Tara Phillips - Autism Little Learners
Tara Phillips (she/her) is a speech/language pathologist who has worked with young autistic children for over 2 decades.
She founded Autism Little Learners in 2019 because it was difficult to find engaging resources for young autistic children. She has always loved learning new and innovative ways to help autistic children and their families.
When she moved from the elementary level to the early childhood level she found out quickly that school districts professional development opportunities very rarely pertain to the unique challenges special educators face at the preschool level. Relevant training for teachers and therapists working with autistic children at the preschool level is often nonexistent. That is why Tara is passionate about creating resources that are at the right level for this age group, as well as providing relevant training and professional development.
Jessie Ginsburg - Sensory SLP
Essential Sensory Strategies To Accelerate Communication In Autistic Students
Jessie Ginsburg (she/her) is a sensory trained speech-language pathologist and CEO of Pediatric Therapy Playhouse, a top-rated clinic in Los Angeles. She is an international speaker, creator of the global Inside Out Sensory Communication Programs, and author of Ready Set Connect: A Sensory-Based Approach to Accelerate Communication in Autistic Children.
Katja Piscitelli - Boho Speechie
Introduction To Gestalt Language Processing
Katja Piscitelli (she/her) is a speech therapist and owner of a private practice, Total Spectrum Speech, located in Sacramento CA. Katja and her team specialize in supporting autistic children with language acquisition, via methods aligned with gestalt language processing, as well as AAC supports. Katja prides herself on being neurodiversity-affirming and continually learning from the autistic community she serves.
Karina Saechao - Golden Oak Speech Therapy
AAC Is for Everyone: Circumventing Barriers and Improving AACcess For Marginalized Communities
Karina Saechao, M.A.,CCC-SLP, ATACP (she/her) is an SLP and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) specialist. She holds a certificate as an assistive technology (AT) specialist and is a Ph.D. student at the University of Kansas.
Karinaβs research interests and clinical specializations are in African American English, child language acquisition, AAC, AT, language, literacy, inclusion, and caregiver & educator coaching. Karina strongly believes in every childβs right to self-determination and full access to and participation in comprehensive educational, communication, and literacy instruction.
Laura Hayes - AAC Innovations
AAC And GLPs: What You Need to Know
Laura Hayes (she/her) is a speech-language pathologist with over 15 years of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) experience in both school and medical settings. Laura has presented across state, national, and international conferences. She has been published and supported both inpatient pediatric and educational augmentative and alternative communication research. She currently hosts a podcast for her school district, titled: βInnovative AAC Solutionsβ. She authored an online course on gestalt language processing and AAC found at www.meaningfulspeech.com, and she has supported thousands of AAC device users in moving towards autonomous communication.
Rachel Madel - Rachel Madel Consulting
Unlocking AAC Success: Effective Classroom Modeling Strategies
Rachel Madel (she/her) M.A., CCC-SLP is an LA-based speech-language pathologist dedicated to coaching parents and professionals on incorporating technology to best support speech and language development. Rachel presents both nationally and abroad on the use of augmentative alternative communication (AAC) for children with complex communication needs and coaches clinicians, teachers, and parents on integrating technology in classrooms and at home to support communication. She co-hosts a weekly podcast called βTalking With Techβ and creates educational resources, therapy materials, and training videos to help support parents and professionals.
Clay Hadden - Ready To Talk LLC & Mister Clay
Video Modeling: The Potential Of Screens
Clay Hadden (he/him) has been a speech language pathologist since graduating from UNC-Chapel Hill in 2006. After working in outpatient rehab at various hospitals in the Southeast, Clay started his private practice, Ready Set Talk, which is currently located in North Augusta, SC. Clay taught at the Augmentative and Alternative Communcation class at the Medical University of South Carolina, and has presented on the topic of Video Modeling at many conferences, most recently at the 2023 NCSHLA conference. During the pandemic, Clay started the Mister Clay YouTube channel, and later this year his first picture book, βI Hear Nature,β comes out from Nine Wise Publishing. In his free time, Clay and his wife Lisa enjoy hanging out with their 3 children, who fill them with both joy and exhaustion.
Nicole Casey - Connections Speech Pathology
Play Their Way: The Transformative Power Of Child-Led Play For Gestalt Language Processors
Nicole Casey (she/her) is a speech-language pathologist specializing in working with gestalt language processors and AAC users in her pediatric private practice, Connections Speech Pathology. Nicole's approach is as dynamic as it is effective, blending evidence-based practices with a deep understanding of each individual's unique strengths and needs. As a neurodiversity-affirming clinician, Nicole has seen the transformative power of a child-led, play-based approach on her clients and their families. Her goal is to remind all that connection is the key to communication and that all kids have limitless potential when they have communication partners who believe in them.
Leah Kuypers - Zones Of Regulation Inc.
Using The Zones Of Regulation At The Preschool Level
Leah Kuypers (she/her) earned a Bachelorβs degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a Graduate Certificate in Autism, and a Masterβs in Education from Hamline University in St. Paul, MN. She has practiced as an OT and specialist in school and clinical settings, specializing in regulation and social-emotional learning. Through this work, she was inspired to create The Zones of Regulation (1st Ed. 2011, Digital Curriculum 2024). She enjoys sharing her passion around fostering regulation and The Zones framework through her trainings and consultations.
