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Black Collective Advocacy Network Conference

Uplifting Black Families in the Disability Community.
For Us By Us About Us

Event Details
Event name: Up lifting Black Families in the Disability Community.
Date and time: August 11, 2023 -August 13, 2023
August 11, 12 pm - 6:00 pm EST
August 12, 2023, 8:30 am - 6:00 pm EST
August 13, 2023, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm EST
Location: Virtual Event

Contact us adv4kids@gmail.com additional information or questions.
Event Description: The Black Collective Network Advocacy Conference is a national virtual event that supports, acknowledges, and recognizes the needs of Black and Disabled students, family members, advocates, and professionals in the special education community.

We have created a space where the Black experiences, voices, and resources are shared to uplift Black families of children with disabilities.

For Us: We focus on the needs of Black children with disabilities.

By Us: We promote and uplift Black professionals in the disability & advocacy community.

About Us: We reject the current white supremacy narratives in the disability & advocacy community.

​We will have nationally recognized experts such as Marie Davis-Pierre of Autism in Black; Attorney Keith Howard and the one and only Cheryl Poe
Purchase Your Ticket Today:
$125.00

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Linda Carrington-A4k Board Member

Company​: Chief Executive Officer at Diversified Strategies Business Support Center

Linda S. Carrington has over thirty years of experience in the business arena, including business consulting, accounting, and tax preparation. She was the former owner of Help Unlimited Small Business Assisters for 17 years, which provided over 38 small businesses with administrative, accounting, and tax preparation services. Currently, she is the President of Diversified Strategies Financial Services, Inc., and Diversified Strategies Tax Service, Inc., assisting in the growth of over seventy-five businesses. Mrs. Carrington is a financial services expert and a tax specialist. She serves on the board of two nonprofit organizations, Advocating 4 Kids, Inc. and YESUSA, Inc. She serves in the children's ministry at her worship center, Hampton Roads Church.

She is married and is the mother of ten children, some of which were fostered, adopted, and those who came and just did not go home. Many of her children had various disabilites. She is also a managing partner in Compassionate Care Consumer Services, which provides service facilitation for those individuals in the EDCD and EPDST Medicaid waivers. She has always had a gift for problem-solving and helping others. She has served as both a life coach and mentor to young adults.

Title: Time for Action:How to Start Your Advocacy Non Profit

One of the major advantages of starting a nonprofit organization is the credibility, goodwill, trustworthiness, exposure, and impact that a business or individual can gain and develop in the community. As a nonprofit organization, specifically one that focuses on education, a business owner can share their knowledge and expertise in educational settings.This presentation will provide participants with the basics in developing their own non-profit advocacy organization.

Presenter: Resha Conroy MPA, MS, CCC-SLP
Company: Dyslexia Alliance for Black Children
Email: info@dyslexiaallianceforblackchildren.org 

Resha Conroy is the founder and Executive Director of the Dyslexia Alliance for Black Children, a non-profit organization working to eliminate the amplified inequities for Black children experiencing unaddressed dyslexia and related learning disabilities. A mother of two children with learning disabilities, including a son with dyslexia, Ms. Conroy is motivated by her family's journey to pursue her lifelong passion for educational equity. Ms. Conroy is a speech-language pathologist with a strong interest in language, literacy, and culture. She also has over a decade of experience in education and non-profit management, serving on school leadership teams and as a consultant for charter schools in Washington, DC, and New York City. Ms. Conroy serves on the National Center on Improving Literacy (NCIL) Family Engagement Advisory Board, NYC Department of Education Literacy Advisory Council, and Learning Ally National Advisory Board.

Topic: Dyslexia and Black Students: Misdiagnosed and Undiagnosed Dyslexia is the most common learning disability, yet it remains misdiagnosed and underdiagnosed in Black students. 

This session provides families with the information they need to navigate identification and intervention. Parents and caregivers will develop an understanding of the barriers to diagnosis for Black students and strategies for advocacy. As a result of this presentation, participants will be able to identify the signs and symptoms of dyslexia and components of an assessment; will understand the potential barriers to diagnosis for Black students;and will have a general understanding of steps needed to advocate.

