A few Conferences and other Speaking Opportunities

2023 Texas Legislative Sesssion January 2023- May 2023

Through the effort of leading a committee of individuals passionate
about IDD Peer Support we got Senator Zaffirini to file a IDD Peer Support
Bill for the 3rd Texas Legislative session in a row and also got for the first
time as far as I know a House Companion Bill for IDD Peer Support which was filed by Representative Liz Campos.

February 17, 2023
2023 Texas Transition Conference/presentation titlted Peer Specialist View of Mental Health and IDD Services presentation

March 30, 2023

lntegral Care Virtual Community Forum:
Making a Difference: Peer Support in IDD Services

April 18, 2023

Testified before Texas House Human Services Committee on HB 4702 on
April 18, 2023 which would created stakeholder group to create Medicaid
Billable IDD Peer Support Certification and Services for Persons with IDD
living Outside of State Supported Living Centers. HB 4702 passed the House
May 6, 2023 but didn't get hearing in Senate HHS Committee even through
efforts by myself to get Sen. Kolkhorst to give the bill a hearing on the final
Sunday of the 2023 Texas Legislative Session by speaking with her office in
person and staying until midnight just incase the bill got a hearing.

July 14, 2023

Texas Parent to Parent Conference/presentation titlted Peer Specialist View of Mental Health and IDD Services presentation

July 27, 2023

2023 TxSOC & CRCG Conference/presentation titled Using Self-Awareness to Advocate for Support Needs in Different Enviornments

October 20, 2023

2023 Texas Association of Addiction Professionals Conference/presentation titled Addressing the Recovery Support Needs of People with IDD

November 2, 2023

2023 Texas Gathering and Our Southwest Friends Keynote Speaker

September 5, 2024

2024 Texas Association of Addiction Professionals Conference/presentation titled “A Peer Specialist View of IDD and Mental Health Services”

February 8th, 2025

A look Ahead Conference

Introduction to Person Centered Planning

February 21, 2025

Voices from People with Lived Experiences
Guest Speaker Series

July 15, 2025

2025 TX SOC Conference

Introduction to Person Centered Planning

July 24, 2025

Tarrant County IDD Council

Into to Person Centered Thinking/Planning

August 7, 2025

Texas HHSC Institute Conference

Using Self-Awareness to Advocate for Support Needs in Different Enviornments

October 1, 2025

AAIDD Texas Chapter's Convention

My Person Centered Planning

October 8, 2025

National Association for the Dually Diagnosed Educational Webinar

October 18, 2025

HEALTHY MINDS, HEALTHY HEARTS A Mental Health Wellness Conference

Introduction to Person Centered Planning/People Planning Together

October 24, 2025

International Conference on Applied Psychology

Addressing Recovery Support Needs of Persons with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities(Won best presentation award)

October 28, 2025

2025 commUNITY Conference

Supporting Neurodivergent Persons with Behaviors Related to 2 Forms of Sensory Processing Challenges

October 29, 2025

The Texas Gathering Keynote address

October 30, 2025

AAMFT 2025 Systemic Family Therapy Conference

2 forms of Sensory Processing Challenges in Neurodivergent clients’

February 4, 2026

The 5th Annual Canadian Health and Wellbeing in Developmental Disabilities (HWDD) Conference (online Feb 4-5, 2026)

2 forms of Sensory Processing Challenges in Neurodivergent clients’

February 20, 2026

Texas Transition Conference

Using Self-Awarness to Advocate for Support Needs in Different Enviornments

My Person Centered Planning

May 9, 2026

E4TEXAS Graduation Keynote

June 10, 2026

National APSE Conference

ASSUME a Sensory Reason Employment framework

July 17, 2026

THe AAFCS-TX 108th Annual State Conference

ASSUME a Sensory Reason School based framework

August 19, 2026

AAIDD Texas Chapter Convention

Peer Support Specialist Role on Tranisition Support Team

August 28, 2026

Texas Advocates Conference

ASSUME a Sensory Reason Employment Framework

September 10, 2026

TAAP Conference

ASSUME a Sensory Reason A Recovery-Support Lens for "Behavior", Regulation, and Engagement

October 22, 2026

Mental Health and Substance Use Recovery Conference 2026

ASSUME a Sensory Reason A Recovery-Support Lens for "Behavior", Regulation, and Engagement

October 23, 2026

Kids Living Well Summitt

Closing Keynote

October 24, 2026

NAMI Texas Conference

When Just Joking Around Becomes Dangerous: Understanding Bullying, Neurodivergency, and Suicide Risk

November 2, 2026

Adolescent Health Conference-Virtual

Assume a Sensory Reason A Recovery-Support Lens for “Behavior,” Regulation, and Engagement
An Autoethnography of Regulation and Engagement