Virtual Conference, March 9th, 2024, with The Federation for Children with Special Needs of Massachusetts. Visions of Community is a disability-related conference, bringing together families, youth and professionals who support and advocate for children with disabilities. There will also be a Disability Resource Expo to find local supports for your family’s needs.
2024 Keynote Speakers:
* Dan Bergmann – Dan Bergmann is an autism advocate who uses augmentive communication and drew national attention when he won a Commencement Address speaker prize from Harvard Extension School in 2021.
* Tiffany Hammond – Tiffany Hammond is a New York Times bestselling author and the voice behind the Fidgets and Fries platform. She is an Autistic mother, advocate, and storyteller who uses her personal experiences with Autism and parenting two Autistic boys to guide others on their journey.

  • Workshops will be available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, Vietnamese, Chinese, Somali, and Korean.
  • Simultaneous interpretation will be provided for our “Meet the Commissioners” pre-conference address, our two keynote addresses, and for select presentations.
  • A schedule of interpreted and language-specific sessions will be available in advance.
  • American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation is provided for the keynote sessions and is also available for other sessions upon request.
  • Closed captioning is available for all sessions.
  • If you have a question about ASL or other disability accommodations, please contact  voc@fcsn.org or (617) 236-7210  by February 15, 2024.

* To register or for more information visit https://fcsn.org/visions-of-community-conference/  


Past speakers and topics at the 2023 conference included:

