Objectives of the Conference
- Connect neurodiverse individuals, family members, job coaches/job developers, employers, and other stakeholders
- Serve as a channel for the stakeholders to participate in the project
- Showcase Developing Inclusive Vocational Education and Resources for Success in Employment (DIVERSE)* to the community.
*DIVERSE is a curriculum developed by the neurodiverse community for the training of job coaches and employers to work with neurodiverse people / individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Registration is FREE. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.
Keynote Speakers
Nancy Bargmann
Director, California Department of Developmental Services
Ernie Cruz
Deputy Director, California Department of Developmental Services
Mark Erlichman
Deputy Director, California Department of Rehabilitation
Organizers / Research Team at Stanford University
Lawrence Fung, M.D., Ph.D.
Director, Stanford Neurodiversity Project
Lyrid Zhao, PhD
Postdoctoral Scholar, Fung Lab
Rachel Vandaalen, PhD
Postdoctoral Scholar, Fung Lab
Regional Center Keynote Panelists
Javier Zaldivar
Executive Director, San Andreas Regional Center
Eric Zigman
Executive Director, Golden Gate Regional Center
Lisa Kleinbub
Executive Director, Regional Center of East Bay
Neurodivergent Panel
Dashiell Meier
Fred Vierra
Heather Satterwhite
Matias Solorzano
Max Crowe
Niamh Tangney
Parent Panel
Ken Parekh
Victoria Gersowsky
Viviana Barnwell
Employer Panel
Chris Marino
Hoover Institution, Stanford University
Kathleen Foley-Hughes
Ada's Cafe
Sherry Meng
Turtleworks
Job Coach Panel
Angela Lucero Perry
Heather Linka
Gregory Garoppolo
Rob Kiel
PROGRAM AT A GLANCE
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM: Registration & Light Breakfast
9:00 AM - 9:15 AM: Welcome
9:15 AM - 9:45 AM: Keynote presentation "Cultivating a Neurodiverse Workforce" by Nancy Bargmann, Director of California Department of Developmental Services
9:45 AM - 10:15 AM: Keynote presentation "Statewide Initiatives to Support Employment for People with Developmental Disabilities" by Ernie Cruz, Deputy Director of California Department of Developmental Services
10:15 AM - 10:30 AM: Break
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM: DIVERSE, an Innovative Curriculum Developed by the Neurodiverse Community. Presented by the Fung Lab and Stanford Neurodiversity Project Team, Stanford University.
11:30 AM - 12:00 PM: Keynote Presentation "Advancing Access, Equity and Opportunity" by Mark Erlichman, Deputy Director of California Department of Rehabilitation.
12:00 PM - 1:15 PM: Lunch
1:15 PM - 2:00 PM: Regional Center Directors’ Keynote Panel - Eric Zigman (GGRC), Javier Zaldivar (SARC), Lisa Kleinbub (RCEB)
2:00 PM - 2:45 PM: Networking Session & Light Refreshments
2:45 PM - 3:30 PM: Concurrent Breakout Sessions 1 (Neurodivergent Panel & Employer Panel)
3:30 PM - 4:15 PM: Concurrent Breakout Sessions 2 (Parent Panel & Job Coach Panel)
4:15 PM - 4:30 PM: CLOSING
