SESSION SCHEDULE
Time 
|
Session Title
|
Speaker(s) | Session Track |
|
Sunday, April 27
|
|||
| 9:00am - 12:00pm | PRE 1 | Have Your Ducks in a Row BEFORE a Due Process Challenge |
Rachel Nicholas Rachel Hitch |
IDEA |
| 9:00am - 12:00pm | PRE 2 | Crafting a Picture-Perfect IEP |
Dianna Bowen |
IDEA |
| 9:00am - 12:00pm | PRE 3 | Back to Science Class: Using the Scientific Method to Conduct Effective School Investigations |
Collins Saint |
Administrative |
| 9:00am - 12:00pm | PRE 4 (AM) | Managing Challenging Student Behaviors Through Evidence-Based Practices |
Joseph Ryan |
Behavior |
| 1:30pm - 4:30pm | PRE 4 (PM) | Managing Challenging Student Behaviors Through Evidence-Based Practices |
Joseph Ryan |
Behavior |
| 1:30pm - 4:30pm | PRE 5 | Do’s, Don’ts, and Due Process: Everything You Need to Know Post-Filing |
Bobby Truhe Karen Haase |
IDEA |
| 1:30pm - 4:30pm | PRE 6 | Mastering the Art of Determining LRE and Avoiding Potential Hazards |
Cassie Black |
IDEA |
| 1:30pm - 4:30pm | PRE 7 | Mental Health and Trauma: When Is It Special Education? |
Stacey Heiligenthaler |
Section 504 |
|
Monday, April 28
|
|||
| 8:00am - 8:15am | 2025 National Institute Welcome Address |
Alissa Trollinger |
General Session |
| 8:15am - 10:00am | GENERAL SESSION | The Year in Review: The 2024 Special Education Law Mixtape |
Karen Haase |
General Session |
| 10:45am - 12:00pm | A1 | Here Comes the General: Recognizing the Role of General Ed Staff in the Special Education Process |
Laura Anthony |
Administrative |
| 10:45am - 12:00pm | A2 | A Thorn in Your Side: Protecting and Retaining Staff in Prickly Times |
Jeremy Neff |
Administrative |
| 10:45am - 12:00pm | B1 | Addressing Social-Emotional Learning and Behavior: MTSS, Discipline, and Everything In-Between |
Cassie Black |
Behavior |
| 10:45am - 12:00pm | I1 | An IEP Is Only Worth the PLAAFP It’s Written On! |
Dianna Bowen |
IDEA |
| 10:45am - 12:00pm | I2 | Serving up Prior Written Notice: How to Follow the Right Recipe for IDEA Compliance |
Ronald Stadler |
IDEA |
| 10:45am - 12:00pm | I3 | So, You Want Him Out of Special Ed? The Ins and Outs of Consent Revocation Under the IDEA |
Jose Martín |
IDEA |
| 10:45am - 12:00pm | S1 | Going From Lost to Found: IDEA and 504 Child Find in a Complex Educational World |
Bobby Truhe |
Section 504 |
| 10:45am - 12:00pm | S2 | Spotting and Averting 504 Implementation Plan Slipups |
Kari Moneyhun |
Section 504 |
| 10:45am - 12:00pm | U1 | The 411 on 504: Using Special Ed Connection to Comply With Section 504 |
Jordan Johnson |
Special Ed Connection Users Group |
| 1:30pm - 2:45pm | A2-R | A Thorn in Your Side: Protecting and Retaining Staff in Prickly Times |
Jeremy Neff |
Administrative |
| 1:30pm - 2:45pm | A3 | Psych! Legal and Practical Guidance for School Psychologists |
Laura Anthony |
Administrative |
| 1:30pm - 2:45pm | B1-R | Addressing Social-Emotional Learning and Behavior: MTSS, Discipline, and Everything In-Between |
Cassie Black |
Behavior |
| 1:30pm - 2:45pm | I1-R | An IEP Is Only Worth the PLAAFP It’s Written On! |
Dianna Bowen |
IDEA |
| 1:30pm - 2:45pm | I2-R | Serving up Prior Written Notice: How to Follow the Right Recipe for IDEA Compliance |
Ronald Stadler |
IDEA |
| 1:30pm - 2:45pm | I4 | Don’t Drop the Ball: Tips for Tackling Disability-Based Harassment in Schools |
Jose Martín |
IDEA |
| 1:30pm - 2:45pm | S1-R | Going From Lost to Found: IDEA and 504 Child Find in a Complex Educational World |
Bobby Truhe |
Section 504 |
| 1:30pm - 2:45pm | S2-R | Spotting and Averting 504 Implementation Plan Slipups |
Kari Moneyhun |
Section 504 |
| 1:30pm - 2:45pm | U2 | 10 Things I Love About You: Making the Most of Your Special Ed Connection Subscription |
