Be sure to stop by and chat with our amazing vendors! Don’t forget to get your card stamped by each one to qualify for the grand prize drawing at Wednesday’s Keynote. Cards must be turned into the registration desk by 9am on Wednesday, Feb. 5th.
ASSEC’s silent auction is the perfect place to find something interesting, useful, beautiful or fun and support the conference at the same time. All proceeds go toward speakers or activities at the conference. Donations are welcome and can be dropped off at the registration table during the conference. You can find the Silent Auction table towards the back of the Bristol Bay Ballroom.
"Reclaim your Joy & Enthusiasm" - Molly Kennedy Our students have changed. Educators at every level are exhausted, spread too thin and in the burn out cycle of battling everyday for cooperation, engagement and calm.
This keynote will help educators feel reenergized and rediscover their JOY! They’ll smile, laugh (a lot) and walk out saying, “That’s exactly what I needed to hear today.”
As a veteran educator, with 26 years working with students, Molly speaks to teachers’ hearts, so they feel seen, valued and celebrated. The ripple effect means even greater student success.
Molly Kennedy has dedicated the past 26 years to empowering people to have more resilience, confidence and learning to leverage their adversity into results.Challenges and trauma followed Molly throughout her life. She grew up in a dysfunctional family with addiction, divorce, neglect... Read More →
Participants will learn what print disability is and develop an understanding not all students with print disability receive support through special education services. They will learn about the process of identifying print disability in students and the tools available for supporting students with print disability. Participants will have an opportunity to interact with the accessible materials and assistive technology to support students with print disability.
AKCAM - Grant Coordinator, Alaska Center for Accessible Materials
The Alaska Center for Accessible Materials is a grant that provides alternative formats and assistive technology to students across the state who need support accessing print. These can be students with physical, vision, or processing disabilities. AKCAM also provides support to teams... Read More →
Revolutionize support for at-risk students through a student-centered, collaborative approach that spans all school environments. This talk showcases success stories from rural Alaskan school districts, demonstrating how to transcend isolated interventions and create a holistic, empowering educational experience. Learn how seamless partnerships between general education, special education, and therapy teams can transform learning outcomes. Discover simple yet powerful techniques for building essential skills throughout the school day, fostering a supportive ecosystem within natural learning environments. This innovative approach has yielded impressive results, including accelerated progress in speech development, enhanced sensory regulation, improved fine motor skills, and enriched language acquisition among others. Join us to explore how these proven, adaptable strategies can be tailored to your unique school community, promoting equity and unlocking the full potential of every student for lasting academic achievement.
A deep dive into using multimedia, hands-on projects, and student-led presentations to help neurodivergent students thrive. Emphasizing how creative outlets and tech tools like digital storytelling and game-based learning can engage SPED students.
This session will focus on supports and strategies in the classroom and program settings for children in the PK-22 arena. There will be interactive activities with work products to be shared among participants.
Exec. Director / Educational Psychologist, Empowerment Research, LLC
Having spent over three decades in public health and education with an emphasis on pediatric disabilities, I'm an open book. As a parent of a now-adult son with a traumatic brain injury in early childhood and as a severe TBI survivor myself, I have intense passion to share the brain... Read More →
Monday February 3, 2025 10:30am - 12:00pm AKST
TBA
What does the impact of hearing loss for a student in my classroom look like? What questions should I be asking? Who can I reach out to for more information? What are some general accommodations that I can share with my team for my students to better access the curriculum? Come to this breakout session and leave with a better understanding of how to support your student in the classroom!
You will have time in this interactive session to reflect and prepare to apply what you learned from Molly's keynote presentation. You will feel empowered to return to your school with easy to implement strategies and skills that result in fewer battles and more calm.
Molly Kennedy has dedicated the past 26 years to empowering people to have more resilience, confidence and learning to leverage their adversity into results.Challenges and trauma followed Molly throughout her life. She grew up in a dysfunctional family with addiction, divorce, neglect... Read More →
Participants will review the Evaluation Summary and Eligibility Report as a comprehensive document that assesses an individual's eligibility for special education services. They will learn about the federal regulations, ensuring that all criteria are met and documented accurately.