Co Presenters: Shenikwa  Medlock
Company Name: Education Law Help
Email Address: EdLawHelp@gmail.com

Shenikwa Law Medlock University of Texas at Arlington Active Member of Paralegal Division for the State Bar of Texas Associate Member of State Bar College (Texas) COPAA SEAT 4th CoHort graduate Trained and Certified IEP Facilitator for the State of Texas COPAA Advanced Advocate Legal Assistant (Louisiana) Parent Match Volunteer Texas Parent 2 Parent Parent Leader (Volunteer) Partners Resource Network (Parent Training and Information Center for Texas) - Families Helping Families Volunteer Trainer with Louisiana Parent Training and Information Center Volunteer Trainer with Families Helping Families National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Southern Sector Dallas Board Member National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Texas Public Policy Fellow (State Board)

Co Presenters: Kimona Hogan

Ms. Hogan's education and training include Coastal Carolina Community College Southern University Law Center, Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates Special Education Law & Related Services Training for Attorneys and the William &  Mary Law Institute of Special Education Advocacy Her Bar admission included State Courts in the State of Louisiana, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana, and the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana. She is a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association 21st Judicial District Bar Association, Louis A. Martinet Legal Society, Inc., Baton Rouge
Chapter

Topic: Communicating Effectively and With Authenticity Is An Art &You Can Do It Too!

This presentation's singular goal is to help you find your authentic and effective voice. Too often, the voice of Black parents is ignored and overlooked when dealing with special education processes. We believe caregivers can break through that barrier with simple to practice techniques to become better communicators, and we will show you how. Participants will learn how to speak effectively to ensure their child’s needs are discussed and reported properly, and they will learn how to identify and share relevant information with the educators while staying focused and positive.

Speaker: Zakira Golden
Company: Behavior Analysis and Intervention Center M.S., BCBAOwner/Executive Director
Email: Zakira.Golden@bainterventioncenter.com

"Zakira started Behavior Analysis and Intervention Center after receiving her Bachelor’s degree in Health Education and Promotion from Georgia Southern University, Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Walden University and BCBA Certification from California State University.

​At the start of her career, Zakira began working with children through Georgia’s Babies Can’t Wait program. Babies Can’t Wait (BCW) is Georgia’s early intervention program that offers a variety of coordinated services for infants and toddlers with special needs, from birth to three years-of-age and their families.

Throughout her career, Zakira has worked for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at the Marcus Autism Center. While working at Marcus, she facilitated toilet training and behavior intervention protocols to reduce maladaptive behaviors and to increase independence on the Severe Behavior Unit. Additionally, Zakira has gained experience as a BCBA through community-based ABA agencies primarily focusing on Discrete Trial Training (DTT), Natural Environment Teaching (NET), Functional Communication, Augmentative/Alternative Communication Devices, Social Skills and Comprehensive/Focused ABA Therapy.

In 2016, Zakira was recognized as one of Georgia Southern University’s 40 Under 40 members for her advocacy, therapy and active participation in the Autism Spectrum Disorder Community.

In her spare time, Zakira has co-led the Spectrum Adult Autism Support Group based out of Gwinnett County Georgia for 3 years and is an active committee member that coordinates planning for the annual Autism Speaks walk in Georgia that aids in bringing support to families with individuals on the Autism Spectrum. Zakira now practices in Powder Springs, Georgia. She strives to bring effective interventions, therapy, Autism awareness/acceptance events and professional training to her local community."

Topic:​ Applied Behavior Analysis: ABA Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a type of therapy that focuses on improving specific behaviors, such as social skills, communication, reading, and academics as well as adaptive learning skills, such as fine motor dexterity, hygiene, grooming, domestic capabilities, punctuality, and job competence. ABA therapy has been proven to impact the lives of individuals on the Autism Spectrum positively. As a result of this presentation, participants will be able to understand the needs of individuals on the Autism Spectrum. As a result of this presentation, participants will be able to understand what Applied Behavior Analysis therapy is. As a result of this presentation, participants will be able to understand how to find providers in their area, what questions should be asked of prospective providers, and the documentation needed for ABA therapy services.

Speaker: Jude Afolake Olubodun
Company: Mindful Behavior LLC: Chief Decolonizing Officer of Neuroclastic, Abolitionist Educator in Transformative Justice & Disability Advocacy
Email: jude.olubodun@neuroclastic.org

Jude is a black, trans and autistic parent of two gender non-conforming children and an educator in transformative justice, harm reduction, and the decolonization of our fight for survival. I teach what it means to be in community and in struggle with one another
to seek healing, understanding, and the destruction of white supremacy and imperialism in all forms so that we are no longer robbed of our humanity and reach mutual liberation.

Speakers Topic: Autism is Our Humanity: The Foundation of Healing.

"Autism is often treated as a burden that needs to be rectified. From our healthcare system, our families, our overarching system has been built to deny that our neurodivergence is not a problem to be fixed, but a part of who we are. A part of our humanity.

I want to show you what has been lost, but it doesn't have to be that way anymore. I want to show you that you're allowed to fight for yourself and advocate for others because it's time to reclaim the humanity we've all been robbed of."

