REGISTRATION FEES

Accepted form of payment: Debit/Credit card<

ATTENDEES

Individual with a disability/Family member:

$50.00

Professional:

$150.00

VENDORS

Vendor:

$500.00
$200.00

SPONSORSHIP

Sponsorship benefits:

(1) Logo will be displayed on Sponsorship flyer in conference folder,

(2) logo will be displayed between sessions on sponsorship PowerPoint slide,

(3) logo displayed with sponsored item*,

(4) printed recognition of sponsorship displayed at vendor table,

(5) Prioritized vendor table location.

Tote bag: $1,500

Sponsor Lunch: $1,000

Sponsor a Morning break: $1,000

*TechSummit 2024 tote bag, lunch, and break will only include logos from sponsors who select that item.
For special requests reach out to Jordan Wagner (Jordan.Wagner@osumc.edu).

SCHOLARSHIP

A limited number of scholarships are available for Individual with a disability/family member registrations. To see if you qualify, email Jordan.Wagner@osumc.edu

Attendee substitutions and cancellations:  Substitution requests can be sent by email to Jordan.Wagner@osumc.edu. Cancellations will not be  approved on or after Friday, August 2, 2024. This date is selected because by this date, purchases have already been made based on registered attendance.

Keynote Presenter:

CreateAbility Applications in Employment Settings: Real Jobs With Real Wages

Stephen Sutter

President, CreateAbility Concepts, Inc.

Presenters:

Dennis Cleary

Senior Researcher, MS, OTD, OTR/L FAOTA

Stacy Collins

Assistant Deputy Director,
Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities

Bill Darling

Director of Assistive Tech,
AT Ohio

Hillary Gaytan

Sales Manager,
Intellectability

Brad Griffith

President,
Buckeye Innovation

Crystal Levy

Vice President of Operations,
Floreo

Heather Maydak

Director of Assistive Tech,

Westminster Technologies

Melissa Morelli

Community Life Engagement Project Manager,
Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities

Ohio Tech Ambassadors:

Phil Kirk

Brittany Joseph

Jen Schlegel

Marci Straughter

Tracey Schalk

Services Specialist,
Clearwater COG

Kelly Schuck

Community Life Engagement Project Manager,
Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities

Kevin Smith

VP of Client Solutions,
Onseen

Marsha Stepensky

Director of Therapy Content,
Floreo

SESSIONS

KEYNOTE PRESENTATION

CreateAbility Applications in Employment Settings: Real Jobs With Real Wages

Stephen Sutter, CreateAbility

This presentation will highlight why it is so important that new enabling tech comes from evidence-based research. In addition to emphasizing the results and impact from data collected from over 130 employees with IDD and their Job Coaches, we will:

• Show live demonstrations that will illustrate the key features and functions that helped staff save both time and resources.
• Include live demos of the employee experience.

PLENARY PRESENTATION

Ohio Technology First and Transformative Technology Updates

Stacy Collins, DODD | Hillary Gaytan, IntellectAbility | Kevin Smith, OnSeen

BREAKOUT SESSIONS

Employment and Assistive Technology: Real-life examples

Bill Darling, PhD, AT Ohio

Assistive Technology of Ohio runs a statewide disability technology library, housed on the west campus of The Ohio State University. This service is available to Ohioans with disabilities, their loved ones, and to professionals who work in the disability field. We have technology devices that run across the disability spectrum and which cover any area of life, including education, employment and community living. In this session, we will cover the various types of technologies that are available in the library, with particular emphasis on the devices that have successfully been utilized in employment outcomes.

Empowering Adults with Developmental Disabilities through Virtual Reality and AI

Crystal Levy, Floreo | Marsha Stepensky, Floreo

Join us for an exploration of how Virtual Reality (VR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are transforming support for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). In this session, we will introduce Floreo, a patented and groundbreaking VR experience designed to help individuals with autism, ADHD, anxiety, and other neurotypes practice essential social, communication, and daily living skills. Focusing on non-educational settings, we will demonstrate how Floreo uses evidence-based strategies and a whole-person approach to teach critical skills related to employment, transportation, and safety. By the end of this session, attendees will gain insights into how this innovative technology can increase independence, enhance job readiness, and improve interactions within the community, empowering individuals to navigate and thrive in real-world environments. By the end of this session, attendees will gain insights into how this innovative technology can support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to increase their independence and confidence in real-world situations. Participants will understand the impact VR and AI can have on improving the quality of life for adults with developmental disabilities.

Supporting ISP teams with integrating Tech Solutions into the Ohio ISP

The Differences Between Remote Support Services and Assistive Technology

Kelly Schuck, DODD | Melissa Morelli, DODD

The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities supportive technology-based services include Assistive Technology and Remote Support. This session will walk the audience through the nuances of Remote Supports and Assistive Technology and include examples of how needs of people supported in our system can be met through these services.

