Advancing Inclusion with TASH


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Human Development Center

November Newsletter

Collage of images from previous TASH conferences: woman in wheelchair speaks at table, man and woman smile with award, a woman in a wheelchair and another woman hold certificate on stage, a group of woman chatting in front of research posters, and a group of individuals discuss while one person communicates with sign language.

Advancing Inclusion with TASH

TASH Conference coming to the Big Easy!

The Human Development Center is proud to support the TASH Conference, coming to New Orleans December 5-7, 2024.

Each year, the TASH Conference brings together passionate leaders, experts, and advocates from every corner of the disability community to share resources and success stories, learn about field-driven best practices, and network within a community engaged in shared values.

Carnival mask with feathers above 2024 and text that reads

HDC at TASH

Faculty and staff from the Human Development Center will have three presentations at the conference:

Thursday, December 5 at 1:00pm
A Roadmap to Engaging & Accessible Inclusive Education
With Constance Alphonse, Ali Kowitz, Chris Champagne, Lisa Davison, and Jennifer Boyter

Friday, December 6 at 8:30am

Lessons from the Louisiana UCEDD
With Dr. Philip Wilson, Dr. Rose Angelocci, Ali Kowitz, Clarissa Carmouche, and Wilbert Johnson

Friday, December 6 at 4:35 pm
Effective Transition Planning for Employment and Independence
With Tracy O'Donnell, Wilbert Johnson, and Maia Thibodeaux

Visit the TASH Conference website

FASD Initiatives

HDC partners with DCFS to provide FASD training to staff and foster families

The Louisiana Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS) has partnered with the Human Development Center to provide Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) trainings throughout Louisiana. The trainings are open to DCFS Child Welfare Staff, foster parents, and other caregivers.

Mother and father smile with their three children in the home kitchen.

We currently have two trainings planned:

Orleans Region

November 13, 2024
2:00-4:00 PM OR 5:30-7:30 PM
At Children’s Hospital New Orleans

Covington Region

November 20, 2024
1:00-3:00 PM OR 5:30-7:30 PM
At Southeastern University Center

Learn how to register

Initiative News

See what's happening in HDC's initiative areas.

HDC News Page

A toddler pushes a toy dump truck over foam black.

Early Childhood

EHS-CCP fully enrolls for the 2024-25 school year

The Early Head Start-Childcare Partnership (EHS-CCP) has officially enrolled 200 students ages 0-3 for the school year! The EHS-CCP team recruited and enrolled 173 children since August 1st.

"I am proud of our tiny but mighty team who made this happen." - Maria Blanco, M.Ed., Program Director

Learn more about EHS-CCP

Education, Transition, Community

LADBP hosts virtual meetup for families with deafblindess

The Louisiana DeafBlind Project (LADBP) hosts a monthly family meetup where parents can make connections and share challenges and successes.

The next virtual meetup is Tuesday, November 19th from 7-8pm

Education, Transition, Community

PAYCheck grad Will Johnson shares his postsecondary transition story at AUCD

Will Johnson shared his career and PAYCheck transition journey with a poster at the 2024 AUCD Conference.

"This poster will summarize how I, an individual with an Intellectual Disability, am actively pursuing my dreams. With the support of my family and state agencies (i.e. LRS and PAYCheck), I learned skills that helped me become independent and hold a full-time job." - Will Johnson

See Will's Poster "The WILL to Overcome"

Watch Will guide you through his poster in this video

A dozen HDC staff, faculty and LEND scholars stand in front of the AUCD banner.

Interdisciplinary Training

HDC and Louisiana LEND attend the 2024 AUCD Conference

The annual AUCD Conference is designed to promote innovative thinking that will launch disability policy, research, and advocacy initiatives to the next level. As Louisiana's University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD), HDC is proud to be a part of the Association of University Centers on Disability (AUCD) network.

See photos from the 2024 AUCD Conference on Louisiana LEND's Facebook page

HDC Team Member of the Month

Angelica Bruno, Assistant Business Manager

“She’s enthusiastic, service giving, and ALWAYS willing to help. Angelica brings brightness to a cloudy day. She encompasses the true spirit of a ‘team player.’”

- Mitze Jones, HDC Business Manager