The Burden of Being Unseen: This will help participants to be able to identify the importance of recognizing multiple conditions and diagnosis The Burden of Being Unheard: This objective will help participants understand the depths of how important self-advocacy is in the face of the current healthcare structure The Burden of Being Unworthy: This objective will show the overwhelming symbiotic relationship between capitalism and our healthcare system, and learn how not to internalize those harms.

Speaker: Destiny Huff
Company: Destiny Huff Consulting
Email address: destinyhuffconsulting@gmail.com

Destiny Huff, MS, LPC, CPCS graduated from Georgia Southern University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and went on to obtain a Master of Science in Clinical-Counseling Psychology from Valdosta State University. She is also currently a Doctoral Candidate at Walden University where she is pursuing a PhD in General Psychology.

As a Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapist (TF-CBT), and Certified Professional Counselor Supervisor, Destiny provides individual and family therapy to children, adolescents, and adults, as well as supervision to up and coming clinicians through her business HRG Counseling & Supervision, LLC. As a Master IEP Coach® and Special Education Parent Advocate she assists families in advocating for their children’s educational needs through Destiny Huff Consulting. The passion in helping families advocate came from the challenges endured while advocating for her own sons to get the services they need.

​In addition to being a therapist, and special education advocate, Destiny is neurodivergent, a military spouse of 9 years, and a mother to two amazing sons, one who is Autistic and one who has a speech delay. She has presented on IEP curriculum and development, social emotional development, TF-CBT from a children’s advocacy standpoint, and counseling military families at the Licensed Professional Counselor Association of Georgia (LPCAGA) Conference, Louisiana Counseling Association (LCA) Conference, and the DEI+N Talks. She also will be presenting at the Military Children Education Coalition Global Summit in July 2023.

Presentation Title: How to make sure your child's services are neuro-affirming AND protect their mental health.
​
This workshop will provide parents and professionals with a checklist of items to look for, include, and consider when finding, advocating, and providing services, supports, accommodations, and modifications for neurodiverse children.
To understand the term neuro-affirming practices.
​To understand mental health diagnoses that can impact their child in the school setting
To identify neuro affirming practices, services, and supports that benefit their child's mental health

Speaker: Jolona Kinlaw
Company: I've Overcome Counseling and Consulting Services LCMHC,LCAS, NCC
Admin@iovercomeservices.com

Jolona Kinlaw is owner of I’ve Overcome Counseling and Consulting Services to provide support in therapy and advocacy for parents and caregivers in the special needs Community.
 She also is an advocate on the education team at Disability Rights of NC.  She holds a bachelor's in Psychology from East Carolina University and a Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Capella University. 
Jolona is a dually licensed counselor in mental health and substance use and has over 10 years of experience in the mental health field working with multiple populations in a variety of clinical settings. Her advocacy journey originated at the Autism Society of NC and as a mother of a son with Autism.  His journey is why she advocates on behalf of children with disabilities, their families, and communities. Jolona is a wife and mother of two. She loves her faith, being outside and spending time with her loved ones.

Presenters Topic: The Hidden Truths Behind Being the Best Advocate for Your Child

The Hidden Truths Behind Being the Best Advocate will provide key, foundational points in being the expert on your child’s disability and their special needs. The presentation will teach participants the skills and techniques to help parents be the visionary for their child’s goals, progress, and success. The presentation will help parents cultivate important collaboration, communication, and relational skills necessary to build your child's support team and provide oversight in different entities, including special education, medical supports/services, and their communities. The Hidden Truths will provide insight into how to operate from proactiveness versus reactiveness regarding the systematic barriers, lack of resources, and racial inequalities the special needs journey presents. Lastly, the presentation will address the value of taking care of self while enduring the complex special education and mental health processes concerning the needs of our special needs population.

As a result of this presentation, participants will understand the hidden truths behind being the best advocate. As a result of this presentation, participants will learn how to build their child’s support system through the skills of communication, collaboration, and cultivating relationships/networking. 

As a result of this presentation, participants will learn how to make their advocacy impactful by operating in proactiveness vs. reactiveness as they navigate through the complex systems throughout their child’s life. 

Panelists: 
Black Parents Round Table: Lessons Learned
Panelists: Curtis and Geraldine Haynes

Reverend Curtis A. Haynes the founding pastor of TLIMS (The Lord Is My Shepherd) Church is in Jacksonville, Florida. Curtis and his wife Geraldine have been for over forty years. He has been married to his college sweetheart Geraldine for over forty years. They have two adult daughters, a son-in-law and two grandchildren. They are blessed to have their grandson C.J. living with them.

