In this Issue:

TASH News ◆ Disability Employment Technical Assistance Center News ◆ Community News ◆ Upcoming Events ◆ Thank You to Our Donors

Message from the Executive Director

As we mark the last day of Disability Pride Month and the 34^th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act in July 1990, we acknowledge our progress in advancing the rights of people with disabilities and the challenges that remain to dismantle barriers that stand in the way of full inclusion.

You’ll find information further on in this issue of TASH in Action about our 8^th annual Outstanding Leadership in Disability Law Symposium and Award Celebration on September 11. We’re offering a virtual attendance option for the afternoon Symposium which will feature expert presenters on three panels: “The Future of Deinstitutionalization Litigation”, “Preserving the Memory of Institutions: Sites of Conscience, Places of Remembrance”, and “Advancing Competitive Integrated Employment Through Innovation”.

We look forward to honoring Steve Schwartz, JD, in-person during the evening Award Celebration for his outstanding leadership in disability law, at the American University Washington College of Law. This year’s event will indeed acknowledge our progress and address some of the challenges that remain in our quest for equal rights and full inclusion. I hope you can join us in September.

With appreciation,

Michael Brogioli

TASH News

Conference News

The 2024 TASH Conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans, in New Orleans, Louisiana, on December 5 – 7.

Awards Nominations Due Monday

This is the last week to submit a nomination for one of TASH’s nine award categories. The deadline for award nominations is Monday, August 5, 2024. Visit TASH’s Awards Recognition Program page for details and nomination forms.

Early-Bird Registration

Early-bird registration rates are available through Monday, September 9, 2024. For more information or to register, click here.

Discount Hotel Rate

A discounted hotel rate is available to Conference attendees at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans through Friday, November 8, 2024. For details on booking a room at this rate visit the 2024 TASH Conference page.

Conference Sponsorship and Exhibiting

We hope you will consider becoming a sponsor at the 2024 TASH Conference, in “The Big Easy”, New Orleans! To learn more, check out the 2024 TASH Conference Sponsor and Exhibitor Prospectus.

Conference Volunteers Needed

A TASH Conference would not happen without the support of our amazing volunteers! TASH members, who commit to volunteer for ten hours (2 five-hour shifts) will receive $150 off their Conference registration! The Conference volunteer application is open through Friday, October 18.

Conference Scholarship Applications

A limited number of Conference scholarships will be available for self-advocates or family members who demonstrate a need for support to attend the 2024 TASH Conference. Priority is given to first-time attendees and current TASH members. A scholarship covers the registration fee only and does not include travel, meals, or hotel expenses. The scholarship application is open through Friday, September 27, 2024.

TASH’s eighth annual Outstanding Leadership in Disability Law Symposium and Award Celebration will be Wednesday, September 11^th at the American University Washington College of Law. A half-day legal symposium and evening award celebration will honor Steven J. Schwartz, JD, for his exceptional leadership in disability law. The keynote speaker will be Samuel Bagenstos.

You can learn more about the symposium sessions and speakers, registration, continuing legal education credits, and the hotel discount for out-of-town attendees at the event webpage on TASH.org. If you are interested in sponsorship or writing a congratulatory message to our honoree in the event program, you can learn more from the Sponsorship and Advertisement Prospectus.

TASH Membership Referral Program:
Expand Our Community Together!

TASH’s Membership Referral Program, to foster growth and inclusivity within our community, is active through Monday, September 30, 2024. As an existing member, you can refer friends, colleagues, or organizations to join TASH. It’s a win-win situation: when your referrals become new members, you and the new member will reap the rewards! You can read the details of how the program works and access some resources to help you generate interest in TASH at the Membership Referral Page on tash.org.

Member Spotlight

“As a teacher, TASH conferences and resources supported me to see advocacy in action and learn new strategies to support effective inclusive service delivery. Now, as a teacher preparation faculty, I use TASH resources to stay current on best practices and share new strategies with my teacher candidates.”

Samantha Gross Toews, PhD Assistant Professor Department of Special Education California State University, Northridge TASH member since 2011

Learn more about membership and join here. If you would like to be featured in a future member spotlight, you can submit your testimonial here.

TASH’s Webinar Series Resumes in Autumn

TASH’s 2024 Webinar Series resumes in September with “Community Options, Inc.: A Business Model for Employment” (details below). You can learn more and register for your choice of episodes from the webinar page at TASH.org. You can watch previous episodes in the series as recordings from TASH’s YouTube channel.

