Endless Possibilities Virtual Conference 2020: A Closer Look at Invisible Disabilities

Conference Registration: $20

CEU: Additional $15 fee (optional)

Fees Include

Fee covers instruction.   The CEU fee includes Continuing Education Units.  

Course Credit

Current UW-Whitewater Graduate students seeking graduate credit please contact Shannon Stuart before registering at stuarts@uww.edu.  Non UW-Whitewater students seeking graduate credit please contact Carrie Lencho before registering at lenchoc@uww.edu. 

Parent Scholarships

Parent scholarships are available to cover conference registration.  Contact Lori Karcher with questions lkarcher@wifacets.org or 414-374-4645.

Refunds

No refunds for this event.

Keynote Session: Navigating Unfamiliar Spaces with an Invisible Disability

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Christina Irene

Christina Irene is a diversity and empowerment author and speaker who teaches invisible disabilities awareness for corporations, colleges and community groups. Previously, she was a high school English and theatre teacher, with a background in show business. Her travels have taken her to all 50 states and 20 countries, contributing to her passion to empower everyone to not only be ourselves, but to be the best version of ourselves – independent, inspired and making remarkable contributions to our communities and the world.

Confirmation Emails

Once you register a confirmation email will be sent to your email account. Contact cesevents@uww.edu if you do not receive this confirmation email. Historically email accounts used from centurytel.net and wi.rr.com are blocked from receiving notifications from us or may end up in your spam folder. You are able to register using these accounts; however, you will not receive emails from us. Please make sure you have a working email address on file with us to be able to receive important announcements and updates about this event.

Questions asked:

• Name, address, email
• Participant Type
• Parents - What is the age of your child (optional)
• Parents - What is the disability of your child (optional)
• Company
• School district with which you are connected (work or home district)
• Race/Ethnicity (optional)
• I understand the refund policy
• How did you hear about this event
• I have met all the minimal technology requirements to participate in this event
• I understand CES is not responsible for troubleshooting technology software; other than the registration system software

What You Will Need to Attend

• A computer, tablet, or smartphone
• A reliable internet connection 
• If you have an external microphone or webcam, plan to use them, but these are not required.

Web Ex will be the hosting platform for this event.  All sessions will be recorded.  Meeting links for joining your select sessions will be available a week prior to the event.  We will email you and provide the link to access sessions.   We will be tracking registrants attendance and providing to WI FACETS. Tracking will include a list of those that attended a session and how long they were in attendance.

Beth Herman is an Educational Consultant with the Wisconsin Department of Instruction and is a member of the Student Services/Prevention and Wellness Team. She is currently supporting state-wide implementation of Youth Mental Health First Aid, the School-based Mental Health Services Grant and Social and Emotional Learning at the department. Beth served as the state Coordinator of the Safe Schools Healthy Students grant from 2013-2017. As a school psychologist for over 20 years, she provided training and implementation support for teachers in classroom management, bullying prevention, and social and emotional learning.

  Christina Irene is a diversity and empowerment author and speaker who teaches invisible disabilities awareness for corporations, colleges, and community groups. Previously, she was a high school English and theatre teacher, with a background in show business. Her travels have taken her to all 50 states and 20 countries, contributing to her passion to empower everyone to not only be ourselves, but to be the best versions of ourselves – independent, inspired, and making remarkable contributions to our communities and the world.

  Jake King is the Program and Outreach Coordinator for NAMI Dane County. He is responsible for coordinating the educational and support programming for the affiliate that are provided for individuals impacted by mental health issues."

  Anna Moffit is the Executive Director of NAMI Dane County, the founding chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Prior to her work at NAMI Dane County, Anna served on the Madison Metropolitan School District's Board of Education and always worked as a Parent Peer Specialist at Wisconsin Family Ties.

 Monica Murphy is an attorney with over thirty years of experience representing people in civil rights, employment, and discrimination matters.  As an attorney with Disability Rights Wisconsin she represents people with disabilities in a variety of civil rights matters including special education, employment, housing, and transportation. She advocates for the rights and needs of people with disabilities both individually and with systems and public policy makers. She has spoken frequently on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  In addition, she has served as an adjunct professor in the Department of Special Education at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, teaching special education law and theory.

  Jessica Nichols CESA 5

 Sarah Reed, PhD, is a Community Psychologist by training and the current Program and Evaluation Manager for Rogers InHealth, the education and advocacy department of Rogers Behavioral Health .Through InHealth, she works through partnerships to reduce the stigma associated with mental health challenges, trauma, and substance use. She is also the staff to the Wisconsin Initiative for Stigma Elimination (WISE), a state-wide coalition focused on building inclusion, support and hope for individuals and families living with mental health challenges.

