If you are an advocate/attorney, educator, agency, school professional, parent, grandparent or sibling navigating the transition from school to adult services, this conference is for you!

Discussion topics include information on Transition Processes, Self-Direction, Housing, Special Needs Trusts, Guardianship and so much more. 

 

Saturday, May 17th 2025

8:00am - 4:00pm

Melville Marriott

1350 Walt Whitman Road Melville, NY 11747

 

Attendee Pricing

Parent/Guardian/Self Advocate - $45

1 Admission to Conference

Professionals - $65

1 Admission to Conference

ELIJA Foundation Members - $20

Conference is $20 with ELIJA Foundation membership. Click here to become a member.

Self - Direction / IDGS funding and OTPS Respite may be applicable,

E-mail: deb@elija.org

 

Attendee Registration Deadline - May 12th

 

Conference Presenters:

Patricia Calandra

Region 5 Master Housing Navigator, Start up & Support Broker

Trish joined AIM Services as the Director of Innovation in January 2025. Trish and AIM are working on succession planning and sustainability in Self-Direction, including developing more integrated non-certified housing options. Trish provides Housing Navigation Services that assist people with Developmental Disabilities to develop a sustainable Housing Plan, a Circle of Support to ensure the persons Self-Direction Budget and other related supports and services are fully accessed.

Prior to joining AIM, Trish worked as the Master Housing Navigator in the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities’ Long Island Region 5 under the New York Housing Resource Center (NYHRC). The NYHRC is a central depository for housing-related services and resources for housing professionals across the state to foster collaboration among the housing industry and related professions, service provider agencies and people with I/DD (Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.) This included working with developers to create more Affordable Housing and with policy makers to address inequalities and injustices that prevent people with disabilities from accessing safe, and affordable housing. The NYHRC works in partnership with the New York Alliance for Inclusion and Innovation (NY Alliance) which was awarded the DDPC New York Alliance Statewide and Regional Housing Collaboratives 2019-2023 grant. The goal and scope of this project was to facilitate and continue to build learning on a statewide basis. The work helped to develop, create and implement individualized housing options with and for people with I/DD, building upon community housing options that go beyond the OPWDD service delivery system. Trish also worked as a Support Broker for people in Self-Direction

Trish is an advocate for her children with Autism, son Joey and daughter Jenna and for all people with IDD/DD by serving on local boards, the DDAC and many advocacy groups.

 

Naomi Brickel, M.S.Ed

Project Director for Supported Decision-Making New York (SDMNY) at Hunter College

Bio: Naomi Brickel, M.S.Ed, is the Project Director for Supported Decision-Making New York (SDMNY) at Hunter College - CUNY, where she leads New York’s internationally recognized effort to develop a statewide infrastructure for Supported Decision-Making as a legally recognized alternative to guardianship. Prior to this role, she worked at the Westchester Institute for Human Development (WIHD), focusing on comminity-based program development and promoting self-determination, empowerment, and inclusion for young adults with disabilities. She is a published author and the mother of six, including a young adult with developmental disability.

Supported Decision-Making (SDM) is a process that helps people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) make their own decisions with support from trusted people, while keeping their legal and civil rights. New York State law recognizes SDM as a less restrictive alternative to Article 17-a guardianship for individuals with IDD, and courts are now using SDM to either avoid guardianship altogether or to help people regain their rights if they are already under guardianship. This session will explain NY's SDM model and the impact of the state's new legal framework. It will also allow time for audience Q&A.

 

Marret Arfsten

LMSW – Director of Self Direction at CMA, Inc.

Marret began her career in OPWDD services as an MSC with Community Mainstreaming Associates, Inc. in 2015, then moved into their residential services department when MSCs began to transition to Care Management.  She created and started CMA’s Self Direction Department with her supervisor and mentor Jennifer Phillips in 2019; since then they have grown to serve over 300 people and employ 280+ staffers.  She also serves as the chair-person for the LIFI-CCO Committee of the Long Island Fiscal Intermediary Network.  Marret provided CDPAP services throughout college, and credits this experience with helping her more fully understand the experiences of the families and staffers that participate in SD services.  In her free time Marret serves as Publicity Director for Pinecrest LLM, and enjoys working with today’s young adults as they become leaders in the world.

 

Brittany Hoosier

Chief Strategy Office at AIM Services

As the Chief Strategy Office at AIM Services, Brittany blends passion with purpose, specializing in Self-Direction and innovative support strategies for individuals with diverse abilities. Brittany brings a robust skill set from her 14 years of immersive experience in human services. Her professional experiences include being a Direct Support Professional, a Day Habilitation Coordinator, a Medicaid Service Coordinator, a Self-Direction Broker/Housing Navigator/FI Coordinator, the Assistant Director of Self-Direction and the Director of Self-Direction. Brittany has routinely been provided opportunities to speak at conferences across New York state, sharing insights on person-first practices, agency culture and our unique approach to Self-Directed supports. Brittany also assists with advocacy efforts across New York State through various advisory boards, collaboratives and DDAC participation. She looks forward to continuing to drive efforts that foster innovative self-direction practices, ensuring that communities across New York benefit from person-centered solutions.