Pastor Haynes is a graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson University (BS in Accounting, MBA in Finance,) Lutheran Theological Seminary (MDiv,) and is currently completing work on his DMin from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

He has worked at Fortune 500 companies, several non-profits, and has served as the Senior Pastor of Second Baptist Church in Moorestown, New Jersey.

As Panelists Curtis and Geraldine will discuss the lesson learned in raising a black disability grandchild.

Speaker: Brandi Tanner, Ph.D.
Company: Your IEP Source, LLC
Email: hello@youriepsource.com

Dr. Brandi Tanner has over twenty years of experience working with children and adolescents with learning and behavioral challenges. She is both a licensed psychologist and a certified school psychologist.

Dr. Brandi earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and Master’s Degree in Special Education from West Virginia University. She entered her working career as a special education teacher. She later returned to school and earned her doctoral degree in School Psychology from the University of South Florida.

Dr. Brandi’s doctoral-level education training included experiences in assessing and treating learning and behavioral challenges for children and adolescents, systems-level consultation in Response to Intervention (RtI), and treatment integrity in school interventions. Upon completing her doctoral degree, Dr. Brandi worked as a school psychologist in a metro-Atlanta district for several years.

Currently, Dr. Brandi conducts comprehensive psychological and psychoeducational evaluations in her private practice, Lightway Psychological Services. She provides special education advocacy services, consultation, and training through Your IEP Source.

Conference Topic: Advocating in a Manifestation Determination Review

Unfortunately, the school-to-prison pipeline is a reality for many black students with disabilities. IDEA provides some checks and balances to slow this progression, including the manifestation determination review meeting. In her former role as a school psychologist, Dr. Tanner regularly participated in this process. In this presentation, she will provide an overview
of the manifestation determination review process, including clinical and procedural considerations, to empower participants to effectively advocate for students in these situations.

Participants will develop an understanding of the manifestation determination review process and the two main questions to be addressed in this important meeting Participants will be able to explain actions to take in preparation for a manifestation determination review Participants will be able to describe possible outcomes following a manifestation
determination review.

Speaker: Shemica Allen​
Company: Personalized Learning Solutions, LLC RFP
Email Address: personalizedlearningsolutions@gmail.com

Ms. Allen is a former educator with over 15 years of teaching and administration experience working with students with disabilities and their parents/guardians. Shemica received her Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Arkansas and a Master of Science in Kinesiology with a specialization in Adapted Physical Activity from Texas Christian University. She was named to the Continuing Advisory Committee for Special Education (CAC) for Texas in December 2017 to help make decisions that will improve Special Education in the state. Shemica is now a Special Education Advocate Training (SEAT) 1.0, 2.0 & Business of Special Education Advocacy Instructor for COPAA where she helps to train others to advocate for students with disabilities. Her philosophy is to work collaboratively with schools as well as to help parents/guardians develop a mutually trusting and respectful relationship with the school so the child can be better served.

Title: How To Create Strength-Based IEPs (Not Deficit Based)

*Disproportionate representation of students of color in special education is a serious concern that has lasted for over forty years. Research suggests that students of color are too often not identified accurately for special education and the programs they are placed in and specially designed instruction received need to be improved in quality. Evidence exists suggesting that bias occurs in the placement of students of color.

Strength-based IEPs focus on student strengths and abilities rather than weaknesses and disabilities. Participants will learn how to incorporate the strength-based approach in all phases of the IEP development process-preparation, presentation, and documentation. The strength-based approach is intended to encourage parents to participate actively in IEP meetings. Participants will also learn the components of a high quality present levels and SMART goals.

Speaker: Keith Howard
Company: The Law Offices of Keith L. Howard, PLLC

"Attorney Keith Howard of The Law Offices of Keith L. Howard, PLLC practices in the areas of civil rights, education law (special education law, student discipline law, bullying, ESL, transfer/enrollment issues), personal injury, and auto accidents. Attorney Howard is licensed to practice law in the following states: District of Columbia, North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland.  His entire legal career has been dedicated to advocating for the invisible and forgotten of our society. Prior to forming his law firm, he practiced civil rights, juvenile justice, special education law, and education law with the nonprofit, Advocates for Children’s Services, a specialized unit of Legal Aid of N.C., Inc., where he served as a staff attorney for six years. After practicing law, he transitioned to full-time law teaching, where he taught education law, special education law, student discipline law, legal research and writing, and family law.  Attorney Howard currently teaches professional responsibility, legal research and writing, and special education law as an adjunct law professor.

Attorney Howard cares deeply about his clients.  He has represented hundreds of clients in special education matters.  He attends IEP and 504 meetings as a special education attorney and has represented a number of clients in auto accidents.