  • Embracing Neurodiversity for Successful Transition to Adulthood – Speaker: Lindsay Thelin Wagner, MS, OTR/L
  • Addressing Stigma – Speaker: Leah Seyoum-Tesfa
  • Meet the Commissioners – Speakers: Nancy Alterio, Toni Wolf, Elaine Fitzgerald Lewis, Linda Spears, Opeoluwa (Ope’) Sotonwa, Kelly English, Maria Mossaides, Russell Johnston, Jane Ryder, David D’Arcangelo
  • Fireside Chat between Judy Heumann and the Federation for Children with Special Needs – Speakers: Judith E. Heumann, Pam Nourse
  • Keynote Panel –  Speakers: Pam Nourse, Robert K. Crabtree, Esq., Dr. Bill Henderson, Elizabeth Bostic, EMBA, Oanh Bui, MA, MHA, Roxann Harvey, Kamisha Heriveaux
  • Senses and Sensibilities: An Inside View on Recognizing and Supporting Individuals with Sensory Issues –Speaker: Stephen M. Shore
  • Building Bridges for the Voices and Experiences of BIPOC Families Navigating Disability Communities – Speakers: Heidi Harris, Danielle Hardin, Cathy Cummings
  • The Science of Play – Speakers: Dr. Sheryl Rosin, Caileen Harvey
  • Heart and Soul: Achieving an Authentic Vision of Belonging with Charting the LifeCourse Tools – Speakers: Rania Kelly, Keila Torres
  • Partnering with Youth & Young Adults with Special Health Needs to Create a Massachusetts Health Transition Toolkit: Your Feedback is Needed! – Speakers: Elaine Gabovitch, Amy Benison
  • Trauma and ADHD ( to be presented online to the Arab community) – Speaker: Amel Alawami MD
  • From Assessment Data to IEP: How Can Parents be Better Prepared? – Speaker: Dr. Lusa Lo
  • Let’s Talk About Transition –Speakers: Rebecca Davis, Shey Jaboin
  • Trauma and Its Impact on Behavior and Learning – Speakers: Aceriane Leal, Mark Costa, Graziela Reis
  • IEP Schoolwide Strategies to Prevent Bullying of Students with Disabilities – Speaker: Johanne Pino
  • Principles of neuroscience and resilience based on motivational interviewing as a support tool for suicide prevention in children and adolescents – Speaker: Dr. Sylvia E. Ginés Villanueva
  • Accessing Genetic Resources for Children with Special Needs – Speaker: Edward M. Kloza
  • Building Resilience in Children and Ourselves! – Speakers: Eileen Sandberg, Mary-Beth Landy
  • Building Your Village – Speaker: Jaya Pandey
  • Finding Common Ground – SEPACs and Districts – Speaker: Leslie Leslie
  • AMLRE for Students Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing – Speakers: Roberta Perry, Margaret Lee
  • An Overview of the Pre-ETS Program – Speakers: Amanda Baczko, Rachel Reyes
  • Building Bridges for the Voices and Experiences of BIPOC Families Navigating Disability Communities
  • Destigmatizing ADHD – Speakers: Christina Horner, Dr. Carrie Mcwilliams
  • Culturally Sensitive and Equitable Family Engagement – Speaker: Ivelisse Caraballo
  • Best-Practices in Early Intervention Services – Speaker: Emily White
  • PMELL Parents-Teachers Interaction and Communication – Speaker: Donalda Amaral Silva
  • Your Family, Your Health: How to Navigate MassHealth’s 2023 Renewal – Speakers: Kathy Melley, Maria Gonzalez
  • Understanding and Overcoming Dyslexia – Speakers: Dr. Ziyi Xiu, Paul Tian
  • Guardianship – Speaker: Paula Thompson
  • School Options and Special Education – Speakers: Rosalie Rippey, Aceriane Leal
  • Heart and Soul: Achieving an Authentic Vision of Belonging – Speakers: Rania Kelly, Keila Torres
  • Navigating MA Health – Speakers: Melanie McLaughlin, Kim Chi
  • The Intersection of Disability and Trauma – Speaker: Nicole Homerin, M.Ed.
  • Shifting from Staff Dependence to INDEPENDENCE – Speakers: Michele Boutelle, Elano Dallmeyer, Kobena Bonney
  • Caregiver behaviors that impede progress – Speaker: Cheryl Ryan Chan
  • New IEP Form – Speaker: April Rist
  • Making Your Digital Communications Accessible – Speaker: Kimberly B. Caissse
  • 2022 Year In Review: Key Special Education Decsions – Speaker: Daniel T.S. Heffernan
  • Know your worth: Finding your dream job – Speaker: Paula Collins
  • The Journey Toward Disability Advocacy: Stories and Lessons Learned from a Panel of Self-Advocates, Parents, and Professionals – Speakers: Amy Szarkowski, Jason Fogler, Gyasi Burks-Abbott, Jordan Lome, Cynthia Laine, Kelly Quaye
  • Intersection of Disability and Race: Navigating and Managing Disability and Race within the Black Community – Speakers: Heidi Harris, Danielle Hardin, Cathy Cummings
  • Dispute Resolution in Early Intervention
  • The Lost Skill of Asking for Help – Speaker: Cheryl Ryan Chan
  • Are my patients happy? Understanding how to improve patient experience –Speaker: Dr. Ahmad AL-Musa
  • PMELL Parents-Teachers Interaction and Communication – Speaker: Donalda Amaral Silva
  • PMMRC: Intro, Services, Family, Engagement, and Support – Speaker: Manel Devallons
  • Health Literacy and Disability in Immigrant Health – Speakers: Rayna Haque, Maha Sheikh, Asha Abdullahi
  • Understanding Your Child’s IEP – Speakers: Diane Santiago, Laura Perez
  • Introduction to SSI and Public Benefits – Speaker: Lisa Sheehy
  • Thriving Through Connection: how support groups help us navigate isolating experiences. – Speakers: Valeryia Pedersen, Jenna O’Donnell, Laura Will
  • Mindful Caregiving: Getting Through Difficult Moments – Speaker: Linda Price, M.Ed, CAGS
  • The “Joy” of Raising a Child with a Rare Disease – Speaker: Kara Torres-Kilgannon
  • SEPAC Awareness – Speaker: LD McCarron
  • Supporting Students with School Refusal – Speakers: Randi Brown, Jacki Dubois
  • Inclusive Postsecondary Education Options in Massachusetts – Speakers: Lyndsey Nunes, Maria Paiewonsky
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