VocFit.com: Using AI and data visualization to assess and support employment for individuals with disabilities

Dennis Cleary MS, OTD, OTR/L FAOTA, Voc Fit | Brad Griffith, Buckeye Innovation

The Vocational Fit Assessment is a valid and reliable NIH-funded assessment and job-matching tool for individuals with IDD. VocFit.com has been used by education and employment professionals to assess and match over 15,000 individuals to over 8,000 jobs. With support from the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities, VocFit.com has been refreshed and improved. VocFit.com uses artificial intelligence and data visualization to identify a job seeker’s strengths, needs, and required support necessary for the individual to find the job they desire.

SCHEDULE

Friday, August 16th 2024

Vendor/Registration
8:00am-8:30am

Introductions
8:30am-8:45am

Keynote: Real jobs with real wages for people with IDD
Stephen Sutter, CreateAbility
8:45am-10:00am

Vendor/Networking
10:00am-10:45am

Ohio Technology First and Transformative Technology Updates
Stacy Collins, DODD; Hillary Gaytan, IntellectAbility; Kevin Smith, OnSeen
10:45am-11:45am

Lunch
11:55am-12:40pm

VENDORS

THS Remote Support Services – Lunch Sponsor

AngelSense

Family Resource Network of Ohio

LADD Inc

Medforall

Rest Assured

SafeInHome

Trucare Provider Services

StationMD

VRI + Guardian Medical Monitoring

Are you a vendor? REGISTER HERE!

TECHSUMMIT ARCHIVE

For previous year’s session descriptions, presenter bios, and presentation slides, follow the links below.

TechSummit 2018

TechSummit 2.0:

TechSummit 2021:

TechSummit 2022:

TechSummit 2023:

Keynote: 

Stephen Sutter, President, CreateAbility Concepts Inc.

He has received several recognitions for his work in helping people with cognitive impairments, including the Mayors Award from Fort Collins, Colorado: the DASH award from the University of Buffalo, and the Technology Developers Award for Excellence from Easter Seals.

Stephen Sutter is the Founder and President of CreateAbility Concepts, Inc. Sutter directs all research and development at CreateAbility, and has been the principal investigator for 37 Federal grant projects from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and a special section of the USDA that is focused on improving life for people with disabilities in rural America. Sutter’s research aims to improve the independence and capability of people with cognitive deficits.

He serves as chair of the Cognitive and Sensory Special Interest Group for the Rehabilitation Engineering Society of North America (RESNA).

He is married to his best friend, Katy, and they enjoy spoiling their 9 grandkids rotten.

Breakout Presenters: 

Dennis Cleary

Dr. Dennis Cleary is a Senior Researcher at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and has over 25 years of experience as an occupational therapist. Dennis’ clinical practice has been primarily with children and adults with IDD to encourage their full participation in life at home, work, and in the community. He has had previous faculty position at The Ohio State University and was an affiliated faculty member at the Nisonger Center. As a researcher, he has been on teams that have received over seven million dollars in grants from state and federal agencies, including grants from the United States Department of Education and a National Institutes of Health multisite trial of the Vocational Fit Assessment, an age-appropriate transition assessment and job matching tool, which he co-created at the Ohio State University. He is currently funded by the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities to refine VocFit.com to help meet the needs of Ohioans with IDD who are interested in employment. He has numerous publications and national and international presentations.

Stacy Collins

Stacy Collins serves as the Assistant Deputy Director within the Division of Policy and Strategic Direction at the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities. Stacy is responsible for leading the Quality and Innovation team and in this role, she oversees initiatives aimed to ensure that Ohioans eligible for developmental disabilities services have increased opportunities to live, love, learn, work, and pursue their own life aspirations through state-of-the-art planning, innovative technology, and comprehensive supports that focus on their talents, interests, and skills.

Stacy holds a Master of Social Work degree, which has been instrumental in shaping a career centered around advocacy, support, and the continuous improvement of developmental disability services. Throughout a 21-year tenure in this field, Stacy has been committed to fostering environments where people with developmental disabilities can thrive, leading various projects that drive systemic change and promote best practices within the department. Stacy is passionate about championing policies and programs that prioritize quality care, inclusivity, and innovation, ensuring that the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities remains at the forefront of service excellence.

Bill Darling

William T. Darling, Ph.D.,  is the director of Assistive Technology of Ohio, a statewide disability technology program that is part of the College of Engineering at The Ohio State University. Dr. Darling received his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Miami University, a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling from Southern Illinois University and his doctorate in rehabilitation education from The Ohio State University. He has worked in the assistive technology field for 20 years. He is a former chairman of the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council and past-president of the Ohio chapter of the International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals. For eight years he coordinated return-to-work programs for injured workers in the workers’ compensation system, and works as a consultant to employers and managed care organizations on workers’ compensation issues.  He began his career as a social worker for a mental health agency in Columbus, and is a track and field and cross country coach at Thomas Worthington High School. Bill and his wife Jill are the parents of six children and live in Worthington.

Hillary Gaytan

Brad Griffith

Brad Griffith is a champion for equitable access to the best technology and design for growing businesses and organizations. He grew up working for his dad’s veterinary hospital, learning the joys and challenges of business growth. He believes in the power of entrepreneurship and innovation to drive meaningful change in our community, though unfortunately, not all people in the workforce or all growing organizations have the same opportunities to leverage technology to their advantage. Brad is on a mission to change that with equitable access for all.