On a personal note, Leah resides in Minneapolis, MN with her husband, son, and daughter. To have fun, Leah loves traveling, gardening, and almost anything outdoors.
Brittyn Coleman - The Autism Dietitian
Supporting Selective Eaters In The Classroom
Brittyn Coleman (she/her), MS, RDN/LD, is a distinguished Registered Dietitian and Autism Nutrition Expert, known for her innovative, sensory-friendly feeding approach to nutrition for children on the autism spectrum. As the founder of the Nourishing Autism Collective, and as an autism sibling herself, Brittyn brings both professional expertise and personal understanding to her work. She empowers families with her expert guidance, helping children receive essential nutrients for optimal health and development. Her strategies are tailored to the unique dietary needs and sensory preferences of each child. Brittyn's influence extends beyond her membership site through her active social media presence and her popular podcast, 'Nourishing Autism'. Her educational content on Instagram, YouTube, and other platforms has established her as a leading voice in autism nutrition, providing valuable resources, practical advice, and a supportive community for parents and professionals.
Laura Petix - The OT Butterfly
Interoception: The Missing Link To Emotional Regulation
Laura Petix (she/her) is a neurodiverse-affirming pediatric Occupational Therapist who specializes in sensory processing skills for neurodivergent individuals. While she is no longer in the clinic, she uses her OT skills for all the content she creates for The OT Butterfly website, podcast, and courses for parents to teach them about how sensor processing skills directly impact learning and behavior. She is a neurodivergent parent to a neurodivergent daughter, which is what allows her to be able to talk about neurodiversity in a way that other parents can actually understand and also resonate with.
Destiny Huff - Destiny Huff Consulting
Heart and Mind: The Role of Social-Emotional Learning in Special Education
Destiny Huff (she/her), MS, LPC, CPCS is a licensed mental health professional and neuroaffirming non-attorney IEP advocate who is late diagnosed Autistic and ADHD. Destiny is the mother of two neurodivergent children and has worked in the early childhood setting, and school setting, as a reintegration case manager for youth in foster care, as well as, as a clinical therapist for children who have experienced trauma. Destiny is passionate about helping parents advocate for their neuro-distinct learners at the IEP table and on training agencies, organizations, and schools on neuro-affirming practices, how Autism, ADHD, and mental health diagnoses present, and how to support those learners in the school setting.
Molly Johnson - The Autism Consultant
Potty Training Strategies To Avoid!
Molly Johnson (she/her) is an autism consultant with 10+ years of experience working with autistic children. She transitioned from being an autism teacher in the public school system to consulting with parents from all over the world after seeing a need for parent support.
Molly holds a bachelorβs degree in special education, a masterβs degree in educational administration, and a master's degree in Autism Spectrum Disorders. As an autism consultant, she has combined her passion for collaborating with parents and classroom experience to support parents with skill development, like potty training and improving challenging behavior.
Dr. Taylor Day - Dr. Tay Concierge Clinical Care
Understanding And Reframing Autistic Traits (Including The PDA Profile) From A Neurodiversity Lens
Dr. Taylor Day is a licensed psychologist specializing in neurodivergent affirming care for autistic children and their families. She has a PhD in clinical psychology and is the CEO and founder of Dr. Tay Concierge Clinical Care. Her practice integrates The Whole Family Approach, a process she created utilizing evidence-informed principles after seeing a gap in autism care. Her passion for child psychology and her focus on autism is in many ways tied to her own personal experience growing up with a brother who was diagnosed at 23 months of age. Dr. Tay is the host of the Evolve With Dr. Tay podcast and loves educating parents, schools, therapists, and other medical providers on neurodiversity.
Dr. Lisa Marnell - Kids Master Skills
Sensory Safety In the Preschool Classroom
Dr. Lisa Marnell (she/her) is a pediatric occupational therapist with over twenty years of experience. She has worked in a variety of settings including schools, outpatient clinics, early intervention, and inpatient neuro. Dr. Marnell completed her doctorate at Boston University (BU) where she studied emotional regulation and executive function in autism. Now, she is now on the BU faculty in the occupational therapy program. Dr. Marnell is the founder of Kids Master Skills LLC and is a member of the board of directors at the STAR Institute in Denver. Diagnosed autistic herself, Lisa works with teachers and families to cultivate joy, autonomy, and agency in autistic children. She owns a private practice in Thousand Oaks, California, where she provides neurodiversity-affirming and strengths-based support to autistic clients and their families as well as consultation to local schools. Dr. Marnell is an active autism advocate.
Amanda Diekman - Low Demand Amanda
Bringing The Principles Of Low Demand Parenting Into The School Setting
Amanda Diekman (she/her) is an autistic adult, parent coach, and author in the neurodiversity space. Amanda became a leading voice in the movement for low-demand parenting practices, with her book Low Demand Parenting, published in July 2023. Amanda runs a successful coaching practice for parents of neurodivergent children including online courses and a vibrant membership community. She lives with her husband and three neurodivergent children in an intentional community in Durham, NC.
