8:45 am - 9:50 am - Welcome & Breakout Session I
A: Parent/Student Panel - Listen to parents and students answer questions about their experiences in college. They will also be able to answer questions from the audience. You may submit questions ahead of time to education@ghdcc.org
B: What Can the Texas Workforce Commission-Vocational Rehabilitation do for You? w/ Kristin Davis - Did you know the Texas Workforce Commission (formerly known as DARS) helps students with disabilities that are college-bound? Learn how the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) can benefit you in your quest for furthering your education or employment.
C: Assistive Technology (AT) Available for Secondary Students w/ Angela Standridge - Learn how to navigate AT access at colleges, universities, and other post-secondary settings as well as what to expect in a job setting. Resources for getting organized and communicating your needs effectively will be shared. Participants will leave with an action plan for AT access and support.
D: Guardianship – Start to Finish and Others Issues in Between w/ Boyd Handley - As parents, and now guardians, of a young adult daughter with Special Needs , we have spent countless hours researching - first regarding education issues and then all that comes with transitioning to adulthood - Guardianship, Supplemental Security Income, Medicaid, Medicaid Waiver Programs and on and on.
Guiding other people who have reached the point where we once were is our way of helping families navigate through the Special Needs maze. Not everything is clear cut when it comes to government programs and benefits that you may be able to obtain for your family member. And then, once you get them, it's imperative to know how to keep them.
10:00 am - 10:50 am - Breakout Session II
A: Parent/Student Panel - Listen to parents and students answer questions about their experiences in college. They will also be able to answer questions from the audience. You may submit questions ahead of time to education@ghdcc.org
B: What Can the Texas Workforce Commission-Vocational Rehabilitation do for You? w/ Kristin Davis - Did you know the Texas Workforce Commission (formerly known as DARS) helps students with disabilities that are college-bound? Learn how the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) can benefit you in your quest for furthering your education or employment.
C: Assistive Technology (AT) Available for Secondary Students w/ Angela Standridge - Learn how to navigate AT access at colleges, universities, and other post-secondary settings as well as what to expect in a job setting. Resources for getting organized and communicating your needs effectively will be shared. Participants will leave with an action plan for AT access and support.
D: Innovative & Inclusive College Programs Serving Individuals With Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities w/Sue Moraska - Director of Houston Community College's nationally recognized "VASTAcademy", which has been offering Career Readiness/Occupational Skills Training to individuals with intellectual & developmental disabilities (IDD's) for close to three decades, will share its' best practices, as a national and state leader in offering inclusive higher ed. access and meaningful credentials to individuals with IDD. Successful tips and strategies for college success, will be shared as well as, what is happening in Texas and the nation to offer more higher ed. access to students with IDD's. An overview of critical data will be highlighted regarding the current need and impact in Texas, along with VAST Academy's successful student and employment outcomes.
11:00 am - 11:50 am - Breakout Session III
A: Texas Tech - CASE w/Taylor Fidler - The CASE program assists students with Autism and other developmental disabilities to navigate college and empower them to reach their postsecondary academic goals and to find competitive employment after graduation.
B: Show Me the Money: Federal Financial Aid for Students with Intellectual Disabilities w/ Ashley Ford - Dive deeper into specific federal aid programs for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Specifically, if a student is attending an approved Comprehensive Transition Program (CTP), they are likely eligible to receive specific federal aid.
C: University of Houston- Accommodations and Services for Students who Have DisABILITIES at UH Main Campus w/ Cheryl Spadaccia - Participants will obtain information about academic accommodation and services available to students enrolled at the University of Houston- Main Campus. Participants will obtain information about conditions that qualify for accommodations, how to register with the Center for Students with DisABILITIES, types of accommodations and services by CSD, and policies and networks to protect students who have disabilities at U of H.
D: Federal Aid Workshop w/ Dania Higueron - Houston FAFSA is a group of partners dedicated to helping families through the financial aid process across the greater Houston area. Houston FAFSA will help you understand the student financial aid process, find your eligibility for federal aid program.
12:00 pm - 12:50 pm - College Green
Participants can virtually explore the conference college vendors during this time by following a QR code that will be provided.
1:00 pm - 1:50 pm - Breakout Session IV
A: Accommodations- What is Available and How Do I Get Them? w/ Brittany Lee - Identifying and understanding the differences between accommodations available in high school vs. postsecondary education. Learn how to request and get accommodations for your college education. Also learn what accommodations are available at the college level.
B: Campus Life with Accommodations w/ Kristin Romero - Exploring what college life looks like with accommodations. Learning how to request accommodations and what to expect once you are on campus or taking online courses.
C: Aggie ACHIEVE at Texas A&M University w/ Olivia Hester - Aggie ACHIEVE at Texas A&M University is a four-year postsecondary program for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) who have exited high school. Aggie ACHIEVE is a certificate program that aims to provide an inclusive and immersive college education and equip students for employment in the community. The program aligns coursework, internship opportunities, and extracurricular activities with each student’s academic interests and employment goals. Aggie ACHIEVE students reside in Texas A&M residence halls and have access to all campus-related activities.
D: How COVID-19 has it Impacted Colleges and Programs w/ Deann Lechtenberger & Taylor Fidler - Learn how colleges are adjusting to the pandemic and how you can make adjustments for yourself.
2:00 pm - 2:50 pm - Breakout Session V
A: Accommodations- What is Available and How Do I Get Them? w/ Brittany Lee - Identifying and understanding the differences between accommodations available in high school vs. postsecondary education. Learn how to request and get accommodations for your college education. Also learn what accommodations are available at the college level.
B: Road to Transition in High School w/ Felicia Caraway - Transition planning is an important part of the IEP for high school students. In this session, we’ll discuss important components of the transition plan, who is responsible for implementing the plan, and appropriate transition goals for further education, future employment and independent living.
C: Making Sense of The Medicaid Waiver System w/ Mary Jane Williams - Medicaid waivers offer long term supports for youth with disabilities and can offer important supports for post secondary education and employment. Yet they also are a source of confusion. Come learn about waivers and what to do if you don’t have a waiver.
D: Lone Star College-Montgomery w/ Montisha Hines-Goosby - Lone Star College lifePATH® is a four-year comprehensive model of post-secondary educational opportunities for students who have disabilities that affect executive functioning. lifePATH focuses on academic readiness, social expectations, and career exploration.