IAC 14th Annual Conference: Full Schedule

8:30am EDT

Breakfast Sponsored by All Boro & Exhibitor Viewing

Wednesday June 10, 2026 8:30am - 9:00am EDT

Sponsors

All Boro

We are a restoration, remediation, construction, and maintenance company serving commercial and residential clients, nonprofit organizations, hospitals, and healthcare facilities by providing services that restore, build, and maintain their quality of life.

Wednesday June 10, 2026 8:30am - 9:00am EDT

9:00am EDT

Opening Keynote: Super HUMAN: Radical Humanity for an Artificially Intelligent World

Wednesday June 10, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am EDT

710/712

It's not that technology is advancing too quickly. It's that human skills are advancing too slowly. There's no big mystery as to why trust, the #1 key to business, is experiencing a crisis during the artificial age. People want something REAL - and if you don't give it to them, then your competitors will.Where there is human connection, there is magic. Productivity improves in a way that science...
See More →

Speakers

Tim David

Tim David Speaks

Like you, former magician, author, and human connection expert, Tim David is frustrated by what is
happening to the quality of communication in our modern world. Can more connection really increase
the bottom line and improve the quality of our lives at the same time? Will better... Read More →

Wednesday June 10, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am EDT
710/712

10:15am EDT

OPWDD Commissioner Willow Baer

Wednesday June 10, 2026 10:15am - 10:45am EDT

710/712

Speakers

Commissioner Willow Baer

Commissioner, NYS Office of People with Developmental Disabilities

Willow Baer serves as Commissioner at OPWDD where she leads the second largest state agency with more than 19,000 state employees and oversees services delivered by over 400 not-for-profit service agency partners.Willow has held several executive-level human service posts in New York... Read More →

Wednesday June 10, 2026 10:15am - 10:45am EDT
710/712

10:45am EDT

Break and Exhibitor Viewing

Wednesday June 10, 2026 10:45am - 11:15am EDT

11:15am EDT

SED Update with Suzanne Bolling and Nell Brady

Wednesday June 10, 2026 11:15am - 12:30pm EDT

706/708

Speakers

Suzanne Bolling

New York State 619 Coordinator and Assistant Counsel, New York State Education Department Office of Special Education

Suzanne is the New York State 619 Coordinator and Assistant Counsel with the New York State Education Department Office of Special Education. She currently oversees the Preschool Policy, Nondistrict, and Incident Management Units in their work to issue guide, provide technical assistance... Read More →

Nell Brady

Director of the Rate Setting, Contract Administration, and STAC/Medicaid Units, New York State Education Department Office of Special Education

Nell Brady is the director of the Rate Setting, Contract Administration, and STAC/Medicaid Units at the New York State Education Department. She oversees the Department’s contracting and procurement work, as well as the tuition rate-setting and claiming processes for approved special... Read More →

Wednesday June 10, 2026 11:15am - 12:30pm EDT
706/708

11:15am EDT

Workforce Stability as Executive Practice: A New Leadership Playbook

Wednesday June 10, 2026 11:15am - 12:30pm EDT

710/712

Executive commitment to the DSP workforce is widespread. Executive action on it is harder. This panel demonstrates what workforce sustainability looks like when executives treat it as their own practice rather than a problem set by funding.

Speakers

Dr. Jennifer Cohen

Jennifer Cohen is an economist whose research focuses on the structural conditions shaping frontline work in healthcare and disability services, including turnover, economic insecurity, and organizational support among Direct Support Professionals. She is the founder and principal... Read More →

Molly Little

CEO, The Arc of Delaware County

Molly Little is the CEO of The Arc of Delaware County (Delarc), where she has spent more than 30 years growing from Direct Support Professional (DSP) to organizational leader. Her work is rooted in a deep belief that people with disabilities deserve lives centered on dignity, individuality... Read More →

Tibisay Guzmán

CEO, The Arc Westchester

Tibisay A. Guzmán (Tibi) is the CEO of The Arc Westchester, the largest organization in Westchester County, New York, dedicated to supporting people with developmental disabilities (DD) and their families. In her role, Ms. Guzman fosters a culture of dignity and respect for both... Read More →

Robert S. Budd

Sr. Chief Executive Officer/President, Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc.