Students who are prepared for the workplace are more likely to have post-school success in employment. DVR offers programs like JOBZ Club, S’Cool Store, and Pathways to enhance your transition services and engage students in preparing for work. Or have you got an idea percolating on developing your own transition services but need funding and technical assistance to make it happen? DVR can provide both through its Pre-Employment Transition Services.
The Western approach is evident in public education, and this can sometimes create misunderstandings or tensions with our Alaska Native students and families. When it comes to transition planning for after high school, there are many ways to support Indigenous values and skills development so the student can be a connected and contributing community member. You will learn about different strategies used by teachers in rural Alaska to integrate Alaska Native skills into the IEP and transition plans, and practice making IEP goals and transition plans culturally responsive for Alaska Native and rural students.
Rain Van Den Berg is an education and training consultant with a background in education, health education, project management, and facilitation. Current projects include creating culturally responsive transition materials for Alaskan Special Education students, supporting organizational... Read More →
Based on research by G. Namie, R. Namie, P. Lutgen-Sandvik, G. Sari, and many more, empower yourself to teach students to identify and mitigate bullying. Sadly, research shows that bullying starts in the home and is learned at a young age. Behaviors that feel normal for a student can be difficult to mitigate in the school setting. Bullying doesn't just effect students, and it doesn’t end when students graduate. Teachers bully teachers, parents bully administration, employers bully employees, and governments bully other countries. (CAUTION: You might learn that you have been a bully...and that can be very uncomfortable for participants.)
This presentation focuses on the critical importance of early identification of children with deafblindness, a condition that impacts both hearing and vision. Early detection allows for timely interventions, which are essential for supporting the child's communication, cognitive development, and social skills. By identifying these children at a young age, caregivers and educators can implement specialized strategies and resources, such as sensory stimulation, tailored educational programs, and assistive technologies, to enhance their quality of life and overall development. Early identification ultimately empowers children with deafblindness to reach their full potential and participate more fully in society.
Ellen Kelsey, M.S., CCC-SLP and Mary Dooher, M.A., CCC-SLP will discuss Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder/Neurobehavioral Disorder-Prenatal Alcohol Exposure (FASD/ND-PAE) in children, including how it is diagnosed. They will describe common red flags, including how it may present as a student ages. They will explain the most commonly impacted areas of functioning, as well as potentially helpful services for these students. They will also provide strategies professionals can utilize in the school setting, and they will describe similarities between FASD/ND-PAE and other diagnoses. Join Ellen and Mary to bring more awareness to this frequently overlooked and underserved population.
Speech Language Pathologist, Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District
Hello, I am a Speech-Language Pathologist that has worked in the education and medical setting. I am presenting at ASSEC 2022 on Identification and Management of Feeding/Swallowing Disorders In Schools. I have worked for over 15 years with individuals with feeding/swallowing concerns... Read More →
Participants will learn the essential components of an IEP, including present levels of performance, measurable goals, and necessary accommodations. Emphasis will be placed on collaborative planning with educators, parents, and specialists to ensure that the IEP effectively addresses the unique needs of each student.
In this session, participants will learn about the five components of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and strategies for teaching SEL to autistic people. More specifically, the presenter will provide examples of SEL lessons that align with the three severity levels of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The goal is for participants to leave with a thorough understanding of what SEL is and how to create individualized lessons for the autistic people they work with. Finally, the presenters will share information about the Autism Resource Center and how the agency supports Alaskans.
Autism Resource Specialist, Alaska Autism Resource Center (AARC)
The Alaska Autism Resource Center (AARC) supports individuals of all ages with autism spectrum, their families, caregivers, and service providers throughout the state of Alaska.
This is a high-engagement, deep dive workshop where you have time to do the work. You will learn to step up your level of acceptance for what is and reclaim accountability for your response to become unstoppable. You will be empowered to align your desired outcomes with their actions resulting in less excuses and more success. It gets real- no fluff. And that’s exactly why it gets RESULTS!
