25th Anniversary START Speaker Series

Dates: December 15, 2025, January 12, 2026, February 6, 2026, March 3, 2026, and April 15, 2026
Attendees can choose which topics they wish to participate in within this series. Flyer for whole series
Time: 9:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Format and Platform: Virtual via Zoom
Registration Fee Michigan Resident: $0
Registration Fee Non-Michigan Resident: $20
Topic Focus: Classroom-level
Intended Audience: General Education Teachers, Special Education Teachers, Special Education Administration, Instructional Consultants.
Continuing Education Units (CEUs): START is offering State Continuing Education Clock Hours (SCECHs), pending approval, and Certificates of Attendance. Participants must complete the Attendance Form provided at the training within 2 days of the training date to receive SCECHs and/or a Certificate of Attendance. BCBA CEUs will be offered for the Mandy Rispoli presentation on February 6, 2026.

Cancellation Policy: Cancellations must be submitted in writing to [email protected] at least 24 hours before the webinar. We are unable to accept phone cancellations.

Recording: This series is not being recorded.

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Date: December 15, 2025, Flyer for Christopher Bugaj

Presenter: Christopher R. Bugaj, MA CCC-SLP

Title: The Sweet Spot - Necessary Considerations for Awesome Implementation of Augmentative/Alternative Communication

Description: For individuals who are not successfully using verbal speech as their primary form of communication, it is essential for educators and supporters to consider augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) options. Helping learners use AAC effectively requires a collaborative effort and a commitment to overcoming barriers. This session explores how to build environments that empower individuals of all abilities to communicate meaningfully using AAC. The session will discuss factors related to AAC consideration and effective implementation practices such as partner augmented input/aided language stimulation, morphological instruction, explicit instruction of phrasal verbs, consistent symbol/word location, and more to design awesome experiences meant to engage and empower learners.

Presenter Bio: Christopher R. Bugaj, MA CCC-SLP, is a founding member of the Assistive Technology Team for Loudoun County Public Schools and currently serves as the district’s Assistive Technology Specialist. Chris co-hosts the Talking With Tech podcast and previously hosted The A.T.TIPSCAST, a multi-award-winning podcast featuring strategies to design educational experiences. He is the author of The New Assistive Tech: Make Learning Awesome for All (first and second editions) and co-author of Inclusive Learning 365: EdTech Strategies for Every Day of the Year, Tips to Activate Inclusive Learning (QuickWins! Strategy Cards), and The Practical (and Fun) Guide to Assistive Technology in Public Schools, all published by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). Chris co-authored two chapters in Technology Tools for Students with Autism (Brookes Publishing) and co-produces Night Light Stories, featuring original stories for children. He has presented over 750 sessions worldwide, including TEDx.

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Date: January 12, 2026, Flyer for Carly Gilson

Presenter: Carly B. Gilson, Ph.D.

Title: The Tech Toolkit for Transition: Promoting Independence and Inclusion in Employment Settings

Description: Job coaching strategies play a critical role in helping transition-age students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) overcome persistent barriers to competitive, integrated employment. Research shows that work-based learning experiences in community settings are strong predictors of long-term success, yet these opportunities can be difficult to access in rural areas or resource-limited districts. Educators, including transition teachers, special education staff, and administrators, can leverage technology to bridge these gaps. Mobile applications, video modeling, serious games, artificial intelligence, covert audio coaching, and self-monitoring tools offer practical ways to provide support that is timely, individualized, and less intrusive. These tools reduce reliance on constant one-to-one assistance by fostering independence and reinforcing skill development for students. For example, video modeling can help students learn job tasks before entering the workplace, while covert audio coaching allows support staff to provide real-time feedback discreetly. Self-monitoring apps enable students to track their own progress, promoting autonomy and confidence. All of the tools discussed in the presentation will utilize everyday mobile technology that does not require expensive equipment. This approach ensures that technology becomes a sustainable resource for inclusion, enabling students to succeed in roles that align with their strengths and interests.

