Special Education Conference 2026
Date: November 12-13, 2026
Location: Kalahari Resort and Convention Center, Wisconsin Dells, WI
Schedule 
This schedule is subject to change. Registrants will receive a conference program at conference check in.
Click on the dates below to view a specific date.
Thursday, November 12, 2026
7:30 am - 9:00 am
Check In, Light Breakfast, Networking, ExhibitorsSuites C/D/E/F
9:00 am - 9:10 am
Welcome: Mr. Patrick Vavra, CESA 11, EdEvents DirectorSuites C/D/E/F
9:15 am - 10:30 am
Devin Siebold - KeynoteSuites C/D/E/F
Keynote Presentation
10:30 am - 10:45 am
Break: Exhibitors, NetworkingSuites C/D/E/F
10:45 am - 12:00 pm
Devin Siebold - WorkshopSuites C/D/E/F
Keynote-Workshop
12:00 pm - 12:45 pm
LunchSuites C/D/E/F
12:50 pm - 1:40 pm
1. Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) “Moving at the Speed of Trust” Aralia
Presenters: Mildred Browne (Consultant); Susan Bobbitt-Voth (Consultant, ADR Coach)Education is an integral component to engage parents as partners in the educational process and to reduce conflict at the earliest point possible. The presenters will provide an overview of parent academies they have conducted to train parents on important components of Alternative Dispute Resolution, foundational information about special education and with a focus on the importance of parents as educational partners.
Level: Beginner2. Beyond Compliance: Why Emotional Regulation Comes Before LearningCypress
Presenter: Jordan Ollech (Founder/Therapist)Students cannot access learning when they do not feel safe or regulated. This practical, neuro-affirming session explores why emotional regulation is the foundation for engagement, behavior, and learning. Participants will learn to recognize signs of dysregulation, shift from compliance-focused responses to relationship-based supports, and implement practical strategies that foster emotional safety, resilience, and meaningful participation in school.
Level: Beginner3. Assistive Technology to Increase Student IndependencePortia
Presenter: Cassie Frost (Assistive Technology Professional & Special Educator)Independence is the goal—but many students still rely heavily on adult support. This session explores how assistive technology can shift that balance. Participants will learn how to select and implement tools that support executive functioning, communication, reading, writing, and self-regulation. Walk away with practical strategies and real-world examples to help students build independence across school environments.
Level: Beginner4. Stop Being Late: Proactive Responses to Student DysregulationWisteria
Presenters: Holly Smith (Principal/Director of Curriculum); Jamie Crotteau (School Counselor); Steve Zorich (School Psychologist)Responses to student dysregulation were at a fork in the road. Too often reactive responses were implemented leading to approaches characterized by a compliance mindset. Exploring a neuroaffirming model supporting students, staff, and families led to reduced behaviors that were once viewed as negative and now are prioritized as early signs of communication. Come learn methods for professional development, co-regulation with students, and family education to implement a shift in mindset for all.
Level: Intermediate5. Social Teaching Strategies for Special Educators from the Anime FandomMangrove
Presenter: James Williams (Self-advocate, athletic volunteer)Many individuals with disabilities enjoy anime, and belong to the anime fandom. To accommodate these individuals, people within the anime fandom have created and/or utilize various teaching strategies, games, and scenarios within anime in order to teach appropriate social behavior among its members. In this session, listen to a self-advocate with autism, who works for multiple anime conventions, describe and demonstrate how these strategies can be implemented in special education settings.
Level:1:45 pm - 2:35 pm
6. Behavior Contracts to Support Student SuccessAralia
Presenter: Grant Allen (Assistant Professor)Behavior contracts are an evidence-based, secondary (Tier 2) intervention for supporting behavior change in students across the grade span for a variety of academic, behavioral, or social/emotional well-being needs. In this session, Dr. Grant Allen from UW-Stout Polytechnic will teach participants what behavior contracts are, the step by step process to implement the strategy, and provide time to peruse module resources to support implementation.
