Presenters
The 10th Annual 2012 TN Disability MegaConference Call For Proposals is now closed and sessions are being slotted!
Keynote presenters this year are:
Thursday, May 31 - Alex Plank is the 25 year old guy behind WrongPlanet.net, the incredibly popular site for individuals with Asperger's Syndrome, autism, and other neurological differences (and parents/professionals). Both Alex and Wrong Planet have been featured by The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, and Good Morning America. Wrong Planet has more than 57,000 registered members and its discussion forums contain millions of messages. Alex is self-employed, without use of any agency programs. He is a graduate of George Mason University with a BA in film and video, having received accommodations through college.
Friday, June 1 - Ari Ne’eman is the President of Autism Self Advocacy Network. The first person with autism to be appointed to the National Council on Disability; Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee; Ari has also received the Advocates in Disability Award from HSC Foundation, Expanding Horizons Award from United Cerebral Palsy, and is a TASH board member. He holds a BS in Political Science from University of Maryland. An accomplished speaker, Ari has given lectures at cross-disability events, on topics ranging from self-advocacy, self-direction, Home and Community Based Services, inclusive education and other areas. He also does a lot of work with the national DD system - as part of his work through ASAN, implemented multiple grants from the federal Administration on Developmental Disabilities. In addition to his role on NCD, he is also a founding steering committee member of the National Disability Leadership Alliance, a cross-disability advocacy coalition of national self-advocate/consumer-run groups from different parts of the disability community.
Friday, June 1 - John McKnight - Anyone interested in successfully including people on the margins into neighborhood and community life needs to listen to John McKnight and study asset based community development. John is a community organizer, an academic and a brilliant story-teller. He is deeply committed to promoting the ability and capacity of people, their neighbors and their associations. He believes every community has welcoming places and that every person has a gift, ability or skill to share. It is a matter of finding these gift-focused people and connecting them with people on the margins.
Thursday, May 31 - Brett Leake He is a comedian, uses a wheelchair and has muscular dystrophy. He is very funny, and delivers a positive message. Brett Leake's website
Thursday, May 31 - Erik Carter’s research goal is to identify those skills, supports, and experiences that enable adolescents with significant disabilities (intellectual disabilities, autism, and multiple disabilities) to live rich and personally satisfying lives during and after high school. His research has followed three primary strands. The first strand focuses on interventions to support youth with significant disabilities socially and academically within inclusive schools. Carter’s research in this area has focused most heavily on the processes and outcomes associated with peer-mediated support strategies, along with careful examination of the student, classroom, and other school factors that may influence students’ success. The second strand focuses on equipping middle and high school students with significant intellectual disabilities to transition successfully to life after high school. In this area, his research has focused on (a) assessing the transition-related needs (social, vocational, self-determination, educational) of youth, and (b) identifying feasible and effective avenues for increasing students’ access to career development and early work experiences. The third strand focuses on increasing the capacity and commitment of communities to meaningfully include children and adults with significant disabilities, as well as engaging new partners in these efforts (employers, parents, community leaders, congregations).
The temperature of meeting rooms throughout the conference center will be set at 72 degrees. Please dress accordingly and if you are cold-natured, dress in layers and bring a sweater or jacket.
Photographs and videos will be taken throughout the conference. Attendance constitutes permission to use images of those at the event on this website, by sponsoring disability agencies and in other promotional materials.
This conference is FRAGRANCE FREE! Please refrain from using perfumes, colognes, or scented personal products in consideration of people with chemical sensitivities.
