Ohio University Southern

2021 Envision Access Conference

Supporting Students with Disabilities in the Tristate

 

About the Conference

The Envision Access Conference is an opportunity for member of the Tri-state region to increase awareness and understanding of trends in addressing the needs of students with disabilities.

Conference Expectations & Goals 

• Create a networking event that helps to foster working relationships between guidance counselors, interventions specialists, and higher education accessibility/disability services administrators 
• Accessing and embracing the use of technology. 
• Learn best practice related to students with disabilities.
• Develop community connections to increase educational attainment for students with disabilities. 

Who Should Attend

• Guidance counselors 
• Intervention specialists 
• Enrollment services 
• Parents of students with disabilities 
• Educators 
• Administrators 
• Higher Education Professionals 
• Human Resource Professionals 
• Community Leaders 
• Health Care & Social Services Professionals 
• Non-Profit Executives 
• Hospitality 
• Business Owners 
• Students (Secondary & Post-Secondary) 
• Government

Registration

Register for the 2021 Envision Access Conference virtual event.

Envision Access Conference Registration Form

Cost of Attendance

The 2021 Envision Access Conference is a virtual event and there is no cost to attend.

College Credit Available

College credit available for Ohio University student. Register for SW 2900, Special Topics in Social Work: Envision Access, class# 14083. Students must be able to attend four out of the five conference sessions and complete the Blackboard portion of course. The class runs March 1, 2021 to March 31, 2021.

Accessibility Needs

To request an ASL interpreter or other accommodation to attend this event, please contact Dr. Teresa McKenzie, Accessibility and Veterans Service Coordinator at mckenzt1@ohio.edu no later than February 28, 2021.

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5th Annual Ohio University Southern Envision Access Conference

Supporting Students with Disabilities in the Tristate

2021 Envision Access Conference Agenda (PDF)

Schedule of Events

Wednesday, March 3 through Friday, March 5, 2021
Ohio University Southern
Virtual Conference
Schedule of Events

Wednesday, March 3, 2021

9:00 a.m. – 9:10 a.m.
Welcome - Salome Nnoromele, Ph.D

9:10 a.m. – 9:20 a.m.
Conference Information Review -  Robert Pleasant and Teresa McKenzie, Ed.D.

9:20 a.m. – 9:25 a.m.
Thank You! – Teresa McKenzie, EdD

9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Session 1
Promoting Transition to Postsecondary Education
Presenter: Heidi Cottrill, M. Ed.

1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Session 2
Maneuvering the Road to Transition using the IEP as GPS
Presenters: Charles W. Kemp, Ed.D. and Kimberly D. Cassidy, Ph.D.

Thursday, March 4, 2021

9:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Session 1
Disability Access in Health Science Education
Presenter: Adam Crawford, M. Ed.

1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Session 2
Teaching Sexuality and Sex Education to those with an Intellectual/Developmental Disability
Presenters: Sarah Dahlston

Friday, March 5, 2021

10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Closing Session

“Hear Their Stories” featuring:
Davin Marcum
Isaac Miller
Hunter Schafer
Shea Madigan
Jensyn Cousins

Christy Perez, Associate Director, Student Accessibility Services

Closing and information – Teresa McKenzie, EdD

Session Descriptions
 

Wednesday, March 3, 2021

Session 1 (9:30 am – 10:30 am)

Promoting Transition to Postsecondary Education

Presenter: Heidi Cottrill, M. Ed., Accessibility Coordinator, Ohio University

Session Synopsis/Abstract: Underrepresentation of students with disabilities in post-secondary education is a complex issue. However, one aspect is appropriate support for post-school transition addressing the goal of postsecondary education. Through an introduction of evidence-based predictors for successful transition from high school to postsecondary and an exposition of an innovative program offered by Ohio University, this program will foster an understanding of how postsecondary personnel can partner with multiple stakeholders in order to achieve increased participation and inclusion.

Objectives/Outcomes:
Participants in this presentation will:

• Learn evidence-based strategies to support post-secondary transition.
• Increase knowledge of collaborative methods to enhance relationships between higher education institutions and local secondary education programs.
• Learn pathways to greater engagement in post-secondary transition programming for all stakeholders.