Robert S. Budd, a mission-driven, results oriented, dedicated leader, is the Sr. Chief Executive Officer/President of Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc. (FREE), a not-for-profit agency that supports individuals of all abilities with community living opportunities, employment... Read More →

Marco Damiani

Chief Executive Officer, AHRC NYC

Marco Damiani has served as the Chief Executive Officer of AHRC New York City since 2017, working with its 4,000 mission-driven staff members to build upon the extraordinary almost 75-year legacy of AHRC NYC’s commitment to social justice for children and adults with disabilities... Read More →

Jajaida Gonzalez

Vice President of Day Habilitation Services, Services for the Underserved

Jajaida is a seasoned professional with over two decades of experience in creating safe, supportive, and enriching environments for individuals with Intellectual Disabilities. Grounded in a strong commitment to the Person-Centered approach, she has held a range of roles throughout... Read More →

Winifred Schiff

Chief Executive Officer, Inter Agency Council

Wini is the Chief Executive Officer of the Inter Agency Council of Developmental Disabilities Agencies, Inc. (IAC), with nearly 200 members, and she has been an innovator in the intellectual and developmental disabilities services field since 1986. With more than 40 years of experience... Read More →

Wednesday June 10, 2026 11:15am - 12:30pm EDT
710/712

12:30pm EDT

Lunch and Exhibitor Viewing

Wednesday June 10, 2026 12:30pm - 1:15pm EDT

1:15pm EDT

Advancing Early Intervention: Research Insights, Program Updates, and Future Directions

Wednesday June 10, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm EDT

653/655

This two-part session will feature Dr. Jeanette Stingone discussing the research behind her recent JAMA article highlighting the positive impact of Early Intervention on NYC children. Dr. Stingone will provide a brief overview of the study’s key findings and their implications for children, families, and the broader EI system. Following the presentation, Director of the New York State Early...
See More →

Speakers

Dr. Jeanette Stingone

Dr. Jeanette Stingone is a formally-trained environmental epidemiologist with a focus on perinatal and pediatric health. She conducts research that couples data science techniques with epidemiologic methods to investigate how prenatal and early-life environmental exposures affect... Read More →

Raymond Pierce

NYS Department of Health

Ray Pierce is the Director of the New York State Early Intervention Program at the Department of Health and currently serves as the President of the Infant and Toddler Coordinators Association (ITCA). He has 25 years of experience helping people with disabilities live independently... Read More →

Wednesday June 10, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm EDT
653/655

1:15pm EDT

Partners in Progress: Innovative Workforce Development to Support Aging Adults with IDD

Wednesday June 10, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm EDT

706/708

Hear from New York City’s new Aging Commissioner and the Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities on their priorities for supporting aging New Yorkers as well as learn how providers are strengthening workforce training to support the evolving needs of the aging IDD community through innovative curriculum models and emerging technologies.

Speakers

Jenna Lundgren Phd. BCBA-D, LBA

Director of Clinical Services – Day Habilitation, QSAC

Jenna Lundgren has been working in the field of Autism and Applied Behavior Analysis for almost a decade. She is a BCBA-D and LBA. She earned her PhD in Applied Behavior Analysis from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Online Campus, in 2025; her dissertation focused on... Read More →

Anya K. Silver, MS, BCBA, LBA

Senior Clinical Director of Day Habilitation Programs, QSAC

Anya K. Silver has been working in the field of autism and applied behavior analysis for over 25 years. Anya received her Bachelors Degree in 1995 in Psychology from Queens College. She completed her Masters Degree in 1996 in Child Development at Tufts University. Anya worked in the... Read More →

Brittany Goodrich M.S.

