ASAH 46th Annual Conference Sessions

This presentation will address the relationship between sensory regulation and common behaviors of students seen in the school setting. We will explore how the topography of target behaviors can guide the process of individualizing sensory diets and behavioral interventions. The goal of this presentation is to provide pertinent information regarding the aforementioned topics to increase the effectiveness of behavioral and sensory interventions implemented within the educational setting. Workshop Facilitators: Sara Weiss MS, OTR/L and Grethel Beyra (The Gateway School)

This session will educate teachers and providers on developing a comprehensive transition curriculum to lead to competitive integrated employment. During the session a thorough timeline of what should be taught to young adults age 14-21 to prepare for adult life. Job readiness skills, job sampling and job development will be the key components to prepare for employment after graduation. Workshop Facilitator: Stefanie Rinaldi

The NJDOE has been promoting practices for staff to assist students with exceptionalities during school drilling and during a school crisis and ways to be in compliance with N.J.S. § 18A:41-1, the School Security Drill Law Revisions of 2024. In this session, best practices will be shared to assist school personnel prepare, practice and implement modifications and accommodations during a school crisis. Workshop Facilitator: Thomas Gambino, Ed.D, New Jersey Department of Education

Special education teachers have the immense responsibility of educating numerous children with high level support needs and also supervise a number of adults with paraprofessional responsibilities in the classroom. The days can be both challenging and rewarding. Staff burnout is real. How do we help create a classroom environment that is motivating, fun, stimulating and a place where children want to learn and staff want to work? It is well known that classroom management continues to be an area that teachers report needing assistance to be more successful. Moreover, classroom management is an area not typically addressed for the nuances in special education training programs and universities. Join us for a lively discussion on strategies that can help foster and stimulate effective classroom dynamics that contribute to a positive work climate while making a positive impact on student outcomes. Areas such as cohesive team building, collaborative lesson planning, school-wide partnerships, celebrating student and staff achievements, as well as reflective practices in the special education classroom will be exemplified. Come prepared to share your experiences and walk away with lots of ideas to implement with your classroom team the very next day. Let’s aim for all students and staff to end each school day with reasons to celebrate! Workshop Facilitators: Michael Farrelly and Tracy Lee

Grandparents represent one of the most underutilized yet potentially powerful allies in supporting students with autism—yet most educational professionals receive little guidance on how to effectively engage this crucial demographic. This workshop bridges that gap by providing special education professionals with practical strategies to transform grandparents from confused bystanders into informed advocates and partners. Drawing from both extensive professional experience as a special education principal and personal insights as a grandmother of a child with autism, this session offers a unique dual perspective on building meaningful partnerships between educators and the extended family system. Workshop Facilitator: Jennifer Kaufman, M.S.E.T., M.A.Ed.L. (Principal of the EPIC School)

Join representatives from the New Jersey Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS) for an overview of how DVRS partners with schools, families, and community agencies to support students with disabilities in their transition to adulthood. This session will cover available services, referral and eligibility processes, how to engage families in transition planning, and best practices for school collaboration. Whether you're new to DVRS or looking to strengthen your partnership, this workshop will provide valuable insights and resources to help students successfully move from school to work and beyond.

This session is part of ASAH’s Collaborative Conversations series—informal, peer-driven discussions designed to spark dialogue, share practical ideas, and problem-solve real challenges in the field. This dynamic conversation creates space for open, practical dialogue on building trust-based partnerships between schools and families—especially those raising children with disabilities. Christine Staple Ebanks brings a powerful dual perspective as both a parent and a professional advocate, while Lisa Lerner Graul contributes extensive experience working with families through early intervention and school-age services at LADACIN Network. Together, they’ll guide participants through small group conversations, real-life examples, and reflection exercises to explore common breakdowns in communication and how to better engage and empower families. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies to foster stronger, more inclusive school communities. Facilitators: Christine Staple Ebanks Owner and President, Raising Special Needs Inc. Lisa Lerner Graul Associate Executive Director, Children’s Services & Information Technology, LADACIN Network