Jordan Johnson |
Special Ed Connection Users Group |
| 3:15pm - 4:15pm | GENERAL SESSION | Becoming a Catalyst for Change |
Erin Gruwell |
General Session |
|
Tuesday, April 29
|
|||
| 8:30am - 9:30am | GENERAL SESSION | Addressing Absences and School Refusal in Our Most Vulnerable Population of Students |
Geneva Jones |
General Session |
| 10:15am - 11:30am | A3-R | Psych! Legal and Practical Guidance for School Psychologists |
Laura Anthony |
Administrative |
| 10:15am - 11:30am | A4 | Perfecting the Process of Customizing an Inclusion Model for Your School |
Derek Ihori |
Administrative |
| 10:15am - 11:30am | B2 | Aligning the Gyroscope: Practical Tips for Navigating Overlapping Disciplinary Requirements |
David Garner |
Behavior |
| 10:15am - 11:30am | I4-R | Don’t Drop the Ball: Tips for Tackling Disability-Based Harassment in Schools |
Jose Martín |
IDEA |
| 10:15am - 11:30am | I5 | Self-Defense for Educators in an Obstructionist Culture |
Claire Parsons |
IDEA |
| 10:15am - 11:30am | I6 | Spotlight on Dyslexia: Eligibility, Goals, and Services |
Jonathan Read |
IDEA |
| 10:15am - 11:30am | I7 | Solid Evaluations Support Powerhouse IEPs |
Brandon K. Wright |
IDEA |
| 10:15am - 11:30am | S3 | A Tailored Fit: Ironing out the Wrinkles in Shortened School Days and Other Curricular Changes |
Jeremy Neff |
Section 504 |
| 10:15am - 11:30am | U3 | DIY: Building Your Professional Development Toolbox |
Ryan Benetz Kelly Whiting |
Special Ed Connection Users Group |
| 1:15pm - 2:15pm | E1 | Playing Nice in the Sandbox: Attorneys’ Ethical Obligation to Get Along With Others |
Ronald Stadler |
Ethics |
| 1:15pm - 2:30pm | A5 | Confessions of a Complaint Investigator: The Ins and Outs of Responding to State Complaints |
Robin Day |
Administrative |
| 1:15pm - 2:30pm | A6 | Entiendo: Meaningful Participation for LEP Parents |
Courtney Stillman |
Administrative |
| 1:15pm - 2:30pm | B3 | When They Don’t Act Their Age: Inappropriate Sexual Behaviors in Young Children |
Beverley Johns |
Behavior |
| 1:15pm - 2:30pm | B4 | Walking the Tightrope: Balancing School Safety and FAPE During Threat Assessments |
Samantha Lewis |
Behavior |
| 1:15pm - 2:30pm | I8 | Analyzing Your LRE Decision: Is It Clearly the Least Restrictive Alternative? |
Deanna Arivett |
IDEA |
| 1:15pm - 2:30pm | I9 | Fill in the Blank: When and How to Identify Educational Methodologies in IEPs |
Marcy Gutierrez |
IDEA |
| 1:15pm - 2:30pm | S4 | The Student Receiving IDEA or Section 504 FAPE at Home |
Dave Richards |
Section 504 |
| 1:15pm - 2:30pm | U4 | Hidden Gems of Special Ed Connection |
Ryan Benetz Kelly Whiting |
Special Ed Connection Users Group |
| 3:00pm - 4:15pm | A1-R | Here Comes the General: Recognizing the Role of General Ed Staff in the Special Education Process |
Laura Anthony |
Administrative |
| 3:00pm - 4:15pm | A4-R | Perfecting the Process of Customizing an Inclusion Model for Your School |
Derek Ihori |
Administrative |
| 3:00pm - 4:15pm | B2-R | Aligning the Gyroscope: Practical Tips for Navigating Overlapping Disciplinary Requirements |
David Garner |
Behavior |
| 3:00pm - 4:15pm | I10 | Executive Functioning From A to Z |
Jonathan Read |
IDEA |
| 3:00pm - 4:15pm | I3-R | So, You Want Him Out of Special Ed? The Ins and Outs of Consent Revocation Under the IDEA |
Jose Martín |
IDEA |
| 3:00pm - 4:15pm | I5-R | Self-Defense for Educators in an Obstructionist Culture |
Claire Parsons |
IDEA |
| 3:00pm - 4:15pm | I7-R | Solid Evaluations Support Powerhouse IEPs |
Brandon K. Wright |
IDEA |
| 3:00pm - 4:15pm | S3-R | A Tailored Fit: Ironing out the Wrinkles in Shortened School Days and Other Curricular Changes |