Director, Kennedy Willis Center on Down Syndrome

Brittany Goodrich brings over 13 years of dedicated experience in the human services and nonprofit sectors, with a specialized focus on supporting individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD). As Director of the Kennedy Willis Center on Down Syndrome, Brittany... Read More →

Randy Horowitz

Eden II Programs

Randy Horowitz, M.S.Ed, SAS is a senior leader at Eden II, with nearly 30 years of experience overseeing programs for children and adults with autism in NYC and Long Island. She began her career as a special education teacher and has extensive expertise in special education and nonprofit leadership. Randy... Read More →

Wednesday June 10, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm EDT
706/708

1:15pm EDT

The Magic Words for Recruitment and Retention

Wednesday June 10, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm EDT

710/712

In today’s workforce climate, attracting and keeping great people takes more than competitive pay and perks. In this engaging breakout session, Tim David explores the powerful role communication, recognition, and human connection play in recruitment and retention. Attendees will discover practical strategies and “magic words” that help people feel valued, motivated, and committed —...
See More →

Speakers

Tim David

Tim David Speaks

Wednesday June 10, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm EDT
710/712

2:30pm EDT

Networking and Exhibitor Viewing

Wednesday June 10, 2026 2:30pm - 3:00pm EDT

3:00pm EDT

Strategies for Sustainability, Regardless of What the Future Holds

Wednesday June 10, 2026 3:00pm - 4:15pm EDT

653/655

This session will review findings from a 2-day long-range scenario planning exercise with the board of IAC that identified the biggest societal trends impacting services for people with I/DD. IAC board members prioritized the biggest challenges in the field of I/DD and engaged in a collaborative creative solutioning exercise that resulted in 4 major strategies to help providers of services for...
See More →

Speakers

Courtney Burke

Senior Managing Director, Sachs Policy Group

Courtney E. Burke is a Senior Managing Director at SPG/Ankura. When Ankura acquired Sachs Policy Group (SPG) in March of 2025, she was serving as a Principal. Her 30 years of experience in healthcare and disability issues include leadership roles as the Chief Operating and Innovation... Read More →

Wednesday June 10, 2026 3:00pm - 4:15pm EDT
653/655

3:00pm EDT

Technology 101: Integrating Technology Into Human Services

Wednesday June 10, 2026 3:00pm - 4:15pm EDT

710/712

As the world of human services changes, it's more important than ever to deliver care that respects privacy, safety, and independence while keeping people connected to their communities. This presentation dives into the shift toward cutting-edge, technology-driven care models that follow CMS's Final Settings Rule. We'll explore why traditional group care falls short and how next-generation...
See More →

Speakers

Mike Strouse, PhD

President and CEO, GoodLife Innovations

For more than 30 years Mike has led GoodLife Innovations, Inc. and its subsidiaries. Mike’s extensive work encompasses research, development, refinement, and dissemination of evidence-based, nationally-regarded, community service models that consistently produce person-centered... Read More →

Wednesday June 10, 2026 3:00pm - 4:15pm EDT
710/712

3:00pm EDT

What's Happening in Washington: Federal Updates, Budget Priorities, and Advocacy Opportunities in Special Education

Wednesday June 10, 2026 3:00pm - 4:15pm EDT

706/708

This session will provide a high-level overview of recent federal developments affecting education and disability policy, with a particular focus on special education, highlighting where things stand now, what changes and proposals are emerging in Washington, and what to watch as Congress moves through the upcoming federal budget process.While acknowledging the real challenges facing public...
See More →

Speakers

Kuna Tavalin

Senior Advisor, Policy and Advocacy, Council for Exceptional Children

Kuna Tavalin has over two decades of experience in public affairs, advocacy and strategic planning in the education and human services arenas. Kuna focuses on federal policy encompassing appropriations, special education, early education, family engagement, child welfare and juvenile... Read More →

