor of Inclusive Practices. The Editor will serve a 3-year term. Support for this journal will be provided by the TASH Research and Publications Committee. If you are interested in being considered for this position, please send a cover letter of interest and your vita to Stacy Dymond (sdymond@illinois.edu). The search closes March 15, 2026. Read the full Call for Nominations here.

Community News

Collaborative Approaches to Impactful Special Education Leadership

Wayne State University, the University of Kansas and the University of Arizona are partnering on a fully funded, four-year collaborative doctoral program beginning August 2026. This innovative opportunity will prepare doctoral students for special education leadership roles in higher education and administration, focusing on interdisciplinary collaboration and student- and family-centered outcomes. The University of Kansas has extended the application deadline. For more information you can visit the program website or download the flier.

• Advancing Direct Support Professional Careers: Start Here, Go Anywhere!
  Access the LEAD Center webinar archive to hear from panelists from Georgia and New Jersey on practical strategies to strengthen recruitment, retention, and career pathways and learn how DSP experience translates into opportunities in workforce development, health care, education, social services, and related fields: bit.ly/3Z8oNpO.
• Direct Support Professional Career Exploration Infographic
  Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) make a real difference every day. This rewarding career helps people with disabilities build the skills they need to live independently, work, and engage in their communities. To help grow this essential workforce, LEAD Center is sharing a new DSP Career Exploration Infographic. This infographic outlines the skills and steps to start in a DSP role, career pathways, advancement opportunities, and ways educators, recruiters and employers can better coordinate workforce development. Download and share the infographic here: bit.ly/4rsVmLb.
• Universal Design as the Foundation of AI Literacy: Preparing the Workforce of Tomorrow
  Artificial intelligence (AI) is showing up in more jobs every day, and workforce programs are being asked to help people prepare. That can feel like a big shift, but it doesn’t have to be. Watch the latest LEAD Center webinar to learn how AI skills can be taught in practical ways and how to use Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to make sure AI training works for everyone, including job seekers with disabilities. Explore real-world examples, what’s working, and ideas you can use right away in WIOA-funded programs. bit.ly/4a4gXm1.

Two more episodes in Wise’s webinar series are coming up in March. Visit their webinars page to learn about “The Intersection of Person-Centered Plans and Employment Plans” on March 2^nd and “Thoughtful Job Starts: Approaches to Increase Predictability and Success” on March 11^th.

Also, starting in March, Wise will be hosting a four-part Skills Empowerment and Advocacy Training (SEAT), a series developed and led by individuals with development disabilities to prepare others to serve on boards, work groups, advisory councils, and commissions. For the schedule, descriptions of each session and registration, visit Wise’s SEAT homepage.

Intentional Planning and Measuring Accelerated Growth for Students with Disabilities

TransCen is hosting this engaging, introductory webinar led by Kathy Young, Special Education Consultant, on Monday, March 9. Participants will explore why accelerated growth outcomes matter and how to turn that vision into reality. This session challenges that mindset and replaces it with practical, proven approaches that drive measurable results. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies to support individual students, schools, or district-wide improvement efforts. Learn more and register here.

Employment Opportunities

Seeking a Values-Based Employee or Employer?
Post Your Job or Resume on TASH’s Career Center

TASH has expanded our career offerings with our full-blown Career Center. When you post your resume as a TASH member, you will be listed higher in search results and e-mails to employers. Job postings start at $199 for a 30-day advertisement for TASH members and $249 for non-members. Join TASH today to make your next career move.

Upcoming Events

Thank You to Our Donors!

We would like to thank everyone who donated to TASH in February 2026. We are grateful to all of our supporters who help us achieve equity, opportunity, and inclusion for people with disabilities. Thank you!

TASH advances equity, opportunity and inclusion for people with disabilities, with a focus on those with the most significant support needs, in the areas of education, employment and community living through advocacy, research and practice. More information about TASH can be found at www.tash.org.

TASH
P.O. Box 10026, Washington, D.C. 20018-0026 | (202) 808-8148 | info@tash.org

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