Presenter Bio: Dr. Carly Blustein Gilson is an Associate Professor of Special Education in the Department of Educational Studies at The Ohio State University. She received her Ph.D. in special education from Vanderbilt University, with a focus on Severe Disabilities. Her research interests center on equipping adolescents and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) for integrated employment and inclusive higher education; supporting individuals and families through the school-to-work transition; and equipping strong educational team collaborations among secondary special education teachers and paraprofessionals. Her scholarship has supported the development of an inclusive postsecondary education program for students with IDD and a professional development workshop series for transition educators focused on job coaching. She began her career as a middle school special education teacher in Atlanta and a college and career instructor in Boston.

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Date: February 6, 2026, Flyer for Mandy Rispoli

Presenter: Mandy J. Rispoli, PhD, BCBA-D, LBA

Title: Teaming with Paraprofessionals to Support Learners with Autism and Related Disabilities

Description: Special education is a team endeavor, and paraprofessionals are an essential part of this team. Most paraprofessionals receive their training on the job, and often by the special education teacher. Unfortunately, most special education teachers were not taught how to supervise, coach, and collaborate with paraprofessionals during their training. The purpose of this webinar is to provide special education teachers and behavior analysts with knowledge and skills in supervising and coaching paraprofessionals to implement evidence-based practices with students with autism and other disabilities.

Presenter Bio: Dr. Mandy Rispoli is the Quantitative Foundation Bicentennial Professor of Special Education at the University of Virginia and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst- Doctoral level. She is the Editor of Behavior Modification and the Co-Editor of the Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions. Dr. Rispoli’s scholarship is built upon sustained university-community partnerships to improve teacher and caregiver meaningful involvement in functional behavior assessment and intervention and to promote positive outcomes for young children with autism and developmental disabilities. Dr. Rispoli’s research explores: (a) improving the efficiency, effectiveness, and feasibility of functional behavior assessments and function-based interventions in educational settings, and (b) innovations in professional development for teachers of young children with autism and challenging behavior. Dr. Rispoli has published over 140 peer-reviewed research articles and book chapters concerning behavioral interventions for children with autism and developmental disabilities.

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Date: March 3, 2026 - Flyer for Mike Marotta

Presenter: Mike Marotta

Title: Assistive Technology Strategies for Inclusive Learning

Description: This interactive 2-hour webinar explores practical assistive technology (AT) strategies that promote access, engagement, and independence for all learners. Participants will examine how AT can be intentionally integrated into inclusive learning environments to reduce barriers and support diverse learning needs. Solutions will highlight solutions along the AT continuum from no tech to low tech to high tech. These inclusive strategies can be implemented immediately into the educational environments.

Presenter Bio: Mike is a RESNA Certified Assistive Technology Professional and the Director of the Richard West Assistive Technology Advocacy Center, NJ’s AT Act program. Mike is a nationally and internationally recognized presenter providing practical training to professionals interested in assistive and inclusive technology and serves on the CAST Center on Inclusive Technology and Education Systems (CITES) Advisory Board. In addition, Mike is an adjunct professor at Ramapo College of New Jersey (NJ) teaching Masters level educators in Assistive Technology and Universal Design for Learning and one of the co-authors of the book Inclusive Learning 365: Edtech Strategies for Every Day of the Year and the Tips for Inclusive Learning Quick Wins card deck.

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Date: April 15, 2026 - Flyer for Amy Ursitti

Presenter: Amy Ursitti

Title: A Sibling's Perspective on Profound Autism

Description: This presentation offers an in-depth look at profound autism through the lived experience of a sibling. Drawing on personal narrative and family advocacy, the speaker will share what it is like to grow up alongside a brother with profound autism and how this experience shapes family life across childhood, adolescence, and transition to adulthood. Participants will gain insight into the often overlooked needs of individuals with profound autism and their families, including siblings. The session also introduces the work of the Profound Autism Alliance and its mission to ensure that individuals with profound autism are included in advocacy and research.

Presenter Bio: Amy Ursitti is the secretary of Profound Autism Alliance, which she cofounded with her family in 2023. They were inspired to start this organization focused on advocacy and research for people with profound autism because of her younger brother Jack, who is 22 and has profound autism. She leads Profound Autism Alliance’s Sibling Action Network, a group of siblings who meet regularly to provide support to one another and work on projects to improve the lives of individuals with profound autism and their siblings. Outside of Profound Autism Alliance, Amy is a second-year medical student at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City and hopes to further improve the lives of those with profound autism as a physician in the future.

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