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2021 SLN Conference: Pre-Conference Workshops

2021 SLN Conference Logo

Pre-Conference Workshops

(Friday, June 18) – $20 each or $40 for CEUs*

Pre-Conference Workshops: June 18th (Two 1-hour sessions)

You will get to choose two 1-hour sessions.  (Note: You do not need to decide in advance when you register, you can choose on the day of the Pre-Conference). Continuing Education Units (CEUs)* are available to professionals for an additional fee. While these sessions offer professional credits, they are also open to siblings, parents, and anyone interested in learning more about these topics.

 9amPT/10am MT/11am CT/12pm ET (Choose Session A or B)

1A. Understanding Parent, Sibling and Self-Advocate Perspectives

All of us, including people with disabilities, deserve the opportunity to practice self-determination and make our own choices. Research shows this is key to a true quality of life. Parents and siblings can be important partners by offering valuable insight into a person’s history, skills, interests, support needs and other important considerations. This panel discussion will feature an adult with a disability, a parent of a child with a disability and a sibling of a person with a disability. They will share how their life experiences shaped their perspectives on disability and family issues. Panelists will discuss how the self-advocate, parent and sibling perspectives can differ from each other and change over a person’s life. They will also share recommendations for those who work with people with disabilities and their families about how to understand, respect and balance these differing roles and perspectives.

      • Jeniece Dortch, Founder & Executive Director of Special Needs Siblings
      • Emma Shouse Garton, SLN Chapter Development Committee Co-Chair; TN Adult Brothers and Sisters chapter leader; TN Council on Developmental Disabilities Public Information Specialist
      • Eric McVay, Self Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE) Board, Secretary; SLN Board, SABE representative

1B. Research and Implications for Siblings of Individuals with Disabilities Across the Globe

In this session, we describe the findings of two studies about siblings of individuals with disabilities. The first study examines the experiences and support needs of Canadian adult siblings during COVID-19. From this study, participants can learn about resources and initiatives during the COVID-19 pandemic. The second study will examine the experiences of adult siblings in the United States, South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan, with two specific aims: to (a) understand their future planning experiences and (b) identify any similarities and differences in future planning participation and relevant factors across four countries. From this study, participants will develop an understanding of the cross-cultural sibling experience.

      • Chung Eun Lee, Ph.D., SLN Chair of Research Committee, Assistant Professor of Special Education, Chonnam National University
      • Yona Lunsky, Ph.D., Director, the Azrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
      • Brianne Redquest, Ph.D., Postdoctoral fellow, the Azrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
      • Mayumi Hagiwara, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Special Education, San Francisco State University
      • Helen Ries, Co-Founder, Sibling Collaborative 

10amPT/11amMT/12pmCT/1pmET (Choose Session A or B)

2A. The Promise of Employment First

This session will review best practice employment supports and the civil rights underpinnings of the current Employment First movement sweeping the nation. Current employment practices now allow people with significant employment barriers associated with disability to work. The promise of Employment First means that anyone who wants to work should be provided with the opportunity to be employed with appropriate ongoing supports. Our country’s civil rights and workforce laws (the ADA, the Supreme Court’s Olmstead Ruling & WIOA) require that state and locally-funded services be provided in typical employment settings, not segregated sheltered workshops or congregate work crews. Come to share your dreams for employment and create your dreams for the future!

      • Bob Lawhead, Policy Advisor, Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council

2B. Supporting and Engaging Siblings of People with Disabilities in Today’s World

Please join us to learn about how to engage and support siblings of people with disabilities. Participants will learn about the important role of all siblings and how to collaborate with siblings from all different backgrounds. Brothers and sisters often have the longest relationships of their lives with each other but their experiences, input, and needs are often overlooked. Siblings’ experiences and insights may be different based on their race, culture, or background. There are many benefits to partnering with siblings including, but not limited to, increased family engagement, better outcomes for the person with disabilities, and sibling needs being met to promote fulfilled and thriving lives.

      • Shawnnita Buckner, SLN Vice Chair, Special Projects Director
      • Shirley Valladares, SLN Secretary, Special Education Teacher

11amPT/12pmMT/1pmCT/2pmET:

Conclude Pre-Conference

*CEUs are provided for the following professions for an additional fee: Advanced Practice Nurses, Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses, Clinical Psychologists, Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Licensed Social Workers, Licensed Professional Counselors, and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselors, Licensed Dietitian Nutritionists, Nursing Home Administrators, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, Qualified Intellectual Disabilities Professionals, Speech Language Pathologists