Lucy Perillo - The Alternative Way To Pre-K
Morning Bins in ECSE To Create Predictable Routines
Lucy Perillo is a preschool special education teacher who is passionate about accessibility and inclusion. After volunteering at an early intervention preschool in sixth grade, Lucy was inspired to pursue a career in Early Childhood Education. She has a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education and Special Education and a Master's degree in Special Education. She taught self-contained preschool special education in the public school system for nine years and is currently a Learning Support Specialist at a private preschool. Lucy is a published author, Teachers Pay Teachers seller, and Early Child Special Education coach.
Diamond Rashad - A Dime Of OT
Hand-Over-Hand: Honoring Autonomy
Dr. Diamond Rashad (she/her), is a neurodivergent pediatric occupational therapist and disability advocate who resides in Georgia. She has worked as an occupational therapist for eight years and received her post-professional doctorate with a specialty in pediatrics.
Her experience includes working from a trauma-informed lens with children, adolescents, and young adults with differences in sensory integration, executive function, feeding & mealtime participation, and supporting Autistic clients and their families. She is the founder of Emiraβs Mamas & "A Dime of OT"; she is passionate about supporting birthing parents from pregnancy to postpartum, diversity and inclusion in allied health settings, social-emotional support & co-regulation, and advocacy for culturally responsive, equitable care.
Lisa Hollady - Chalkboard SuperHero
Building Confidence: The Power Of Errorless Learning
Lisa Hollady (she/her) is the creator of Chalkboard Superhero. She grew up in CNY and always knew she wanted to be a special education teacher. Lisa has been in the special education field for over 16 years. She has worked in elementary up to high school age range, but now teaches in a K-2 autism classroom and loves it.
Her son, who is almost 9, also has special needs. He was born with Down Syndrome and is the whole reason she started making resources to begin with! Being a special needs mama is just another hat that Lisa gets to wear! She has a passion for making resources fun, engaging, and purposeful.
Jennifer Hofferber - Sped Prep Academy
Leading With Confidence: Break Free From The 'I Don't Know How To Be A Boss' Mentality
Jennifer Hofferber is an award-winning special education teacher and instructional coach who brings her passion, knowledge, and expertise to support other special educators in navigating the complexities of this profession. With 29 years of experience, Jennifer understands the mental and physical toll and is dedicated to helping teachers not only survive but thrive.
Her commitment to thorough preparation ensures that teachers are well-equipped to meet challenges with confidence.
Amber Arrington - Autism Saavy
5 Things Parents Wish Sped Teachers & SLPs Knew!
Amber Arrington (she/her), founder of Autism Savvy, is a dedicated mother of six children. Amber is an INFINITY MOM of 3 autistic children. With two decades of experience advocating for her special needs children and a background in education, Amber has become a trusted resource and guide for parents confronting a new autism diagnosis. Her journey has not only made her adept in dealing with the educational and healthcare systems, but it has also fueled her passion for empowering parents to become "autism savvy." Amber combines her lived experiences with practical advice to support families as they navigate the myriad of challenges and opportunities that autism presents, making her an invaluable pillar in her community and beyond.
Ashley Barlow - Ashley Barlow Co.
The IEP Process For The Preschool Level
Ashley Barlow is a special education and estate planning attorney in Kentucky and the owner of Ashley Barlow Co., a digital company designed to empower and inspire parents and advocates in special education. Ashley graduated Magna Cum Laude from Miami University with a BS in German Education (K-12) and received her JD from Salmon P. Chase College of Law, and has taught nearly every grade from Kindergarten to Seniors in college.
When not working, she is normally tootling around town in her 1975 VW bus, at the pool with her husband and two sons, one of whom has Down syndrome.
Tracy Metz - Special Education Teacher
Preparing For Kindergarten: How To Help Make The Transition Successful
Tracy Metz has been working with autistic children since 2000. Getting her start doing in-home ABA therapy as a lead therapist through Wisconsin Early Autism Project, she went on to get her Autism Certificate through Hamline University and Masters of Arts: Autism Spectrum Disorders degree through St. Thomas University and has been working with the Hudson School District as a special education teacher in the elementary center-based autism program since 2006. She is also the Elementary Autism Consultant for the Hudson School District. Through her experience as a primary elementary teacher, she understands the importance of having a plan for a successful transition for students from preschool/early childhood/4K to kindergarten.
Be sure to click on the speaker's links to learn more about what they have to offer and connect with them on social media!
We are proud to announce that the Preschool Autism Summit is partnering with Lilly's Voice. Lilly's Voice is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices to children in need. Founded in 2021 and inspired by a young autistic girl named Lilly, the organization has already supplied over 380 AAC devices, empowering non-speaking children to communicate effectively. By participating in our summit, you will not only gain valuable insights and strategies for supporting preschool-age autistic children but also contribute to this beautiful cause. A portion of the proceeds from the summit will be donated to Lilly's Voice, helping to give a voice to those who need it most. Join us in making a difference and supporting the mission that every child deserves a voice. ππ
