Autism Conference

South Dakota Parent Connection, in partnership with other community leaders around Autism will host the 15th annual Lighting The Way Autism Conference June 7 & 8, 2023 from 8:00 to 4:00 at the Memorial Middle School in Sioux Falls, SD.

Meet the Conference Keynote Presenters

Dr. Christine Reeve

From running the Autism Classroom Resources blog and podcast to creating teacher resources, Dr. Christine Reeve’s driving goal has always been about bringing special educators together and helping them serve their students in the best ways they can. As a Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral, Reeve earned a master's and doctorate in clinical psychology from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, and completed her internship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After working for 13 years in higher education as a consultant and academic coordinator, she is the founder and director of Reeve Autism Consulting and Autism Classroom Resources. She has also co-authored several books and serves as a dissertation advisor at Nova Southeastern University.

Dr. Franne Sippel & Becky Kuch

Franne Sippel, Ed.D., and Becky Kuch, NCC, LPC-MH, are the co-creators of Shrink Rap the Podcast. They created the podcast in early 2021 to help normalize mental health, mental illness and therapy. Sippel and Kuch want people to address mental health with the same ease that they do physical health. They are accomplished therapists and well-respected in their field. They take their expertise and combine it with humor and compassion. This combination has helped Shrink Rap the Podcast reach more than 90,000 downloads and a listener base in more than 100 countries.

Who should attend this conference?

• Parents / Caregivers
• Self-Advocates
• Educators
• Social Workers
• Counselors / Therapists
• Adult Service Providers
• Business & Community Members

Graduate credit or CEUs will be available

for this conference.

Upcoming Opportunities

Here are some educational opportunities offered by South Dakota Parent Connection and by other organization's that can help support South Dakota families. A complete list of events can be found on our website at ww.sdparent.org or Facebook page.

February 22, 2023 - TSLP Transition Round-Up: Join the February Transition Round Up zoom! Beth Schiltz, Education Program Specialist with the state Special Education Programs office, will be talking about Planning for Graduation. We hope to see you there!

February 23, 2023 (Mitchell) - Catch the Wave: This event is designed for high school students who have a disability and are thinking about going on to a post-secondary experience. In addition to high school students, others who may benefit from attending the event are parents, special educators and school counselors. A wealth of information is shared with participants!

March 14 - 15, 2023 - 2023 SD Special Education Conference: This annual conference provides a unique experience to gather with South Dakota educators, related service providers, and parents. This in person event allows participants to learn about evidence-based innovations, educational trends leading towards best practices, and provide practical solutions for special education classrooms. Event is sold out.

March 20, 27, April 3, 10, and 17, 2023 - Shift Transition Sessions: South Dakota Parent Connection is offering these sessions to provide transition information and resources to parents and young adults with disabilities.

At this time, Shift is open to Sioux Falls School Districts only. To inquire about future offerings, please send an email to: sdpc@sdparent.org.

March 23, 2023 - Anger Management for Youth: A free interactive training for youth to learn strategies to identify and cope with their anger in healthier ways.

April 4, 11, and 18, 2023 - Serving on Groups That Make Decisions: A Workshop for Families: Gain skills, strategies, and greater understanding to help you confidently and actively participate in a decision-making group.

June 7 - 8, 2023 - 15th Annual Lighting The Way Autism Conference: The Augustana University Sharon Lust School of Education will host its 15th annual Lighting the Way Autism Conference at Memorial Middle School on Wednesday, June 7, and Thursday, June 8. The keynote speaker for June 7 will be Dr. Christine Reeve, a nationally recognized clinical psychologist, special education consultant and expert on autism, and on June 8, the keynote speech will be delivered by Franne Sippel, Ed.D., and Becky Kuch, NCC, LPC-MH, the co-creators of Shrink Rap the Podcast. Stay tuned for more information on this year's event.

June 13 - 14, 2023 - Midwest Conference on Deaf Education: The mission of this conference is to provide professional development opportunities to individuals who work with deaf and hard-of-hearing youth, birth to 21.

Your Voice Matters

Share your experience to assist others

What’s the state of preschool education for children ages 3-5 in South Dakota?

The South Dakota departments of Education and Social Services are conducting a study to assist the state in understanding the current landscape of preschool education (for children ages 3-5) in South Dakota. You are invited to share information at a listening session about the preschool opportunities currently available to families across the state. For locations, dates and times, CLICK HERE.

This e-publication was developed under grants from the U.S. Department of Education Project Grant H328M2000666 and Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Grant H328M140021, Family to Family Health Information Center, $93,175; and approximately 5% financed with non-governmental resources. The contents should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by US Department of Education, HRSA, HHS or the Federal Government.