S1. AAC Without Walls: Supporting Communication Across Home, School, and Community

Room: KEL 3010 

Presenter: Stacie Kass — Speech-Language Pathologist, Vista Unified School District

Session Overview: Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) opens doors to connection, participation, and belonging across home, school, and community settings. However, once a student receives an AAC device, families and educators often face challenges in supporting consistent and meaningful use beyond the classroom. This session brings together the voices of parents and educators to share real-world experiences implementing AAC across environments. Participants will explore practical strategies that support generalization, collaboration with IEP teams, and authentic communication opportunities. The session highlights how shared responsibility, coaching, and partnership between families and schools can empower students to find and use their voices in everyday life.

Intended Audience: Families, Educators, Students

S5. Building Inclusive Opportunities from the Ground Up: A District Office Perspective

Room: 2310B

Presenter: Dr. Patrick Newton — Director of Special Education, Escondido Union School District

Session Overview: Creating inclusive learning environments requires more than vision—it requires intentional use of existing resources, collaboration, and persistence. This interactive session offers a district office perspective on identifying and removing barriers to inclusion across TK–8 systems. Participants will explore common challenges districts face, examine practical strategies to address them, and reflect on how inclusion is an ongoing, rewarding process. The session emphasizes doing what is right for students with disabilities by leveraging systems-level leadership and shared responsibility.

Intended Audience: Families, Educators, Students, University Partners

S10. FUESD’s Transitional Learning Center

Room: SBSB 4117 

Presenter: Megan Shinner — Assistant Principal, William H. Frazier Elementary, Fallbrook Union Elementary School District
Co-Presenters: Caitlyn Fitzharris (School Psychologist), Danielle Bazzone (Special Day Class Teacher), with parent, student, and general education teacher voices

Session Overview:
Fallbrook Union Elementary School District recently launched a redesign of its special education program profiles, resulting in the creation of a Transitional Learning Center. This session shares how students who were historically served in separate settings are now supported in general education classrooms for the majority of their instructional day. Presenters will walk through the design process, implementation steps, and trust-building strategies that supported this shift, while centering high expectations and meaningful inclusion. Participants will hear directly from students, families, and educators about the impact of this inclusive model.

Intended Audience: Families, Educators, Students, University Partners

S2. A Systems Approach to Increasing LRE & Access for Multilingual Learners with Disabilities

Room: 2310B

Presenter: Dr. Deborah E. Montoya — Executive Director of Special Education, Oceanside Unified School District

Session Overview: Systems improvement efforts such as Compliance Improvement Monitoring (CIM), Differentiated Assistance (DA), Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI), and Additional Targeted Support and Improvement (ATSI) require thoughtful attention to multilingual learners with disabilities. This session introduces an equity-centered resource guide designed to support teams in identifying root causes, strengthening culturally and linguistically responsive practices, and improving access to inclusive learning environments. Participants will examine how data, instruction, assessment, and IEP decision-making intersect for dually identified students and explore strategies to improve outcomes across systems.

Intended Audience: Educators, University Partners

S7. Four Zones of Regulation: A Playful Journey Through Emotions

Room: 2310A

Presenter: Victoria Veneziano — Education Strategist, Meteor Education

Session Overview: This highly interactive workshop invites participants to experience the Zones of Regulation through movement, play, and hands-on exploration. Participants will travel through the Blue, Green, Yellow, and Red zones while practicing simple strategies that support emotional regulation for neurodiverse learners. Through collaborative activities and reflection, families and educators will explore tools they can apply immediately in inclusive learning environments. The session also highlights the role of physical space and design in supporting emotional well-being.

Intended Audience: All
Accessibility: Space setup required for interactive movement

S9. Understanding the Assessment Process: A Guide for Parents in Special Education

Room: SBSB 3219 

Presenters: Luisa Castillo — Area Manager, TASK and Annamaria Burke — Special Education Coordinator, Oceanside Unified School District

Session Overview: This parent-focused workshop provides a clear, accessible overview of the special education assessment process. Participants will learn about IDEA and Section 504, how referrals and evaluations work, and what options are available when families have questions or concerns. The session emphasizes meaningful collaboration between families and school teams and equips parents with the knowledge and tools needed to confidently participate in decision-making throughout their child’s special education journey.

Intended Audience: Families