Please join us for “A Body of Evidence: An Interview with S. M. Korhonen on her New Book.”

S. M. Korhonen writes about family life, disability, and public systems. With a background in engineering and complex systems work, Korhonen brings an evidence-driven lens to lived experience, tracing how assumptions harden into practice and how institutions struggle to see what does not fit their expectations.

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Please join us for “Ease the Pain in the Classroom: Creating Safety and Regulation for Every Student” with Dr. Bethany Bilodeau.

Dr. Bethany Bilodeau, an expert in human behavior with a Doctorate of Arts in Leadership, has a remarkable career that began teaching high school biology in Guam. She has designed innovative programs to help students achieve academic success and holds numerous certifications in behavioral therapies. She has been recognized with multiple awards, including the 2024 Business of the Year in education and Business Excellence for Social Equity.

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Please join us for “The Informed Parent: Navigating Autism Services and Advocacy, an Interview with Anne Borden King.”

Anne Borden King is a Toronto-based podcaster, writer and human rights advocate. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, Healthy Debate and the Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, among other publications. She is the host of Noncompliant, a popular podcast about neurodiversity. Her Substack is entitled The Children Do Not Consent.

A co-founder of Autistics for Autistics, the Canadian autistic self-advocacy organization, Anne has presented before the United Nations and the Canadian Senate, among others, about autism policy. She is the founder of The Autistic Health Access Project, which educates medical students and clinicians about making health care accessible for autistic patients. Her upcoming book, The Children Do Not Consent: The search for autism’s “cure”—and the kids who pay the cost, will be published in 2025.

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Please join us for “When 'That Kid' Becomes the Teacher,” a presentation with Lindsay Rice. 

Lindsay Rice is an elementary educator, presenter, and advocate based in Columbus, Ohio, dedicated to advancing equitable education for neurodivergent learners. With over a decade of experience presenting for organizations such as the National Education Association (NEA), Ohio Education Association (OEA), NSTA, and ATE, she brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her work.

Lindsay specializes in helping educators understand how the brain works, with a focus on reducing cognitive load, challenging neurotypical bias, and creating classrooms where all students can thrive. Her work highlights the intersection of neurodivergence, identity, and access, encouraging educators to recognize both the brilliance and the barriers neurodivergent students experience.

As a teacher, parent of neurodivergent children, and leader within the Leaders for Just Schools program, Lindsay is committed to building inclusive systems, amplifying diverse voices, and equipping educators with practical, neuroscience-informed strategies that support every learner.

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Please join us for “Neuroaffirming Advocacy: Dr. Destiny Huff Joins Us to Discuss Her New Book on Navigating Special Education.”

Dr. Destiny Huff, LPC, is an Autistic and ADHD therapist, special education advocate, author, and parent of two neurodivergent learners. She supports families and professionals in developing neuroaffirming, strengths-based practices that center access, autonomy, regulation, and meaningful participation. Through consulting, training, and advocacy, Dr. Huff works to challenge ableism and create more inclusive educational and mental health systems.

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Please join us for “Understanding the Impact of Restraint and Seclusion: A Professional Panel Discussion.”

Dr. Arielle Silverman, PhD, is a researcher by trade and an advocate for all disabled people. Blind since birth, she holds a Ph.D. in social psychology and works as the director of research at the American Foundation for the Blind. Her memoir, Just Human: The Quest for Disability Wisdom, Respect, and Inclusion, calls for a world where all bodies and minds are celebrated. Arielle works both personally and professionally to advocate for disability justice and to support and mentor other disabled people. She lives in Albany, NY, with her husband Jason.

Courtney Hart, LCSW-C, is the founder of Healing Hart Wellness, where she specializes in supporting ADHDers and Autistic people through evaluations, parent consultation, and therapy. Courtney also writes two newsletters on Substack: one focused on supporting parents and helping professionals understand the impacts of advancing technology and the other on high-masking neurodivergence. When Courtney isn’t working, you can find her starting random projects at home, playing fetch with her dogs, scouring the internet to research topics of interest, and actively working on local political change as a Board Member of Maryland Forward Party.