About the presenter:

Heidi is an Accessibility Coordinator for Ohio University’s Athens and Chillicothe campuses. Through this role, she has developed an interest in the transition of students with disabilities to post-secondary. Heidi coordinates Gateway to Success, a transition program on Ohio University campuses. She earned her master’s degree from Ohio University in Education. She has over 15 years of experience working with individuals with disabilities, 10 of those years working in secondary and post-secondary education.

 

Session 2  (1:00 pm – 2:00 pm)

Title: Maneuvering the Road to Transition using the IEP as GPS

Presenters: Charles W. Kemp, Ed.D., Assistant Professor of Special Education, Shawnee State University, School of Education

Kimberly D. Cassidy, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Primary Special Education, Shawnee State University, School of Education
 

 

The Individual Education Program (IEP) has the overarching goal of guiding the student with disabilities to transition to life after high school.  A quality IEP transition plan helps provide guidance for teachers, related service personnel, community support personnel, and others as they work to offer services, academic, behavioral, and social-emotional supports from as early as 3 years old through age 21 if necessary.  This presentation will present the IEP as a GPS for the student, parents/caregivers, and all service providers as they maneuver the road to transition with the student.  The presentation will focus on the three key areas of transition: postsecondary education / training, competitive integrated employment, and independent living, particularly with a student interested in the vocational school experience in high school and the college experience post high school.

About the Presenters:

Charles W. Kemp, an assistant professor at Shawnee State University, Portsmouth, Ohio teaches in the Multi-age Intervention Specialist and Primary Special Education programs at the undergrad and graduate levels. Kemp, having nearly 35 years in education has served as classroom teacher and school administrator in US schools and abroad. His presentations at national and state conferences always have an inclusive education perspective and often address topics like co-teaching at the university level, serving low-incidence disabilities in the general education classroom, and supporting students with disabilities in university classrooms through better transition planning.

His current research continues to explore how to model co-teaching in university teacher prep programs and ways to understand the effectiveness of dual-licensure programs when preparing preservice teachers for today’s classrooms.

Kimberly D. Cassidy, Ph.D. is an assistant professor and director of Primary Education and Primary Intervention Specialist Blended Programs. She is also the director of the School of Education Graduate Programs. Dr. Cassidy has more than 20 years in elementary education and administration as well as serving as a developmental specialist for the State of Tennessee. She is internationally recognized for her research on integrating yoga into the classroom for cognitive stimulation and attributional retraining, having presented at Harvard School of Medicine Movements Body, Brain, Cognition International Conference and Cal Poly Tech Ahimsa International Conference in Pomona, California. Dr. Cassidy was also awarded SSU’s 2018 Outstanding New Faculty Award.

Her current research focuses on co-teaching in university teacher prep programs and ways to understand the effectiveness of dual-licensure programs when preparing preservice teachers for today’s classrooms.

 

Thursday, March 4, 2021

Session 1  (9:00 am – 10:00 am)
Title: Disability Access in Professional Health Science Education

Presenter: Adam Crawford

 

The health sciences offer educational programs which can pose unique challenges and opportunities for disability access. Disability resource professionals should take an informed and strategic approach toward health science education in order to maximize their effectiveness in creating access for students with disabilities. The presenter will review their own approach in working with their institution’s College of Nursing.

Topics will include: growing one’s own knowledge, understanding discipline-specific accommodations, developing effective relationships and processes, and identifying areas for collaboration.

About the presenter:

Adam Crawford is an Assistant Director at Student Life Disability Services at The Ohio State University. Adam has 8 years of experience in the disability resources field. He received his Bachelor’s in Sociology and his Master’s in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Missouri State University. Adam currently serves as the President-Elect for OH-AHEAD (the Ohio Affiliate of the Association on Higher Education and Disability).

Session Materials:

Disability Access in Health Science Education (Microsoft PowerPoint)

Disability Access in Health Science Education (PDF)

 

Session 2  (1:00 pm – 2:00 pm)
Title: Teaching Sexuality and Sex Education to those with an Intellectual/Developmental Disability (Professional Training Session)

Presenter: Sarah Dahlston, Director of Education, Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio

SexEd should be comprehensive and accessible to all. It should equip people with the knowledge they need to determine and enjoy their sexuality - physically and emotionally, individually and in relationships. People with developmental disabilities are often overlooked or completely forgotten in discussions of human sexuality. We want to change that. At Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio, our educators have been providing education to people with developmental disabilities since 2017. These mini sessions provide an opportunity for direct care staff, family and other caregivers to increase their knowledge, skills and confidence in delivering the SexEd their clients deserve.

