The conference promotes effective, person-centered transition planning for youth with disabilities to address all aspects of adult life including education and training, health care, community and employment. This conference brings together adolescents, families, professionals and experts in the field to network, learn from one another and strengthen their skill set and knowledge base to help youth with disabilities successfully transition to adulthood.
About the 2019 Conference
The 15th Annual Illinois Statewide Transition Conference for transition aged youth and young adults with disabilities, their family members and teachers, vocational professionals, caregivers, health care professionals, college students pursuing careers in special education and community advocates will be held October 17-18, 2019 at the Gateway Center in Collinsville, Illinois.
The conference will focus on best practices in promoting effective, person-centered transition planning that addresses all aspects of adult life for youth with disabilities. Conference Sessions are offered in the following four tracks: independent living, education and training, employment, community integration, health care, and self-advocacy. Our conference invites participants to imagine the possibilities for students with disabilities in the areas of Community, Education, Employment, and Health Care.
Thursday, October 17th features a variety of multi-choice Break-Out Sessions throughout the day and concludes with a choice of Plenary Sessions. A variety of exhibitors sharing resources on Thursday only. Friday, October 18th highlights multi-choice Break-Out Sessions in the morning and concludes with a choice of Plenary Sessions.
General Session Speaker LeDerick Horne
Diagnosed with a learning disability in the third grade, LeDerick Horne defies any and all labels. He’s a dynamic spoken-word poet. A tireless advocate for all people with disabilities. An inspiring motivational speaker. A bridge-builder between learners and leaders across the U.S. and around the world. An African-American husband and father who serves as a role model for all races, genders, and generations.
From 2003 to 2012, LeDerick served as the Founding Board Chair of Eye to Eye (eyetoeyenational.org), the only national nonprofit mentoring program for students labeled with LD / ADHD, and continues to serve on the board today. He is on the advisory board for The National Resources for Access, Independence, Self-determination and Employment (RAISE) Technical Assistance Center (www.raisecenter.org), and he is a Senior Consultant for The Center for School Climate and Learning.
In 2016, he and co-author Margo Vreeburg Izzo, PhD, The Ohio State University, released the book Empowering Students with Hidden Disabilities: A Path to Pride and Success — the definitive compendium on transition support for students with LD / ADHD and other hidden disabilities — published by Brookes Publishing Co.
LeDerick has earned a BA in Mathematics with a Fine Arts minor from New Jersey City University and also studied Mathematics at Middlesex County College. His poetry is available on iTunes and YouTube.