Building on the foundational workshop led by Dr. Thomas Gambino, this panel will explore how schools are implementing the revised 2024 School Security Drill Law to ensure emergency procedures are effective and responsive to the needs of all students, including those with disabilities. Moderated by Dr. Kerri Tomasello from the NJDOE Office of Special Education, the session will feature practical insights and real-world applications from a diverse group of school leaders and specialists. The panel will address common challenges, share promising practices, and respond to questions submitted both in advance and during the session. Attendees will leave with actionable takeaways to help strengthen their school’s safety planning in ways that are thoughtful, adaptable, and student-centered. Moderator: Dr. Kerri Tomasello, BCBA-D, County Special Education Specialist, Burlington County Office of Education Panelists: Thomas Gambino, Mike Carpino, Michele McCloskey, Jennifer Amoroso, Candace Galvez

This session is part of ASAH’s Collaborative Conversations series—informal, peer-driven discussions designed to spark dialogue, share practical ideas, and problem-solve real challenges in the field. In this conversation, Georgianna Petillo and John Gonzalez will lead participants through four essential elements of effective IEP development and implementation: writing stronger, more focused IEPs; using the IEP to drive instruction; creating standard operating procedures (SOPs); and applying meaningful administrative oversight. Participants will engage in small group discussion, guided by handouts, templates, and reflective prompts. Together, attendees will examine common pain points—like stagnant progress or unclear instructional planning—and explore strategies that have shifted IEP meetings from difficult to data-driven. Expect to leave with actionable ideas and tools to improve your team’s planning, alignment, and student outcomes. Facilitators: Georgianna Petillo, Director of Special Education, Manalapan-Englishtown Regional Schools John Gonzalez, Alpha School

This session is part of ASAH’s Collaborative Conversations series—informal, peer-driven discussions designed to spark dialogue, share practical ideas, and problem-solve real challenges in the field. This collaborative conversation will explore how schools can create meaningful community-based and work-based learning opportunities for students with significant and multiple disabilities. Drawing on over 25 years of classroom experience, Regina Murphy will share insights from her school’s program, which emphasizes communication, socialization, and real-world skill-building—not just job placement. Participants will have the chance to share successes and challenges, exchange resources, and discuss practical strategies like finding job sites, partnering with community organizations, and adapting tasks for students of all ability levels. Come ready to connect, collaborate, and walk away with new ideas to strengthen your own CBI programs. Roundtable Facilitator: Regina Murphy - Career Awareness Program Teacher and Work-Based Learning Coordinator, NJID Lakeview School

In the current political climate, funding and safeguards for students with disabilities are at risk. More than ever, it’s important to acquire effective advocacy strategies so that students continue to receive a free and appropriate education. As a former special educator and parent of two children with disabilities, Joanne knows how to view special education from both sides of the table. An award-winning author, she will share insights and strategies that will help you communicate more effectively with team members. Whether you’re a parent struggling to be heard or an educator managing the complexities of a threatened system, this workshop will strengthen your advocacy skills. Workshop Facilitator: Joanne DeSimone

This workshop will help give administrators and classroom teachers knowledge and practical strategies to encourage engagement inside and outside the classroom. We will specifically be focusing on students who may be disengaged and disrespectful. The workshop will allow teachers to 'add to their toolbox', specifically with behavior management. Learning Outcomes include: Participants will be able to demonstrate practical strategies for students with anxiety, attention-seeking, disrespect, and disengagement. Participants will learn ''psychological hacks'' to help positively engage with students. Participants will understand the reasonings behind student behaviors and practical strategies to work with them, not against them.' Workshop Facilitator: Dan Silvestro Assistant Principal - Community School

The jump from 21 to adulthood for individuals with ASD is fraught with challenges. The differences between the classroom and adult programming are stark. Learners lacking essential skills and needing high levels of support often have fewer opportunities in adulthood which can then lead to lower qualities of life. There is a great need to start working on essential skills as soon as possible. This workshop is intended to help behavior analysts, educators, and parents focus on the meaningful skills that will translate into a learner's adulthood. The presentation will discuss Event Based Teaching and the shift that SEARCH Day Program underwent in its approach to transitional age student programming. The transitional programming initiative was the result of SEARCH's consultation and collaboration with Troy Fry (co-author, Essential for Living) and Kristina Montgomery and Emily Beal Wilkinson (Victory Academy). Participants will learn how to change their approach from teaching skills in isolation and out of context to stacking goals and within context. Functional academics, daily living skills, vocational tasks, social interactions, etc. are all taught using real materials and within the appropriate group contexts. Participants will also learn how the Essential for Living curriculum can be used in conjunction with other behavioral programming (e.g., PFA/SBT) for learners who possess essential skill deficits while also engaging in challenging behavior. Workshop Facilitators: Ed Sidley - BCBA SEARCH Day Program & Patti Kriews, classroom teacher SEARCH Day Program