 

Barbara Morell

Benefits Consultant and Director of a benefits consulting organization

Barbara Morell, M.Ed., is a Benefits Consultant and the Director of a benefits consulting organization, Benefits Plus+.  She provides families with information and insight into the Worlds of Public Benefits, Benefits and Paid Employment, and Adult Service Systems.  She is the parent of a young man with an Autism Spectrum Disorder who is living a Self-Directed Life.

 

 

Christine Ponzio

M.S.E.d., is the Winters Center for Autism Executive Director.

She has been working with individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities, as well as their families, for more than 30 years. She began her career in the field in 1989 at Developmental Disabilities Institute’s (DDI’s) Children’s Residential Program as an instructor, what is now known as a direct support professional (DSP). She provided direct instruction with students, parent training, and became the voice for children who had not yet found theirs as a dedicated advocate. With Christine’s leadership skills evident, she became a residential supervisor from 1990 to 1993. She was a major component in the advancement and success of DDI’s Young Autism Program (YAP) from 1993-2001 as she held the progressive roles of teacher, parent training coordinator, program coordinator and school district consultant. In 2001, Christine became the director of YAP and developed countless opportunities for students and families to find great success and created an environment for staff members to excel. From 2015-2018, she served as the key administrative and clinical leader for the NYS Centers of Excellence for children with autism and complex needs for DDI’s children’s residential school. She led the team to target and achieve deliverables related to new reimbursement methodology; the development of a statewide data repository with potential for predictive analytics; improved assessment, screening and intervention methods; inform research for subpopulation living in residential care; the development of new models of discharge planning; and create communications platform for sharing and disseminating information internally and to NYS providers. She contributed to the development of the Autism Program Quality Indicators, a Self-Review and Quality Improvement Guide for schools and programs serving students with autism spectrum disorders. Christine has dedicated her professional career to bettering the lives of individuals with autism and their families and continues to create meaningful opportunities for inclusion and equality for people with different abilities.

 

Meghan O'Sullivan

 

Matthew Weick, M.A., BCBA, LBA

Director of ELIJA Transitional Programs and Services (TPS)

Matthew has been a member of the ELIJA team since late 2011. After 5 years as a Clinical Supervisor within in the School program, he began working in the Transition and Program Services department in January 2017. In October 2020, he was promoted to Director of our TPS program.

Matthew has a BA in psychology from Lehigh University and MA in liberal studies from Stony Brook University. In 2010, Matthew became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, he received his New York state licensure in 2015. Matthew has extensive experience in ABA and has been working in the field since 2003. Outside of ELIJA he enjoys spending time with his family, cooking, and participating in a variety of sporting activities.

 

Debora Thivierge, BCaBA, CBAA

Debora received her BA in Sociology from Hofstra University and is a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst. She serves as the Founder and CEO of The ELIJA School, Founder of The ELIJA Foundation, the ELIJA Farm, and ELIJA’s Transition Program and Services (TPS). Debora has volunteered her time to numerous Autism groups such as Nassau County’s Department of Health Early Intervention Coordinating Council, New York State Association of Behavior Analysis, Nassau County Autism Coalition run by the County Executive and served as a board member of The Behavior Analyst Certification Board® (BACB®) for 5 years. She was appointed to the New York State Licensure Board for Applied Behavior Analysis in 2014 and served until 2018, when she stepped down to advocate for the advancement of the field in ABA. She has been providing advocacy to families and conducted training workshops to promote evidence based instruction for families and educators who have been touched by Autism. Her most recent projects include inclusive housing initiatives and expanding work opportunities for people living with autism. She has a 26 year old son with Autism.

Sponsorship, Ads and Table Registration deadline is May 2nd, 2025!

 

Pathway to Adulthood Conference Co-Sponsor - $3,000
Premier Signage at Conference and Inclusion in all Signage and Print/Digital Materials, including Logo/Link on ELIJA Website, Verbal Recognition During Conference, Logo included on the Promotional Giveaway, Full Screen Digital Program Ad (Premier Placement), Vendor Table and Conference Registration for 10

 

Conference Lunch Sponsor - $1,500
Signage at Conference, Logo/Link on ELIJA Website, Verbal Recognition During Conference, Full Screen Digital Program Ad, Vendor Table and Conference Registration for 5

 

Conference Breakfast Sponsor - $1,000
Signage at Conference, Logo/Link on ELIJA Website, Verbal Recognition During Conference, Half Screen Digital Program Ad, Vendor Table and Conference Registration for 2

 

Digital Program Ad

Full Screen - $400

Half Screen - $200

Tables

Vendor Table - $400

Non Profit Vendor Table - $200

For Need Based Scholarships to the Conference, please fill out the form below