Level: Intermediate7. Bullying in Special EducationCypress
Presenter: Brandi Berry (School Psychologist-Senior)Special education students are significantly more likely to experience bullying AND to bully others compared to students in general education. In this presentation, strategies to help adults recognize bullying when it is occurring will be discussed. Evidence-based prevention and intervention strategies that parents and educators can use will be shared. Finally, tools to empower students to safely and effectively respond to bullying and to resolve conflict peacefully will be presented.
Level: Beginner8. Supporting New and Striving Readers with Mastery-Based InterventionPortia
Presenter: Kari Steck (Senior Manager of Educational Partnerships)Elementary students who struggle with reading need immediate and effective support to address foundational skill gaps. This interactive session focuses on providing differentiated, research-based instruction to help students build the skills and confidence they need to succeed. Grounded in professional journal articles and current research, participants will experience effective instructional routines and explore how structured literacy lessons can accelerate learning.
Level: Beginner9. From Chaos to Calm: The Why Beneath the What—and What We Do NextWisteria
Presenter: Katie Prybylski (Autism & Behavior Consultant)Challenging behavior is often only the surface of a much bigger story. This session moves beyond managing behavior to explore what happens after we identify the “why.” Through practical examples and the Reflect–Reset–Reconnect framework, participants will examine how adult responses can escalate or de-escalate behavior and leave with proactive, relationship-based strategies that support regulation, connection, independence, and lasting change.
Level: Intermediate10. Understanding the Self-Directed IRIS Program with TMGMangrove
Presenter: Dan Krohn (Community Partnership Specialist)This session introduces Wisconsin’s IRIS (Include, Respect, I Self-Direct) program and how TMG supports individuals and families through self-directed long-term care. Attendees will learn about eligibility, enrollment, the ADRC’s role, and how IRIS can support goals related to employment, independent living, and community participation. Participants will gain practical strategies to help students prepare for a future built on choice, control, and self-determination.
Level: Beginner2:40 pm - 3:30 pm
11. Empowering Though AdventureAralia
Presenter: Amanda Dehli (Healthcare Supervisor)Explore how inclusive camp experiences can empower children and youth with disabilities to discover strengths, build confidence, develop independence, and experience meaningful belonging. This session highlights how camp can extend learning beyond the classroom, reinforcing the skills, goals, and supports educators work toward every day. Participants will leave with a greater understanding of how camp can complement classroom experiences and create opportunities for growth.
Level: Beginner12. Parental Advocacy in ESE: Prevalence, Importance, Ability, Unique FactorsCypress
Presenter: Jaimie Lipton (Director of Education/M.Ed Exceptional Student Education)Understanding parental advocacy is significant for children with exceptionalities because it impacts students’ access to appropriate accommodations and supports, services, and overall educational success. Through my research, I explore what advocacy in ESE looks like from a parental perspective, specifically in four main areas: prevalence of parental advocacy; importance parents place on advocacy; parents’ ability to advocate successfully; and unique factors that influence parents’ experiences.
Level: Beginner13. Expanding the Continuum of Support: VASD's Extended Learning PathwaysPortia
Presenter: Carli Adams (Behavior Support Program Manager)To address evolving student needs, Verona Area School District implemented Extended Learning Pathways-Foundations, a half-day program for grades 1–8 who have not yet found success. Grounded in LRE principles, it teaches academic routines and regulation tools in a modified environment for up to 150 minutes daily. This led to a >50% drop in seclusion/restraints, reduced shortened days, and high staff and caregiver satisfaction. This session covers operational frameworks and data-driven strategies.
Level: Intermediate14. Literacy Supports for Secondary Students with EBD and Language ImpairmentsWisteria
Presenters: Britta Bresina (Professor); Marianne Elmquist (Research Scientist)When co-occurring behavioral and literacy challenges persist beyond the early years, secondary teachers must be equipped to support these needs while ensuring students can engage meaningfully with grade-level content. This session focuses on useful practices across content areas for improving literacy skills of students with emotional/behavioral disorders and language impairments, and behavioral strategies to increase student engagement. Useful templates for teachers will be shared.