Wednesday June 10, 2026 3:00pm - 4:15pm EDT
706/708

4:15pm EDT

Wrap up and Raffle Sponsored by Conner Strong & Buckelew

Wednesday June 10, 2026 4:15pm - 4:30pm EDT

8:30am EDT

Breakfast Sponsored by All Boro & Exhibitor Viewing

Thursday June 11, 2026 8:30am - 9:00am EDT

Sponsors

All Boro

Thursday June 11, 2026 8:30am - 9:00am EDT

9:00am EDT

Legislative and Family Advocacy Awards

Thursday June 11, 2026 9:00am - 9:30am EDT

710/712

Thursday June 11, 2026 9:00am - 9:30am EDT
710/712

9:45am EDT

Insights on the Future of Advocacy

Thursday June 11, 2026 9:45am - 11:00am EDT

706/708

Advocacy is moving fast, the audience is more fragmented, and the bar for action is higher. This session will share details on trends, insights, framework for building campaigns that cut through the noise, make the ask clear, and turn interest into participation.

Speakers

Alex Dickinson

Managing Partner, Beekeeper Group

Alex Dickinson is a Managing Partner at Beekeeper Group and an Adjunct Professor at George Washington University. She is a skilled digital tactician who blends her passion for messaging and content strategy to help organizations advocate for impact. Before joining Beekeeper in 2012... Read More →

Thursday June 11, 2026 9:45am - 11:00am EDT
706/708

9:45am EDT

Risk & Resilience: Lessons from High-Performing Behavioral Health Organizations

Thursday June 11, 2026 9:45am - 11:00am EDT

710/712

This 75-minute moderated panel will bring together executive, legal, and risk advisory perspectives to explore what “high performance” looks like for behavioral health organizations in today’s oversight environment. As funding scrutiny intensifies and expectations evolve, it’s no longer enough to deliver strong outcomes; organizations increasingly carry the burden of proof to demonstrate...
See More →

Speakers

Patrick Yu

CPA, Principal, National and New York Leader – Behavioral Health Services, Baker Tilly

Patrick is the New York metro area market leader. He also leads the firm’s behavioral health practice and serves as the New York metro area’s healthcare and not-for-profit industry leader. He has more than 30 years of experience in providing audit, accounting and consulting services... Read More →

Josh Scher

CFO & COO, Birch Family Services

Josh is Chief Financial and Operating Officer at Birch Family Services. He oversees accounting, accounts receivable, accounts payable, purchasing, financial planning and analysis, and information technology. His previous experience includes serving as chief financial officer of Saint... Read More →

Rachel Fernbach, Esq

Moritt Hock & Hamroff LLP

Rachel A. Fernbach is a partner at Moritt Hock & Hamroff LLP, where she serves as Co-Chair of the firm’s Not-For-Profit practice group. Ms. Fernbach concentrates her practice in the area of not-for-profit law and health care law with a specialty in psychiatry and other mental... Read More →

Adrienne Larmett, CRA, MBA

Principal, Risk Advisory, Baker Tilly

Adrienne is a principal in Baker Tilly’s risk advisory practice, with more than 15 years of professional consulting experience. Adrienne specializes in providing services to higher education and research institutions, working with clients to provide guidance in the areas of internal... Read More →

Thursday June 11, 2026 9:45am - 11:00am EDT
710/712

9:45am EDT

The Inflection Point: Rethinking systems, funding, and purpose in a time of transformation

Thursday June 11, 2026 9:45am - 11:00am EDT

653/655

The field isn’t just evolving—it’s hitting a true inflection point. You can feel it everywhere. The signals are clear, the pressure is building, and the question is no longer if change is coming—it’s whether we’re ready to meet it. This is a moment that demands more than incremental improvement. It calls for bold retooling, deep restructuring, honest reevaluation, and full-scale...
See More →