 Al Schultz, Self-Advocate - I live in Waukesha. I am 21 years old. I love to bike around, play card games, and practice archery. I have a high-anxiety disorder, but do my best not to let that stop me from doing anything in life. I never really liked school, but it helped me get where I am. I am an employee at The Waukesha Food Pantry and Buffalo Wild Wings. I like my work, have made many friends, and feel wanted. And I get to make other people happy at work by showing them that someone cares about them, no matter what.

  Eva Shaw is an Education Consultant on the Special Education Team at the WI Department of Public Instruction. She has been working in the field of special education for over 25 years, in various roles and several states. Eva has served as a special education teacher, diagnostician and program support teacher, PBIS External Coach, NVCI instructor, and Special Education Supervisor. She has a strong passion for supporting students with social emotional needs and behavioral challenges, and with creating positive and proactive behavior interventions, the use of evidence-based practices, and functional behavioral assessments.

  Dr. Amy C. Stevens is Professor of Special Education and Department Chair at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Before teaching at university, she educated students with learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, autism, fetal alcohol syndrome, and emotional and behavioral disorders and was an educational diagnostician. She teaches courses on learning disabilities and reading interventions and is trained as an Orton-Gillingham Reading Interventionist. She is the recipient of the 2019 COEPS Outstanding Service Award, 2018 SSEPC Nasim Dil Service Award, 2014 Inaugural John Rufus Williams Educational Trust Distinguished Lecturer, 2012 Audrey Z. McClellan Endowed Teacher of Distinction, and 2011 COEPS Outstanding Undergraduate Academic Advisor. Dr. Stevens has more than 20 publications to her name and many more refereed presentations on topics related to reading interventions, educational reform, and special education.

  Jeremiah Swisher is a very motivated young man with high-functioning Autism. He has a passion for learning and earned Bachelor’s degrees in Business Administration, General Management and Political Science at UW-Whitewater, followed by a Master’s degree in Public Administration and a certificate in Health Care Management from UW-Oshkosh. He is equally passionate about advocating for himself and others. He is a frequent presenter at conferences and has been asked to share his story with many diverse audiences of youth, families and professionals. He successfully completed two internships with national disability organizations which focus on improving independent living and employment outcomes, respectively, for people with disabilities. Jeremiah has worked for the last five years at the US Department of Veterans Affairs- Veterans Benefits Administration offices in Milwaukee. He has held several positions there and currently serves as a Financial Administrative Specialist.

  Britt Van Asbach graduated in May 2020 with a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Mount Mary University in Milwaukee. As an individual with a learning and physical disability, Britt is a passionate advocate for youths with special needs and has turned that passion into activism in her local community. She serves as a member on the Wauwatosa Committee for Citizens with Disabilities and the WI Youth Leadership Forum Board of Directors Committee. She is an experienced presenter at self-advocacy workshops. Britt currently works part time at Total Spectrum Care, assisting low-income individuals, homeless families, and clients with various mental health issues and drug addiction issues. Her past and present professional experiences continue to aid her in conceptualizing and understanding the complex nature of trauma, addictions, and other co-occurring mental health disorders that often result in children and adults. Britt’s graduate coursework and training has fueled her interest specifically in grief, trauma, and bereavement as well as play therapy. She volunteered and worked in the past as a small group facilitator, family service coordinator, and a grief respite camp volunteer for grief and trauma-stricken children, teens, and families.

  Nicki Vander Meulen is a Juvenile attorney with a passion for special education law. When Nicki was elected to the Madison Metropolitan School District Board (MMSD) in 2017, she became the first autistic school board member in the United States. On the board she has fought to make MMSD more inclusive, reduce seclusion and restraint, and improve outcomes for all marginalized students. She is also the first school board member to visit every school in the district during her first term in office. Nicki experienced a lot of exclusion in school and learned from a very young age she would need to work harder than most to achieve her goals. With the help of her supportive parents she became and remains a dogged self-advocate. She has made it her mission in life to fight tirelessly for those who cannot fight for themselves. She is currently running for State Assembly in District 76.

WI FACETS

Visit website at  https://wifacets.org/training/endless-possibilities.

Questions

Please email Shannon Stuart at stuarts@uww.edu.

Special Notice

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is committed to equal opportunity in its educational programs, activities and employment policies, for all persons, regardless of race, color, gender, creed, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation, marital status, Vietnam-era veteran status, parental status and pregnancy.

If you have any disabling condition that requires special accommodations or attention, please advise us well in advance. We will make every effort to accommodate your special needs.

Registering for this event you understand that the University may take photographs and or videos of event participants and activities. You will  be required to agree at the time of registration that the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater shall be the owner of and may use such photographs and or videos relating to the promotion of future events.  You will relinquish all rights that you may claim in relation to use of said photographs and/or videos.