Join us on July 30th for the 10th Annual Special Education Law Conference & CLE. The conference will focus on dispute resolution in special education and will include recent rulings and decisions under both IDEA and Section 504, ethics, and a panel discussion. The featured speaker for the conference is Diana MTK Autin, Esquire.

Diana graduated from the University of Michigan Law School in 1977. She was Managing Attorney for Advocates for Children of NYC for 7 years, serving as co-counsel for the plaintiffs in the Jose P. case and the Ray M. case. For 28 years, Diana served as Executive Director or Executive Co-Director of the SPAN Parent Advocacy Network (SPAN), New Jersey’s Parent Training and Information Center. In addition to her current role as Senior Program Director for Organizational Capacity-Building at SPAN, Diana is a co-founder and Director of the National Center for Parent Leadership, Advocacy, and Community Empowerment (National PLACE). She is also a parent, having raised four diverse adopted children with a range of needs.

Registration Fee:

• Attorneys - $150 (includes 6 CLE hours, including 1 ethics hour)
• Professionals - $150 (teacher CEUs applied for)
• Parents/Family Members - $150 (parent stipends available)
• Students - $75 (must show student ID)

For more information, contact Jennifer Johnson at 601-969-0601 or email jennifer@mspti.org.

This year's Mississippi disAbility MegaConference was a huge success! The conference was full of inspirational speakers, presentations, awards, lots of fun, and fellowship!

The keynote address featured Elizabeth Bonker and how she overcame the isolation of Autism by learning to type one letter at a time, proving to an all-too-skeptical world that she has a brilliant mind. Elizabeth and her parents now run a nonprofit that seeks to promote typing training to people who are unable to speak. This is a life-altering breakthrough that only requires training people to use a tablet computer to spell out their words.

The conference also featured breakout sessions about community transportation, mental health for caregivers, assistive technologies, and other topics important to people living with disabilities.

Day two included a presentation on Home and Community Based Services and supports available through the Department of Medicaid. Then, Dan Hall shared his journey into quadriplegia and the wisdom and life changing lessons he learned.

Don't miss this opportunity! Mississippi States U-THRIVE Program is currently seeking participants for the 2024-2025 school year! Apply by clicking on the link: https://linktr.ee/uthrive or emailing uthrive@colled.msstate.edu.

The U-THRIVE Program provides experiences to adults with developmental disabilities that will increase their functional living skills and allow them to engage with their community at NO COST TO FAMILIES.

Over the course of a year, 8 total units will be covered. These units will include the following topics: Transportation, Healthy Living, Food and Nutrition, Social Relationships, Independent Living, Employment, Money Management, and Advocating for Oneself. Each month, participants will cover one topic and require the attendance of two virtual instructional meetings and an in-person community outing that will that will take place in or around the Oktibbeha county/Starkville area.

Location: Jackson Hilton