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

 

Funding Agency

Collaborators