Speakers

Margaret J. Gould

The Visions Center for Creative Management

Margaret (Peg) Gould is the President/CEO of The VISIONS Center for Creative Management. She is the Director Emeritus with the Training Collaborative, a shared project developing emerging leaders and a consultant with ADAPT Community Network. Peg is an Adjunct Professor at two universities... Read More →

Thursday June 11, 2026 9:45am - 11:00am EDT
653/655

11:00am EDT

Networking and Exhibitor Viewing

Thursday June 11, 2026 11:00am - 11:30am EDT

11:30am EDT

Beyond Behavior: Trauma-Informed and Person-Centered Leadership for Supporting Aging Adults with IDD

Thursday June 11, 2026 11:30am - 12:45pm EDT

653/655

This interactive presentation is designed for executive leadership and upper management supporting adults with dual diagnoses of IDD and mental health challenges who are aging in group home settings. The session focuses on building a trauma-informed, person-centered framework that strengthens organizational culture while equipping leaders with concrete tools they can bring back to front-line...
See More →

Speakers

Tanya Richmond

Support Development Associates, LLC

Tanya M. Richmond, MSW, LCSW, brings over three decades of experience as a licensed clinical social worker, blending deep clinical expertise with a passion for person-centered practice. She is the owner and senior partner of Support Development Associates, LLC, and also runs a private... Read More →

Thursday June 11, 2026 11:30am - 12:45pm EDT
653/655

11:30am EDT

Beyond the Cliff: Practical Transition Planning Advocacy and Innovative Models for Adult Transition

Thursday June 11, 2026 11:30am - 12:45pm EDT

706/708

This workshop will explore practical advocacy strategies for strengthening transition planning before students leave school, including meaningful IEP goals, earlier connections to adult agencies, travel training, changing of supports, and stronger coordination among schools, families, providers, and government partners. It will also highlight emerging and innovative models that expand options...
See More →

Speakers

Alex Elegudin

Advocates for Children

Alex Elegudin is an accomplished accessibility professional and advocate with over a decade of experience in the disability community. After a life-changing spinal cord injury in 2003 he became a quadriplegic. Yet he persevered, graduated from Hofstra University Law School, and became... Read More →

Thursday June 11, 2026 11:30am - 12:45pm EDT
706/708

11:30am EDT

Roadmap to the Future: Thinking About the Future of Service Delivery

Thursday June 11, 2026 11:30am - 12:45pm EDT

710/712

The ongoing uncertainty on the federal level, including the focus on fraud, waste and abuse, creates new challenges for providers seeking to continue their mission of providing quality services and supports. This presentation will examine the federal regulatory environment, New York State’s response, and proactive strategies providers can pursue in this uncertain environment.

Speakers

Roger Bearden

Partner, Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC

Roger is a governmental and regulatory affairs and health and human services with over two decades of experience in the public and private sector. Prior to joining Bond, Roger served in multiple senior leadership positions in New York State government, including as special counsel... Read More →

Thursday June 11, 2026 11:30am - 12:45pm EDT
710/712

12:45pm EDT

Lunch and Exhibitor Viewing

Thursday June 11, 2026 12:45pm - 1:30pm EDT

1:30pm EDT

All You Need to Know About NYS Rate Methodology (OPWDD and NYSED Programs)

Thursday June 11, 2026 1:30pm - 2:45pm EDT

653/655

This executive session is designed for agency leadership overseeing residential and day services regulated by the New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), as well as special education programs governed by the New York State Education Department. Attendees will gain a practical understanding of the core service components, reimbursement methodologies, and regulatory...
See More →

Speakers

Terrence J. Phillips, CPA

Senior Counsel, The Bonadio Group

Terry is a senior counsel with The Bonadio Group’s Advisory & Consulting service line. Terry graduated from Moorhead State University (now known as Minnesota State University Moorhead) and has over 35 years of experience in Private and Public Accounting positions. He has over 20... Read More →

