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2015 TASH Conference has ended
This year’s theme, “Celebrating 40 Years of Progressive Leadership,” acknowledges TASH’s 40 years of generating change within the disability community and anticipates a brighter, more inclusive future for people with disabilities in all aspects of life. Each year, the TASH Conference impacts the disability field by connecting attendees to innovative information and resources, facilitating connections between stakeholders within the disability movement, and helping attendees reignite their passion for an inclusive world.

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Friday, December 4 • 11:20am - 12:50pm
General Session

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Opening Remarks
Barb Trader, Executive Director
TASH

Greetings
Steven Schwartz, Attorney
Center for Public Representation

Make the ADA Count: Supporting People to Live the Life They Want
Alison Barkoff, Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
Heather Hardman
Christopher Lin
Scott Shepard, Avenues Supported Living Services

This session is a spirited Call to Action for every conference participant! As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and witness nearly world-wide ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, people with significant support needs still want and deserve better lives than what is typically available. The ADA’s “integration mandate” has been hard to achieve – but the HCBS Waiver Settings Rule, introduced in 2014, provides a great opportunity to turn the tide. This session begins with what is possible? Two people, Christopher and Heather, will share stories of their lives and the supports that make them vibrant. Next, how is it possible? The historic importance and great promise of the HCBS Settings Rule will be explained as well as the many threats piling up that may derail this important advocacy victory. Finally, what will make it possible? We’ll learn the context by which this struggle for integration in community life, begun decades ago with deinstitutionalization – continues to require advocacy, engagement and a recommitment to the art of the possible from each of us. This session will reinvigorate our shared promise as the TASH Community -- “If we do our jobs, people with severe disabilities will live productive, safe, healthy, happy and integrated lives.” Lou Brown, Who are They and What do They Want?

Conclusion of General Session
Speakers
avatar for Alison Barkoff

Alison Barkoff

Director of Advocacy, Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
Alison Barkoff is the Director of Advocacy at the Bazelon Center.  She works on policy and litigation related to community integration and inclusion of people with disabilities, including Olmstead, Medicaid, employment, housing, and education.  She is an appointed member of the... Read More →
avatar for Heather Hardman

Heather Hardman

Heather moved to Southern California in 1987 with her family from Connecticut when her Dad got relocated due to his work.  With support from Jay Nolan Community Services, and later Avenues Supported Living Services, Heather taught us that she needed to be busy and in the community... Read More →
avatar for Christopher Lin

Christopher Lin

Christopher transitioned from an autism class and a 6-bed group home when he turned 19, as a result of his family attending Cal-TASH conferences and dreaming about what could be possible for Chris.  Christopher used to challenge the system, not quite fitting in to the group home... Read More →
avatar for Scott Shepard

Scott Shepard

Director, Avenues Supported Living Services
Scott Shepard is the Executive Director of Avenues Supported Living Services, a non-profit agency which provides community living and personalized day supports to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in North Los Angeles County. With Avenues SLS, we had the opportunity... Read More →
avatar for Barb Trader

Barb Trader

Executive Director, TASH
Barb Trader is Executive Director of TASH, a progressive advocacy organization that advances inclusion and human rights of people with significant disabilities and complex needs. In her role at TASH, Barb leads APRAIS (Alliance for Prevention of Restraint, Aversive Intervention and... Read More →

Friday December 4, 2015 11:20am - 12:50pm
Salon F 1402 SW Naito Parkway Portland, OR 97201
  General Session

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