Moreover, Attorney Howard represents clients as a special education attorney and special education advocate in North Carolina, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.  He is also able and willing to represent special education clients throughout the United States and in U.S. territories.  Attorney Howard uses his extensive knowledge of state and federal special education laws to fight for his clients to receive a free, appropriate public education.  Attorney Howard has special education cases in state and federal courts and will fight for his clients in any tribunal.

In addition to practicing and teaching, Attorney Howard has taught several CLEs concerning special education and served in key leadership roles in his community. He formerly served as the vice chair of the Durham County Juvenile Justice Prevention Council, co-chair of the Law-Related Education Section of the North Carolina Bar Association’s (NCBA), Chair of the NCBA’s Juvenile Justice and Children’s Rights section and the North Carolina Advocates for Justice’s Juvenile Defense Section.

Attorney Howard is a proud husband and the father of two beautiful little girls. He enjoys reading, writing, community service, and spending time with his family. Attorney Howard holds a J.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law and a B.A. from Winston-Salem State University."

Topic:   Special Education and Dispute Resolution Options

Overview of key special education terms with a discussion of the dispute resolution process under the IDEA.Understand special education terminology. Learn IDEA's dispute resolution options.

Speaker: Cheryl Poe, M.A., ​
Company:  Advocating 4 Kids, Inc 
Host of the Conference

Cheryl Poe is the founder and Executive Director of Advocating 4 Kids, Inc a Special Education Advocacy organization that provides resources, information, and workshops to parents and professionals with a special focus on addressing the needs of Black and Brown children with disabilities. 
She is the past board president of the National Allies for Parents in Special Education NAPSE, a national parent-driven organization that works hard to increase access and quality advocacy resources for special education families from underserved populations to improve educational outcomes.
Mrs. Poe holds a Master of Arts Degree in Urban Education and Counseling. She also has completed over 15 credit hours of postgraduate hours in psychology. In June of 2004, she completed the Nation Group Psychotherapy Institute at the Washington School of Psychiatry in Washington D.C. in the study of Group Psychotherapy. Mrs. Poe completed a two-year term as the Student Outreach and Recruitment Committee Chairperson for the Mid- Atlantic Group Psychotherapy Society Board of Directors. She was awarded the Jefferson Cup for leadership in her role.

Mrs. Poe was the Chair of The National Association for the Education of African American Children with Learning Disabilities (NAEAACLD) Parent Network. Mrs. Poe also served on the board of the Council of Parents, Advocates, and Attorneys (COPAA), where she helped develop strategic goals to address the needs of black people within the organization. Mrs. Poe also served as the Co-Chair for the Social Racial Equity Committee, where is she developed, created, and implemented activities to ensure the needs of Black and Brown Children were addressed and respected within the COPAA organization.

​Mrs. Poe completed the inaugural The William & Mary Law Institute of Special Education Advocacy Summer Conference and the first annual class. Eventually Ms. Poe become a presenter for the William & Mary Law Institute of Special Education Advocacy Summer Conferences. 


Speaker: Maria Davis-Pierre, LMHC
Company: CEO/Founder, Autism in Black®​
Email: info@autisminblack.org 

Maria Davis-Pierre is a licensed mental health counselor, autism awareness advocate, and founder of Autism in Black. With a keen ability to educate and guide communities in desperate need of resources and support, Maria has transformed the lives of countless Black families parenting autistic children. As the parent of two autistic children, Maria understands firsthand the isolation, shame, and stigma that often accompanies an autism diagnosis. Through Autism in Black, she provides essential training to organizations so they can more effectively serve the Black disability community. A dynamic, in-demand speaker, Maria has conducted many powerful workshops and lectures on topics related to autism including autism in the Black community, the intersection of race and disability, and self-care. Her work has gained national acclaim with features in Forbes, The New York Times, USA Today, Parents magazine and on PBS. Maria has also collaborated with Microsoft.

Testimonials

"I didn't know what I didn't know, but Ms. Poe did! Ms. Poe helped me navigate through the public school IEP process, understand what services my child should receive, and understand our rights. I am certain that having Ms. Poe advocate for our family has changed the trajectory of my son's future. Ms. Poe is excellent at what she does, and she does it from the heart."
​T Stubbs
"Positive: Communication, Professionalism, Quality, Value
Cheryl is an amazing advocate, who shows up consistently and passionately for her clients. She knows the law and isn’t afraid to call the powers that be on it. She holds them accountable and doesn’t back down. This is someone you want on your side."
​Joli Peters
​Email address: adv4kids@gmail.com
Business phone number: +1 757-751-0981
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