Thursday June 11, 2026 1:30pm - 2:45pm EDT
653/655

1:30pm EDT

Ethical Data Collection for Human-Centered Organizations

Thursday June 11, 2026 1:30pm - 2:45pm EDT

706/708

Data collection is not just a technical process. It is a relationship-building process.In this 75-minute session, participants will learn how to design surveys and other data collection tools that are human-centric, ethical, inclusive, and useful. The session will explore how organizations can collect data in ways that reduce harm, build trust, support better decisions, and honor the people behind...
See More →

Speakers

Meena Das

CEO, NamasteData

Meena Das (she/her) is the CEO, consultant, and facilitator of two practices - NamasteData and Data Is For Everyone. Namaste Data focuses on advancing data equity for nonprofits and social impact agencies, while Data Is For Everyone provides tools and resources to help people learn how to navigate the world of data. Meena specializes in designing and teaching equitable research tools and analyzing... Read More →

Thursday June 11, 2026 1:30pm - 2:45pm EDT
706/708

1:30pm EDT

Supported Decision-Making in New York: The Next Chapter

Thursday June 11, 2026 1:30pm - 2:45pm EDT

710/712

This session will cover the evolution of Supported Decision-Making in New York, including a preview of how this model is being scaled up for the entire state of New York. Attendees will learn how Decision Makers will be empowered to carry out decisions and navigate decision-making spaces. Additionally, attendees will learn how Supported Decision- Making has synergy with the Self-Direction Model,...
See More →

Speakers

Alexis Harrington, MSW

AIM Services, Inc

Alexis Harrington, MSW has over 12 years of experience in the field of social work, healthcare policy, and Medicaid reform and transformation. As the Chief of Program Implementation at AIM Services, Alexis is focused on rolling out the Supported Decision-Making Program statewide over... Read More →

Josh Phelps

Chief Operating Officer, AIM Services, Inc

Josh Phelps is the Chief Operating Officer at AIM Services, Inc., based in Saratoga Springs, New York, where he partners closely with the Chief Executive Officer to shape the organization’s strategic direction and oversee day-to-day operations. With more than 17 years of experience... Read More →

Thursday June 11, 2026 1:30pm - 2:45pm EDT
710/712

2:45pm EDT

Afternoon Snack and Exhibitor Viewing

Thursday June 11, 2026 2:45pm - 3:00pm EDT

3:00pm EDT

Heart Work is Hard Work: Prioritizing the Wellbeing of New York's Caregivers

Thursday June 11, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT

710/712

Speakers

Rawle Andrews Jr., Esq.

Executive Director, APA Foundation (APAF)

Rawle Andrews Jr., Esq. is the executive director of the APA Foundation (APAF), the philanthropic arm of the American Psychiatric Association (APA). Rawle also is the president of the Rotary Club Howard West (MD), a Board member of the Thurgood Marshall Center Trust, and a past, two-term... Read More →

Thursday June 11, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
710/712

4:00pm EDT

Wrap Up and Raffle Sponsored by Vincent J DiCalogero CPAs LLC

Thursday June 11, 2026 4:00pm - 4:15pm EDT

8:30am EDT

9:00am EDT

10:15am EDT

10:45am EDT

11:15am EDT

11:15am EDT

12:30pm EDT

1:15pm EDT

1:15pm EDT

1:15pm EDT

2:30pm EDT

3:00pm EDT

3:00pm EDT

3:00pm EDT

4:15pm EDT

8:30am EDT

9:00am EDT

9:45am EDT

9:45am EDT

9:45am EDT

11:00am EDT

11:30am EDT

11:30am EDT

11:30am EDT

12:45pm EDT

1:30pm EDT

1:30pm EDT

1:30pm EDT

2:45pm EDT

3:00pm EDT

4:00pm EDT

Get help with the event