Professional Development Seminars

Panel discussion of the current and anticipated challenges and provide ways the community could fight back.

This session is intended for WorkAbility III (WA III), WorkAbility IV (WA IV), and College To Career (C2C) staff. WA III’s, WA IV’s, and C2C’s are cooperative programs between the California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) and public community colleges and universities in California. WA III, WA IV and C2C use the combined staffing and resources of both agencies to increase the amount and level of employment and/or transition services that students/clients with disabilities can receive above and beyond what colleges or universities can usually provide. When attendees leave this session, they will have the most updated information on current issues, funding, policies and procedures, and best practices of the WA III’s, WA IV’s and C2C’s. Attendees will also have the most current information regarding DOR’s additional cooperative efforts with postsecondary education institutions, such as DOR Student Services and federal Reallotment Funding. 

This session will include a standard lecture type presentation with PowerPoint slides, Q&A, and discussion groups.

Food or a food voucher will NOT be provided. There will be a break for lunch on your own.

In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn how to create custom AI chatbots using Play Lab to solve real-world accessibility challenges. Attendees will receive a free Play Lab account and guided instruction on developing intelligent chatbots tailored to specific needs. Whether you want to create a support bot for your office, a resource guide for students, or a personalized assistant, this session will demonstrate how easy and powerful AI chatbot creation can be. Participants will leave with practical skills, their own Play Lab account, and the ability to design unlimited chatbots across various contexts. No prior coding experience required. Please bring a laptop to participate.

Key Learning Outcomes:

Understand the basics of AI chatbot development

Learn how to use Play Lab for creating accessible solutions

Develop a custom chatbot during the workshop

Explore potential applications in education, support services, and personal assistance

Using "The Brain Architecture Game", we will experience how adverse experiences and relational supports interact to shape the formation of the basic functions of the brain. Followed by a guided discussion of how this impacts ASD/ID College Students, and then moving through specific tools and guides for supporting the Mental Health needs of this population, planning for wellness (and self-care) through a process derived from "Wellness and Recovery Action Planning"  Participants will leave with a physical copy of the game, and electronic access to the Wellness Planning Tools which can be used for both "Professional Development" (for Faculty and Staff) and "Student self-awareness" applications in the college setting. 

Join us for a full day of training and networking with your fellow Learning Disability Specialists! The first half of our day will include an in-person training update on the new WAIS V led by Natalie Guerriero and Lori Muskat from ETS. The training will go over significant changes such as a new 5-factor structure and better options for use in tele-assessment. This session will provide an overview of the new test as well as case examples in an interactive format, including experiential small group activity. After lunch, there will be opportunity for hands-on practice with peers so if you have purchased the new kit or have access to one, please bring it with you. We will end the day with an overview and discussion of the LD resources page led by Dawn Decker.

In an increasingly complex technological landscape, building a strong, supportive Assistive Technology (AT) professional network is crucial. This interactive session will explore innovative strategies for creating and sustaining a robust AT community across institutions. Participants will engage in discussions about developing communication channels, sharing resources, and supporting each other through emerging challenges in accessibility technology and alternate media production. We'll examine practical approaches to community building, including potential digital platforms, collaborative projects, and professional networking techniques. The session aims to empower AT professionals to create meaningful connections, share knowledge, and collectively advance accessibility support at their college, in their region and around the state.

Key Learning Outcomes:

Exploring digital platforms for ongoing collaboration

Strategies for knowledge sharing and professional development

Creating sustainable support systems across different institutions

Developing a collaborative approach to emerging accessibility challenges

Grounded in Viktor Frankl’s philosophy, this workshop honors personal autonomy and dignity. It offers a hopeful, empowering path through loss, rooted in the freedom to create meaning even in difficult circumstances.