School administrators constantly seek innovative, cost-effective solutions to enhance student outcomes and maximize existing resources. This session presents a powerful strategy to achieve both: equipping all school staff, especially para-professionals, with consistent and high-quality Assistive Technology (AT) training. While abundant online resources exist for AT, they often remain inaccessible or overwhelming for the very individuals who directly support students daily. Para-professionals, in particular, are uniquely positioned to drive AT integration and promote Universal Design for Learning (UDL) within the classroom setting, yet their training often varies widely or is non-existent. This critical gap leaves valuable talent underutilized and can hinder student progress, especially for those relying on Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices. The New Jersey Coalition for Assistive and Rehabilitative Technology (NJCART) in partnership with ATAC NJ and NJSHA, has directly addressed this challenge. We've developed a comprehensive suite of free, on-demand, asynchronous learning modules specifically tailored for para-professionals and school staff. These modules provide standardized, foundational AT and AAC training, ensuring consistent understanding of a wide range of technologies commonly used in schools serving students with differing needs. This initiative offers a scalable and sustainable solution for basic AT training, eliminating the reliance on varying local expertise and inconsistent offerings. During this presentation, attendees will understand NJCART's journey in creating these invaluable resources. We will: 1. Share our development process 2. Highlight and share current module offerings and categories (AT, AAC, and integrative strategies) 3. Discuss ongoing efforts to continuously expand this vital professional development library 4. Suggest effective means of managing and tracking PD progress Workshop Facilitator: Janet DeSenzo Assistive Technology Specialist / Technology Coordinator CTC Academy and Catherine Fredericks, Speech/Language Pathologist CTC Academy

The session will be geared towards integrating Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and Character Development into everyday practices in school for elementary students. Topics would include teaching students to identify emotions, incorporate calming/coping strategies into the school day, practicing skills of verbal and non-verbal communication, and learning about perspectives. By showing participants specific ways to easily incorporate these skills in the classroom, they will see positive results such as inclusivity among students, better social skills, and a more positive classroom climate. By incorporating these skills in a school-wide initiative, there can be a sense of community among all students, creating a holistic learning experience. This session would benefit individual educators in the classroom, but also administrators in showing ideas for school-wide SEL initiatives. How do you choose what specific SEL topics and approaches are appropriate for your students? What are some ways to incorporate SEL into the school and classroom setting? What are the overall benefits of SEL instruction? Workshop Facilitator: Jessica Honculada, Teacher - Benway School

Teachers play an integral role in the lives of their students. It is estimated that teachers spend between 900 and 1000 hours with their students each year. Research has shown that students thrive both academically and emotionally when their teachers are empathically engaged with them. Knowing how important these relationships are to the well-being of students can make setting boundaries around how much of “self” teachers should share. It is even more difficult to manage with students who have or are experiencing traumatic events. This workshop will focus on increasing the participants’ knowledge around secondary trauma and burnout for the teaching profession. Workshop participants will all be presented with strategies to manage personal self-reactions both within and outside the classroom setting to help them in managing secondary trauma. Workshop Objectives: At the end of the workshop, participants will be able to: • Define and discuss secondary trauma as it relates to their role. • Describe strategies to manage and reduce the impact of secondary trauma. • Demonstrate use of tools presented through experiential exercises presented. Workshop Facilitator: Sandra McBeth, LCSW

Parenting a child with can be incredibly challenging and rewarding simultaneously. When your child presents with social, emotional, behavioral, educational, and/or developmental difficulties, it can be increasingly more difficult to parent effectively and compassionately. This workshop will provide parents with best-practice strategies to consider what's really important to you, set goals and expectations, minimize and manage challenging behavior, effectively support your child in a compassionate way, foster independence and self-direction, and be mindful about what you need for self-care. Dr. Selbst will provide concrete strategies to guide you. Workshop Facilitator: Michael C. Selbst, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA - Executive Director of Behavior Therapy Associates.