Brad is now President of Buckeye Innovation, the web engineering and design team he started in 2009 to amplify the impact of innovative businesses and organizations. His fully-remote in-house team of 15 employees includes designers and developers who love building and supporting websites, web applications, and mobile applications. Their clients span many industries and include tech startups, libraries, and local and county governments among others.

Prior to starting Buckeye Innovation, Brad spent several years consulting and developing web applications in-house for a variety of companies including JPMorgan Chase, QUALCOMM, and the Go Big Network. He earned his Masters in Business Administration after completing his Bachelor’s in Electrical and Computer Engineering with honors, both at The Ohio State University. He lives in New Albany with his wife and two young daughters where he is an active Girl Scouts “Troop Cookie Dad” in addition to other community volunteer roles.

Brad was selected in 2020 to the inaugural class of the Columbus CEO Future 50 and was also a finalist for the 2019 and 2023 Small Business Leader Awards from the Columbus Chamber of Commerce. Buckeye Innovation was recognized in the 2022 and 2023 Inc 5000 as one of the country’s fastest growing private companies and in 2023 was selected as one of Inc’s Best Workplaces.

Crystal Levy, Vice President of Operations 

With extensive experience in technical operations and software development, Crystal has successfully led teams and managed projects across various organizations. At Floreo she has overseen the development and maintenance of the Floreo Enterprise Portal, managed project cycles for Engineering and Content teams, and established bug management processes. Prior roles include leading research and prototyping teams at Breakout Capital Finance and HatchB Holdings, where she implemented Lean Startup methodologies and spearheaded software development projects. Crystal’s expertise also extends to QA management at ExecVision and product redesign at SocialCode. With a Bachelor’s degree in Systems and Computer Science from Howard University and over 17 years of experience, Crystal brings a wealth of knowledge in project and team management, complemented by proficiency in various programming languages and project management tools.

Heather R Maydak, Director of Assistive Technology

Heather Rushmore Maydak began her career as a speech-language pathology assistant for individuals with severe and profound disabilities. In 1997, she worked in assistive technology after receiving a master’s degree in Rehabilitation Science and Technology from the University of Pittsburgh. Heather worked for United Cerebral Palsy as an AT Specialist, where she developed communication and vocational training programs. During her time in the Center for Technology and Disability Studies at the University of Washington, she assisted in the outpatient computer access evaluation lab, where she provided training to rehabilitation therapists and school professionals. A move to North Carolina provided the opportunity to teach undergraduate and graduate-level assistive technology classes in the Special Education Department at East Carolina University. Besides teaching classes, Heather directed the assistive technology lab and developed an online graduate certificate program. As a RESNA Fundamentals Course instructor, she helps professionals in the field looking to earn their ATP credentials. Heather is currently the Director of Assistive Technology for Westminster Technologies, where she conducts AT assessments and develops and delivers on-demand, in-person, and remote professional development.

Melissa Morelli, DODD-Community Life Engagement Project Manager

I received my Undergraduate Degree  from Wright State University, Dayton, OH in Rehabilitation Counseling Education. I completed my Graduate Degree in 2014 from Indiana University, in Organizational Leadership.  

I have worked with adults with developmental disabilities my entire career that includes 21 years with residential experience, 10 years with Hamilton County Board of DD and 6 years with a Day Service Provider. I have been with the Ohio Department of Disabilities as Community Life Engagement Project Manager -specifically the Works4Me project since June, 2023 

Tracey Schalk

Tracey Schalk has worked in the DD field for 11 years and has been an SSA for 9 years. She has worked for small and large County Board’s of DD and has served people from age three through advanced ages. She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and Disability Studies from The Ohio State University. She currently works for the Clearwater COG as a Services Specialist. In this position, she determines eligibility for County Board services, is in on the mock accreditation team, provides substitute SSA services, and conducts Services Excellence Reviews. She has lived with a physical disability since birth and has a passion for ensuring other people with disabilities have access to everything they need to live their best life.

Kelly Schuck

Kelly Schuck is a Community Life Engagement Project Manager with the Community Life Engagement Policy Team at the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities.  Kelly has been with the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities for over five years and in her role promotes both Employment and Technology first across the state through training and technical assistance.  Prior to joining DODD, Kelly worked at the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities for over 13 years.  Currently at the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities, Kelly provides training and technical assistance in the areas of employment, community life engagement, and technology to stakeholders across the North Central region of Ohio. She works to Ensure that Ohioans eligible for developmental disability services have increased opportunities to live, love, learn, work, and pursue their own life aspirations through state-of-the-art planning, innovative technology, and equitable and comprehensive supports that focus on their talents, interests, and skills. 

Kevin Smith

Kevin Smith is the VP of Client Solutions for OnSeen where he leads the product team and serves as the conduit between customers and software developers.  Kevin has a BS in Computer Science from Texas A&M University and has worked in the software industry for over 20 years.