Dr. Karyn Harvey, PhD, has worked as a clinician in the field of intellectual disabilities for over 35 years. She has her Ph.D. in Applied Developmental Psychology from the University of Maryland. She has written three books: Positive Identity Development, Trauma–Informed Behavioral Interventions, and Trauma and Healing. She has a private practice and does therapy with people with intellectual disabilities. In addition, she regularly conducts training on trauma-informed support for people with IDD, trauma-informed leadership, and trauma-informed behavioral interventions for both state and individual organizations throughout the US and Canada. She sees restraints and seclusion as both traumatizing and re-traumatizing to the recipients and is passionate about the elimination of these procedures.

Sarah Hyatt’s experience in education has given her an unshakeable confidence that kids do well if they can. She is fiercely committed to practices that center students’ humanity and dignity, and has seen firsthand the harm done by punitive approaches and deficit-based systems. She has also witnessed the healing and growth that result from prioritizing felt safety. Sarah has a Master’s of Education and is currently loving being a mom of neurodivergent twins and creating a life built around disability pride, celebration of neurodiversity, and joy.�

Shenika Carroll is a nurse educator and professor dedicated to educating and mentoring future nurses. With a strong background in patient care and community health, she integrates her clinical experience into the classroom to prepare students for success in practice. Shenika is passionate about supporting and providing educational resources for families and districts. Through her volunteer work with the Alliance, she is excited to extend her impact beyond teaching and contribute to meaningful initiatives that strengthen the community.

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Please join us for “Diving into Michigan Restraint and Seclusion Data: A Discussion with Matt Rische.”

Matt Rische is an educator with more than a decade of experience supporting students with intensive behavioral needs. A certified Trauma & Resilience Specialist, Nonviolent Crisis Intervention instructor, and former Ukeru instructor, Matt has dedicated his career to helping schools reduce dangerous and traumatic behavioral intervention practices to create safer, more supportive learning environments.

Formerly, as the principal of Montcalm Area ISD's Seiter Education Center, he led a reduction in Emergency Seclusion and Restraint from more than 1,000 incidents annually to fewer than 50 through the implementation of trauma-informed practices and systems-level change.

Today, Matt combines his backgrounds in education and data analysis to develop accessible data visualization tools. He is the creator of a statewide interactive map of Michigan's seclusion and restraint data, which he hopes will support educators and policymakers identify trends, improve decision-making, and advance positive outcomes for students across the state.

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Please join us for “Creating a Culture of Gentleness: It's About Connecting, Not Correcting” with Dr. Anthony M. McCrovitz.

Dr. Anthony M. McCrovitz is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Mental Health Counselor with over 30 years of experience specializing in child development, neurodiversity, and holistic mental health practices. As Executive Director of the Quality of Life Institute, he pioneered the Quality-of-Life Model™ and advances inclusive care through global leadership in Gentle Teaching and multi-sensory therapy. Dr. McCrovitz also serves on international boards and mentors future clinicians through academic teaching and interdisciplinary collaboration.

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Please join us for “The Grand Guide: A New Book for Grandparents of Neurodivergent Grandchildren from Sheena Hill.”

Sheena Hill is a trauma-informed, neurobiologically-focused responsive parenting coach who has been in private practice for 16 years. At Parenting Works, she works with families around the world. Sheena provides education and support for parents and professionals who seek to move beyond rewards and consequences to deepen their understanding of development and attachment while masterfully applying concrete skills in emotional intelligence, limit-setting, and using play therapeutically. She is the author of "The Grand Guide: Mindful Tools for Modern Grandparenting," a resource to help families bridge the generational gap about raising children. When she's not helping parents, Sheena loves learning about dinosaurs and visiting national parks. She lives in Baltimore with her spouse, 3 children, and a growing menagerie of pets (including 5 axolotls).

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Please join us for “Rooted in Hope: An Interview with Katie McDonald.”

Katie McDonald is an educator, consultant, and therapist with over 22 years of experience in trauma-responsive schools, neuro-informed teaching/parenting, and emotional well-being. Katie has dedicated her career to empowering educators and families through a deep understanding of resilience, often called the science of hope.

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