What is OCALICON?

Past Keynotes

A distinguished list of the world's leading researchers, practitioners, and people with disabilties have graced the main stage of OCALICON. From Temple Grandin to Zach Anner to Ami Klin, OCALICON keynotes have encouraged, informed, and energized conference attendees, promoting our collective and continued mission to inspire change and promote access for people with disabilities.

2024

• Alex Kotran, Dwight Crum, Stacy Springer: "Transforming Education with AI: Access for All Learners"
• Eleazar "Trey" Vasquez III: "Artificial Intelligence Supporting All Learners"

2023

• Erik Carter: "Flourishing Together: The Road to Belonging and Why it Matters"
• Kelly Mahler and Chloe Rothschild: "Interoception, the 8th Sense: The Science of How We Each Uniquely Feel"
• Sheri Wells-Jensen: "Disability and Outer Space: A Necessary Partnership"
• Charles Barrett: "It's Always About the Children: Educators Bringing Their Whole Selves to the Profession"

2022

• Haben Girma, Temple Grandin, Judy Heumann: "Grace and Grit: A Conversation"

2021

• Judy Heumann: "A Conversation with Judy Heumann"

2020

• Sady Paulson and Mark Coppin: "Reaching All Learners and the Power of a Dream"
• Erik Carter: "From Barriers to Belonging: Creating Inclusive Communities for Everyone"
• Temple Grandin: "The World Needs All Kinds of Minds"

2019

• Shawn Henry, Lee Stickle, and Emily Rubin: "We Are Better Together: Collectively Effecting Change"
• Sheila Graschinsky: "Jumping the Gap to Create More Inclusion"
• LeDerick Horne: "A Path to Pride and Success"

2018

• Bill East: "We Ain’t Done Yet, But We’re Working on It!"
• Christopher Gillberg: "Autism and ESSENCE: Early Symptomatic Syndromes Eliciting Neurodevelopmental Clinical Examinations"

2017

• Patrick Henry Hughes: "I Am Potential: Overcoming Obstacles, Breaking Barriers, and Being and Doing More Than You Think You Can"
• Peter Vermuelen: "Autism and Happiness: Mission (Im)Possible?"

2016

• Zach Anner: "When Life Gives You A Wheelchair, Make Lemonade"
• Kathleen Quill: "Educating Individuals With Autism: Where Are We Now?"

2015

• Tim Harris: "Leading an Awesome Life"
• Emily Rubin: "Social Emotional Engagement Within a Universal Design for Learning in the Classroom"

2014

• Dani Bowman: "Believe It: The Dani Bowman Story"
• Ami Klin: "Autism Spectrum Disorders: From Early Identification to Life Success"

2013

• Connor Gifford: "When Opportunity Knocks, Make History!"
• Lee Stickle: "Bring Your Hardhat: Building Bridges Not Barriers"

2012

• Paula Kluth: "Burning the Chair, Encouraging Chaos, and Eight Other Ways to Differentiate Instruction"
• Tamara Morgan & Alex Truesdell: "The Power of Good Ideas, Collaboration, and Custom-Made Adaptive Devices"

2011

• Larry Bissonnette & Tracey Thresher: "The Life of a Movie Star Never Gets Old"
• Dan Habib: "Including Samuel"

2010

• Judy Endow: "Embracing Life Autistically"
• David Koppenhaver: "I Cannot Read Mississippi with My Eyes Shut Tight: ABCs for Students with ASD"

2009

• Joe Steffy: "Poppin’ Joe’s Kettle Korn: A Story of Success"
• Ann Turnbull: "Transitioning to Enviable Lives for Adults With Autism"

2008

• Temple Grandin: "Stressing Employment Outcomes During the School Years"
• Paula Kluth: "We Thought You’d Never Ask: Listening to the Voices of People with Autism"
• Ed Trevathan: "The Challenge of Autism and Developing Brain Disorders"

2007

• Peter Gerhardt: "Bridges to Adulthood: Targeting Competence as a Transition Outcome"
• Cathy Pratt
• Kathleen Quill