• May range from topics of:
  • Human Development and Healthy Relationships
  • Consent, Boundaries, and Public v. Private
  • Reproductive and sexual anatomy, puberty, and hygiene
  • STI/HIV Reduction, self-care, and Planned Parenthood services
  • Pregnancy prevention and decisions about parenting

Facilitation skills, lesson planning, and teachbacks

About the presenter:

Sarah is a Certified Health Education Specialist and a Certified Sexuality Educator and works to provide community members from all walks of life with comprehensive, unbiased, and inclusive relationship and sexual health education.

 

Friday, March 5, 2021

Closing Session  (10:30 am – 12:00 pm)
Closing Session: Hear Their Stories
 

Presenters:

Davin Marcum – Ohio University Alumnus, Southern Campus, Member of the Governor’s Ohio State-Wide Independent Living Council

Isaac Miller – Ohio University Student, Athens campus, E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, Scripps College of Communication

Hunter Schafer – Ohio University Student, Southern campus, Bachelor of Social Work

Shea Madigan – Ohio University Student, Chillicothe campus, Bachelor of Science, Middle Childhood Education Science and Social Studies

Jensyn Cousins – Ohio University Graduate, Chillicothe campus, Bachelor of Social Work, and current Master of Social Work student

In this closing session, you will be introduced to six Ohio University students representing all six campuses. The students will share their lived experiences associated with living, learning, and succeeding regardless of ability.

About the presenters:

Davin Marcum is a 2019 graduate of Ohio University with a Bachelor of Science in communications in public advocacy with a focus on English and psychology and an associate in arts and humanities degree. She has been a member of the Ohio Statewide Independent  Living Council since 2018.  Since she was 17 years old, she has been active in the disability advocacy community. Some of her accomplish include interning for the Open Door School located in Ironton, Ohio and speaking on behalf of multiple statewide disability advocacy programs. Since graduation Davin has devoted her time to promoting equity for people living with disabilities and has been a speaker at several events.

Isaac Miller is a senior studying journalism at the Ohio University Athens Campus. He has lived in Athens his entire life and graduated from a local high school called Federal Hocking in 2017.  He is on the autism spectrum and receive some accommodations from Student Accessibility Services. He states he was nervous and confused when he started college, but he has learned to advocate for himself in order to have the success he wants. He currently has a 3.5 GPA and is a student in one of the nation’s most prestigious journalism schools. Isaac says college can a big transition from high school, but students with disabilities can be successful if they advocate for themselves and learn about the services available to them. Aside from college, he has several interests. He enjoys running and tries to run most days. He is also an avid train enthusiast and volunteer on the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway, a local tourist railroad. He says, “I am honored to speak at this conference and look forward to sharing my story with all of  you.” 

Hunter Schafer is a graduating senior in the Bachelor of Social Work program at the Southern campus. Hunter is also a US Army Veteran, who served at the U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria in Vilseck, Germany and is student worker at Ohio University Southern. Hunter recently started sharing story about his personal experiences about being diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, his transition out of the Army, and the importance of seeking help, along with taking control of your quality of life. Hunter hopes to continue his educational journey in the Master of Social Work program at Ohio University.

Shea Madigan is a sophomore at Ohio University Chillicothe, majoring in Middle Childhood Education Science and Social Studies. This is only her second semester at OU but because of credit hours earned in high school, she is already a sophomore in teacher candidacy school. Shea has been diagnosed with ADHD (inattentive), ODD, anxiety, and an adjustment disorder. In high school, Shea was awarded for her academic achievements and participated in multiple extracurriculars. Shea has had a poem she wrote about her struggles with her own neurodiversity published in a local newspaper and has been writing since she learned how to hold a pencil. She also started her own Etsy business this year and has made over twenty sales in less than two months. Shea wants to help erase the stigma around mental health and help find solutions for neurodiverse people instead of allowing them to just find shame.

Jensyn Cousins is a Social Work graduate student here at Ohio University’s main campus. She previously graduated from Ohio University-Chillicothe and has spent much of her post-secondary education advocating for multiple populations. She is the former President of Students Advocating for Gender Equality (S.A.G.E.) and the former Vice President of the Social Work Student Association (S.W.S.A.) at the Chillicothe campus. One of her main goals in her career is to de-stigmatize the negative connotation around Bipolar II and encourage others to speak up about their own experiences.

 

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