Jeremy Neff |
Section 504 |
| 3:00pm - 4:15pm | U5 | Special Ed Connection at Your Fingertips |
Ryan Benetz Kelly Whiting |
Special Ed Connection Users Group |
|
Wednesday, April 30
|
|||
| 8:00am - 9:15am | A7 | Pointing out the Pros and Cons of Adding AI to the IEP Process |
Stephanie Jones |
Administrative |
| 8:00am - 9:15am | A8 | Into the Unknown: Prepping for a Due Process Hearing |
MaryGrace Bell Kittrell |
Administrative |
| 8:00am - 9:15am | B5 | Law and Order MDR: Special Education Unit |
Elvin Houston |
Behavior |
| 8:00am - 9:15am | I10-R | Executive Functioning From A to Z |
Jonathan Read |
IDEA |
| 8:00am - 9:15am | I11 | Transition Services Today: Legal Trends and Next Steps |
Brandon K. Wright |
IDEA |
| 8:00am - 9:15am | I12 | Staying on Track to Avoid IEP Implementation Failures |
David Hodgins |
IDEA |
| 8:00am - 9:15am | I13 | IEEs in Depth |
Jan Tomsky |
IDEA |
| 8:00am - 9:15am | S5 | Who Qualifies? An Eligibility Determination Under the IDEA and Section 504 |
Betsey Helfrich |
Section 504 |
| 8:00am - 9:15am | U6 | Supercharge Your Legal Research |
Ryan Benetz Kelly Whiting |
Special Ed Connection Users Group |
| 9:45am - 10:45am | E2 | An Ethical Obligation: Stress Management for Special Education Attorneys |
Claire Parsons |
Ethics |
| 9:45am - 11:00am | A5-R | Confessions of a Complaint Investigator: The Ins and Outs of Responding to State Complaints |
Robin Day |
Administrative |
| 9:45am - 11:00am | A6-R | Entiendo: Meaningful Participation for LEP Parents |
Courtney Stillman |
Administrative |
| 9:45am - 11:00am | B3-R | When They Don’t Act Their Age: Inappropriate Sexual Behaviors in Young Children |
Beverley Johns |
Behavior |
| 9:45am - 11:00am | B4-R | Walking the Tightrope: Balancing School Safety and FAPE During Threat Assessments |
Samantha Lewis |
Behavior |
| 9:45am - 11:00am | I8-R | Analyzing Your LRE Decision: Is It Clearly the Least Restrictive Alternative? |
Deanna Arivett |
IDEA |
| 9:45am - 11:00am | I9-R | Fill in the Blank: When and How to Identify Educational Methodologies in IEPs |
Marcy Gutierrez |
IDEA |
| 9:45am - 11:00am | S4-R | The Student Receiving IDEA or Section 504 FAPE at Home |
Dave Richards |
Section 504 |
| 9:45am - 11:00am | U7 | Special Ed Connection Make & Take Workshop |
Ryan Benetz Kelly Whiting |
Special Ed Connection Users Group |
| 11:15am - 12:30pm | A7-R | Pointing out the Pros and Cons of Adding AI to the IEP Process |
Stephanie Jones |
Administrative |
| 11:15am - 12:30pm | A8-R | Into the Unknown: Prepping for a Due Process Hearing |
MaryGrace Bell Kittrell |
Administrative |
| 11:15am - 12:30pm | B5-R | Law and Order MDR: Special Education Unit |
Elvin Houston |
Behavior |
| 11:15am - 12:30pm | I11-R | Transition Services Today: Legal Trends and Next Steps |
Brandon K. Wright |
IDEA |
| 11:15am - 12:30pm | I12-R | Staying on Track to Avoid IEP Implementation Failures |
David Hodgins |
IDEA |
| 11:15am - 12:30pm | I13-R | IEEs in Depth |
Jan Tomsky |
IDEA |
| 11:15am - 12:30pm | I6-R | Spotlight on Dyslexia: Eligibility, Goals, and Services |
Jonathan Read |
IDEA |
| 11:15am - 12:30pm | S5-R | Who Qualifies? An Eligibility Determination Under the IDEA and Section 504 |
Betsey Helfrich |
Section 504 |
| 11:15am - 12:30pm | U8 | What Do I Do When...? |
Ryan Benetz Kelly Whiting |
Special Ed Connection Users Group |
| 1:45pm - 5:00pm | POST 1 | Drowning in Paperwork: Avoiding Sinkholes and Surfing the Waves |
Kelly Raf Robin Day |
Administrative |
| 1:45pm - 5:00pm | POST 2 | Make Parent Participation Meaningful: Lessons from Doctor-Patient Studies |
Dave Richards |
IDEA |
 Download Itinerary to Outlook Read more on how to download >>
|