Virtual Conference: April 22 & 23, 2026
Conference Schedule: 8:45 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Atlantic Time daily
Bonus sessions: 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Atlantic Time each evening
Keynote Speaker: Aaron Bouma
Navigating the World:
An autistic perspective of being in a world not built for us
April 22, 2026
Aaron Bouma is a military historian for the Carleton County area in New Brunswick. He built and operates the Carleton County Military Museum outside of Woodstock, New Brunswick. Aaron was born with Autism and was first diagnosed at age 3, then later diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome at age 12. He has been very active in helping develop Canada’s National Autism Strategy (2020 to 2022), the York University Autism Mental Health Project, and the CONtiNuity of care and support for Adults with Autism spECTrum Disorder (CONNECT) project for the Maritime Provinces. Aaron is a self-described “extrovert,” who is actively involved in his community. He is also a skilled builder of military models and operates his own woodworking business.
Keynote Speaker: Von Blum
Inclusion is a Practice, Not a Policy
April 23, 2026
Von Blum is a transgender man and psychometrist with a Master of Professional Education degree from Western University in London, Ontario. He works in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities, where his practice is grounded in inclusive, strengths-based, and person-centred approaches. Drawing on both professional expertise and lived experience as a transgender man, Von brings a critical and compassionate lens to conversations about equity in education. He lives in Southwestern Ontario with his family and is dedicated to supporting educators in creating inclusive, affirming learning environments for all students.
Also featuring:
- Beyond the Bell: Lived Stories of Transition, Challenge, and Possibility
- Real Voices on Navigating Life after High School
Evening conference sessions:
- Rethinking Social-Emotional Learning: Being Intentional about Language, Access, and Belonging
April 22, 2026, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. - Supporting Positive Behaviour Across Settings
April 23, 2026, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Additional conference sessions include:
- A Trauma-Assumed Approach to Behaviour Analytic Services
- Behavior Planning and Nonviolent Crisis Intervention: Making the Connections
- Behind the Data: What it Really Takes to Implement Skills Based Treatment in School Settings
- Inclusive Education: Neuroaffirming Assessment Practices
- Inside Our Inclusive Classroom: Lessons from Supporting ASD and Deaf Learners
- Jouer pour apprendre : Le jeu comme outil d'inclusion et d'apprentissage pour les élèves autistes
- Planifier la transition à la vie postscolaire
- Preschool Life Skills in Schools: Building Foundations for Success - Implementing Social and Communication Skills Across Classrooms
- Reframing Behaviour as Communication: Language-Based Strategies
- The Good Behaviour Game: Building Positive Classrooms Through Teamwork and Evidence-Based Practice
- Trauma and Behaviour in the Learning Environment
- Universal Design for Learning (UDL): New 3.0 Framework
- Waves, Not Walls: Embracing Fluidity in DHH Experience
- 3D Printing: What Is It, and Why Should I Care?
More topics and the complete conference schedule to be announced soon!