Facing limited community work experiences? Discover how Academy360 creatively converted classrooms to establish powerful vocational learning for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Explore the design of engaging, hands-on activities that teach essential job skills, communication strategies, and independent living competencies – all within the classroom setting. Our presenter will facilitate small group discussions where attendees brainstorm ways they can transform their own classrooms into job sites. The session will also offer insights on using these in-house experiences as a springboard for future community partnerships. Attendees will gain concrete strategies and adaptable tools to enhance their transition programs, promote independence, and support meaningful post-secondary outcomes. Leave ready to harness the power of your classroom as a primary job skills development center. By the end of this session, participants will be able to: Understand the rationale behind using hands-on, simulated work environments in the classroom to promote independence and build crucial job skills for neurodiverse learners. Develop initial ideas for practical, classroom-based vocational activities that target key areas such as job skills, communication, and independent living. Identify ways to connect vocational learning with future community-based work experiences. Workshop Facilitators: Doug Howanksy, Teacher of Special Education - Spectrum360 | Academy360 and David DiIanni

Effective classroom management doesn’t start when students enter the room—it begins long before. This interactive workshop will guide participants through the foundational strategies that take place outside of direct student interaction, emphasizing the vital roles of collaboration, preparation, and proactive planning. Participants will explore how understanding students' individual needs, establishing a strong support network, and aligning with paraprofessionals and related service providers are essential steps in managing student behavior and promoting a successful classroom environment. If you're working on classroom management during instructional hours, you're already behind. This session will unpack the behind-the-scenes work of successful educators—how they review IEPs, analyze behavior patterns, set clear expectations, prepare supports, and consistently monitor and adjust strategies. Attendees will engage in meaningful discussions and reflect on how to better prepare, plan, and partner with others to prevent disruptions and enhance student learning. Key takeaways include: Building a proactive management plan rooted in student understanding Creating consistent communication and collaboration routines with support staff Using data and observation to monitor behavior and make adjustments Preparing for the “what-ifs” before they happen Whether you are new to teaching or seeking to refine your classroom systems, this workshop will provide practical, real-world strategies to help you manage with confidence. Workshop Facilitators: John Gonzalez, Principal (Alpha School) Whitney Lott, BCBA (Alpha School)

This interactive, BCBA-led workshop emphasizes the vital role of compassionate care and flexibility in supporting students with behavioral challenges across educational settings. Participants will gain evidence-based insight into the behavior-analytic foundation of compassionate care and how it translates into meaningful, respectful, and effective support. Designed for teachers, administrators, and service providers, this session offers a shared framework for understanding behavior through a trauma-informed and person-centered lens. collaborative approach Key topics will include: For teachers: Strategies to embed compassionate care into classroom management while meeting instructional goals. For administrators: Supporting a school-wide culture of behavioral flexibility and accountability through leadership and systems. For service providers: Strengthening rapport, reinforcing student autonomy, and contributing meaningfully to the behavior intervention team. Evidence-based de-escalation and crisis prevention procedures grounded in ABA principles. How to document behavior ethically and effectively for intervention planning and communication. Family engagement strategies to build consistent, culturally responsive support across environments. Participants will receive practical tools, visuals, and take-home resources to immediately apply in their roles—and leave with a deeper understanding of how collaborative, compassionate care enhances behavior outcomes. Workshop Facilitators: Nyasia Borelli and Lauren Gayoso-Acuna

With constant shifts in state and federal regulations, staying informed is essential for school leaders. In this session, attorneys from Porzio, Bromberg & Newman, P.C. will provide timely updates on the most significant legal developments impacting New Jersey’s private special education community. Topics will include recent changes from the NJ Department of Education, emerging federal policy trends, and critical employment and HR considerations for the year ahead. Attendees will gain practical guidance to navigate new requirements, reduce risk, and prepare their schools for what’s next.

Transform your classroom into a dynamic, student-centered hub! In this session, we'll explore how blending your instruction with Google's powerful tools can help you meet the needs of every learner. You’ll leave with practical ideas and examples for using Google Docs, Slides, and Forms (and more!) to offer choice, provide targeted support, and challenge every student. Workshop Facilitator: Cara Flodmand - Instructional Technology Coordinator for a Central New Jersey school district and a Google Certified Trainer

Connect with fellow educators in a roundtable space to reflect, share, and support one another in addressing the impact of secondary trauma.

Please select this for your 4th session if you're a parent.