2:00-3:00 PM Eastern, Thursday, September 19, 2024

Community Options, Inc.: A Business Model for Employment

This presentation will discuss and teach on the business models that Community Options uses to help individuals with disabilities choose employment that helps them learn and grow as an employee. It will provide the plan Community Options uses to refer people to employers and achieve successful competitive integrated employment in the community.

By the end of the session, participants will understand:

• The importance of being able to train individuals that may not have much working knowledge or skills needed to be employed as of right now.
• How to help build the skills, teach the job, and help them maintain employment within Community Options and then in the community.

Dina Casalaspro is the Managing Director of Employment and Development Services of Community Options Enterprises.

Learn More and Register

Centers for Independent Living Connecting People with Disabilities to Competitive, Integrated Employment
3:00 – 4:30 PM Eastern, Tuesday, September 10, 2024

During the month of September, we mark the 51^st anniversary of the passage of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. To commemorate the first civil rights legislation for people with disabilities, DETAC welcomes two disability-led national organizations to discuss employment – the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) and the Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL). They will highlight how their work increases access to competitive, integrated employment nationally and how they collaborate with Centers for Independent Living (CIL) in all geographical locations across the country to do so. This webinar is intended for CILs but is applicable to other Administration on Disabilities stakeholders, as well as self-advocates and family members who want to learn about additional resources to boost employment outcomes.

Presenters

	Mary-Kate Wells Program Director, National Council on Independent Living (NCIL)
	Rebecca Roberts Director of Training and Technical Assistance, Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL)

Job Accommodations Make a Difference: Data Points and Implications

During the month of July, we celebrated the 34^th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). It is often said that good data provides indisputable evidence. A panel of researchers from the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Employment for People with Physical Disabilities shared insightful data on how providing job accommodations for people with disabilities does make a difference to perform their job duties and enjoy equal employment opportunities. Presenters highlighted their current research projects and latest observations that support grantees, federal and state policymakers, job seekers with disabilities, and employers to improve employment outcomes for people with disabilities. Watch this complete webinar as a recording here.

Follow DETAC on social media for news and resources:

Community News

National Core Indicators – Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities In-Person Survey National Report 2022-23

The National Core Indictors – Intellectual and Developmental Disability In-Person Survey (NCI-IDD IPS) National Report 2022-23 is here! The NCI-IDD IPS is the largest and most representative data on the characteristics and outcomes of people with IDD who use state-funded services, including data from more than 25,000 participants from 33 states. The 2022-2023 Data at a Glance is here. You can access the complete report here.

Celebrating Olmstead and the Americans with Disabilities Act

Individual Placement and Support and Competitive Employment Frequently Asked Questions

What is Individual Placement and Support (IPS)? What types of job supports do employment specialists provide within IPS? Job supports vary based upon each worker’s preferences and needs. IPS is an evidence-based supported employment model primarily provided to people with mental health conditions and helps people succeed at jobs of their choosing. Check out the LEAD Center IPS Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for more.

Celebrating the 25 Years of Olmstead: 25 Policy Innovations and Milestones

On June 22, 1999, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Olmstead v. L.C. & E.W. that states must provide services and programs for people with disabilities in the most integrated setting based on their needs and preferences and that unjustified segregation was a form of discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). LEAD Center is celebrating the 25^th anniversary of the Olmstead decision by sharing 25 policy innovations and milestones. Learn about the establishment of the Office of Disability Employment Policy within the U.S. Department of Labor, the development of innovative models for providing inclusive apprenticeships to young people with disabilities, and more! Access, download and share the booklet, “Celebrating the 25 Years of Olmstead: 25 Policy Innovations and Milestones“.

ADA Short Success Stories

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law 34 years ago, on July 26, 1990. Check out this ADA National Network collection of Short Success Stories made possible thanks to the ADA!

Join the Family Focus Resource Center at California State University Northridge, in collaboration with CalTASH, for this voting workshop for adults with disabilities that will discuss the how’s, why, and also address the role of direct support providers in what their assistance can be at the polling location or when assisting in completing a mail-in ballot.

Registration Rates Increase August 6th
Register Today!

The Reinventing Quality Conference is the place to gather emerging and best practices that promote high-quality individualized, person-centered supports and systems. Don’t miss the opportunity to register at the preferred rate today! TASH will be exhibiting and we hope to see you there!

Upcoming Events

Thank You to Our Donors!

We would like to thank everyone who donated to TASH in June 2024. 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
1825 K Street NW, Suite 1250, Washington, D.C. 20006 | (202) 808-8148 | info@tash.org

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