Level: Intermediate15. Exploring Characters with Disabled Tendencies in Children's LiteratureMangrove
Presenter: James Williams (Self-advocate)Children with disabilities have existed long before labels were created to describe their respective disabilities, and children’s literature has routinely featured children with disabled tendencies prior to the formal labeling of their disabilities. Let's explore examples of children with disabled tendencies in past and present children’s literature!
Level: IntermediateFriday, November 13, 2026
7:30 am - 8:20 am
Check In, Light Breakfast, Networking, ExhibitorsSuites C/D/E/F
8:30 am - 8:35 am
Welcome: Mr. Patrick Vavra, CESA 11, EdEvents DirectorSuites C/D/E/F
8:40 am - 9:30 am
16. Wisconsin DPI UpdatesSuites C/D/E/F
Presenters: Daniel Parker (DPI Consultant); Tessa Freedberg (Special Education Program Advisor)Tessa Freedberg and Daniel Parker will provide updates from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. Learn about what is happening at the state and federal levels, discover resources educators can use to support students with disabilities in their classrooms, and find out about other supports available to help improve outcomes for students with disabilities in Wisconsin.
Level: Beginner9:30 am - 10:25 am
Legal Updates- Bob Butler, WASBSuites C/D/E/F
Bob Butler from WASB will provide legal updates.
10:25 am - 10:40 am
Break: Exhibitors, NetworkingSuites C/D/E/F
10:40 am - 11:30 am
17. Telling Your Story with DataAralia
Presenters: Mildred Browne (Consultant); Susan Bobbitt-Voth (Consultant)This session will cover how to design data reports and file reviews that will tell the story of the pathway into and through special education for students. Methods for identifying success gaps and root causes that result in overidentification of students with disabilities and contribute to low academic performance will be discussed. Sample presentations with visuals to enhance the meaningfulness of the data for various audiences such as parents, staff and school boards will be shared.
Level: Intermediate18. Recognize. Relax. Record. (RRR): An Intervention for Internalizing BehaviorCypress
Presenter: Grant Allen (Assistant Professor)Recognize. Relax. Record. (RRR) is an intervention developed to support elementary students with anxious feelings. The goal of this intervention is to help kids recognize anxious feelings, teach them strategies to relax themselves, and then record/self monitor what happened. In this session, Dr. Grant Allen from UW-Stout Polytechnic will teach participants what RRR is, the step by step process to implement the strategy, and provide time to peruse module resources to support implementation.
Level: Intermediate19. From Placement to Access: What Does Meaningful Inclusion Look Like?Portia
Presenter: Jennifer Dean-Kaiser (University Faculty-Special Education)Being in the room is not the same as having access. This session examines meaningful inclusion through the lenses of access, membership, participation, belonging, and independence. Using a case-based approach and current research, participants will examine how IEP teams can move beyond placement to identify and remove barriers to curriculum, instruction, peer relationships, participation, and authentic membership for students with disabilities.
20. Parental Advocacy in ESE: Prevalence, Importance, Ability, Unique Factors (REPEAT)Wisteria
Presenter: Jaimie Lipton (Director of Education/M.Ed Exceptional Student Education)Understanding parental advocacy is significant for children with exceptionalities because it impacts students’ access to appropriate accommodations and supports, services, and overall educational success. Through my research, I explore what advocacy in ESE looks like from a parental perspective, specifically in four main areas: prevalence of parental advocacy; importance parents place on advocacy; parents’ ability to advocate successfully; and unique factors that influence parents’ experiences.
Level: Beginner21. Utilizing Booster Clubs During The Post-Secondary Transition ProcessMangrove
Presenter: James Williams (Self-advocate, athletic volunteer)Many people with disabilities, after aging out of special education, lose many social connections. Meanwhile, many high schools host booster clubs that provide various supports for their athletic teams. Listen to an autistic adult, who is known at his former high school as "The Man in the Green and Gold Suit"--describe how he maintained social connections within his local community as a member of its booster club, and how high school booster clubs can be utilized during transition planning.
Level: Intermediate11:40 am - 12:25 pm
LunchSuites C/D/E/F
12:30 pm - 2:15 pm
Katie Berg- WorkshopSuites C/D/E/F