Molly Kennedy has dedicated the past 26 years to empowering people to have more resilience, confidence and learning to leverage their adversity into results.Challenges and trauma followed Molly throughout her life. She grew up in a dysfunctional family with addiction, divorce, neglect... Read More →
This presentation offers educators the opportunity to delve into important values that Alaska Native peoples have held for centuries. Whether you are new, or a seasoned educator you will learn about topics including Historical trauma, Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act and how tribal support can help your students transitioning out of school, SPED Resources, traditional values, and communication methods. You will learn how the Alaska Native world view will influence your students' progress in the Western world. This presenter will also have an opportunity to interact with Alaska Native arts and artifacts and ask questions about how and why they are an important part of Alaska Native Values.
Dawn is Gwich'in Athabaskan and Aleut from the Native Village of Fort Yukon. She cares passionately about the Alaska Native population and want everyone she meets to understand the unique challenges they face in Western style education. Dawn is relativly new to the teaching profession... Read More →
Based on research by G. Namie, R. Namie, P. Lutgen-Sandvik, G. Sari, and many more, empower yourself to teach students to identify and mitigate bullying. Sadly, research shows that bullying starts in the home and is learned at a young age. Behaviors that feel normal for a student can be difficult to mitigate in the school setting. Bullying doesn't just effect students, and it doesn’t end when students graduate. Teachers bully teachers, parents bully administration, employers bully employees, and governments bully other countries. (CAUTION: You might learn that you have been a bully...and that can be very uncomfortable for participants.)
Presentation about the recently awarded Disability Innovation Fund grant to Department of Education and Early Development and it’s funding for programs to increase the number of Alaska youth and other individuals with disabilities into competitively integrated employment. Discussion of key activities, partner organizations, goals, and available programs and resources being funded by this grant and where individuals can seek resources to assist youth with disabilities leaving school prepare for the workforce.
Have you wondered how to help struggling students in your classroom? Have you wondered what is causing the struggle? In this session, we will explore Executive Function Skills and how they may be dysfunctional for some students whether or not they have an IEP. We will discuss strategies on how to develop these skills for positive outcomes.
Exec. Director / Educational Psychologist, Empowerment Research, LLC
Having spent over three decades in public health and education with an emphasis on pediatric disabilities, I'm an open book. As a parent of a now-adult son with a traumatic brain injury in early childhood and as a severe TBI survivor myself, I have intense passion to share the brain... Read More →
Join professors from the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), University of Alaska Southeast (UAS), and University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) School of Education for an engaging Q&A panel on behavior management in the classroom. The panelists will discuss effective engagement strategies, cultural influences, ways to foster inclusion, and trauma-responsive behavior techniques. No matter your role in a school, this event offers valuable insights to enhance your approach to behavior management and support diverse learners. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain practical knowledge and strategies for creating a positive learning environment!
“Using a descriptive style, the teacher mentions and references the context-specific words, then teaches concepts behind the words using high frequency, re-usable, common words” (Van Tatenhove 2009). The teachers explain a term using common words that they know are already in the communicator’s AAC system. Rather than memorizing vocabulary to answer closed ended questions students use core vocabulary to demonstrate understanding of a concept.
My name is Jennifer and I was born and raised in MN. My first teaching job was in Bethel, AK. After that I worked at a residential school for children with autism and then as a teacher for students with multiple disabilities at a school for the Deaf. I returned to AK to work... Read More →
The world of Special Education has many players! An effective IEP Team must understand the unique skills, training, and responsibilities of each related service provider within the school setting. Have you ever wondered why some students are "pulled" from class while others aren't? Or why a child might receive occupational therapy at a clinic but not a school? If you’re looking to enhance your collaboration skills with therapists and itinerant teachers, this session is designed for you!
Start off your night with light appetizers and a Cash bar while listening to live music of Jared Woods and networking with colleagues and friends from around the State.
Location: 49th State Brewery Restaurant (717 W 3rd Ave, Anchorage, AK 99501)
**(1) Ticket is included with a Full Conference Registration. Additional tickets can be purchased until Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025.
Monday February 3, 2025 5:00pm - 6:30pm AKST
Off-Site
