ABOUT THE CONFERENCE
2026 50th Anniversary DCDT International Conference
During the Conference’s four days, there will be 295 sessions on:
- AI in Career Development and Transition
- Family and Community Partnerships
- Instructional Practices/Use of Technology
- Mental Health/Substance Abuse
- Personnel Prep and Professional Development
- Transition Assessment
- Transition to Employment
- Transition to Postsecondary Education
- Transition to Independent Living
- Self-Determination
- Culturally Responsive Practices for Transition Planning
- Introducing Career Development and Transition planning in Elementary School
- Assistive Technology & Transition
- Practitioner to Practitioner Strand
- Dropout Prevention Strand: Improving Graduation Outcomes for Students with Disabilities
- Division on Learning Disabilities (DLD) Featured Strand
- Division on Autism and Developmental Disabilities (DADD) Featured Strand
- DDEL Featured Strand: Forward Thinking Practices: Critically Conscious and Culturally Aware Community
- DCDT Committee Strand
- Sitlington Emerging Research Poster Session
- DCDT Graduate Research Scholarship Winner
- DCDT Featured Partner Showcase
- 50th Anniversary DCDT Presidential Showcase
In addition we will share evidence-based practices from our featured DCDT partners as well as the opportunity for participants to access pre-recorded sessions from leaders in the transition field from across the country.
2026 DCDT 50th Anniversary International Conference
Wednesday, October 14, 2026: Optional Preconferences 1-4 pm
Wednesday Opening Session 5 pm and the conference concludes Saturday at 12:50 pm
DCDT Preconference (EXTRA FEE $75)- Wednesday , October 14, 2026
Opening session with award and recognition ceremony on Wednesday evening 5:00- 6:30 PM
Thursday at 8:00 am concurrent sessions until 5:00 p.m.
Evening Connections and Social Thursday 5:00 - 6:30 pm
Friday concurrent sessions all day from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday concurrent sessions 8:00 am - 12:50pm
Hotel DCDT discount reservation link: https://book.passkey.com/e/50912400
- Days49
- Hours4
- Minutes12
- Seconds24
PRECONFERENCE Sessions
October 14, 2026
1 pm -4 pm
(2 optional Extra Fee of $75)
Leveraging AI Tools and Evidence-Based Practices to Support Postsecondary Transition for Students with ADHD and LD
This Division for Learning Disabilities (DLD) preconference session will focus on evidence-based strategies to support students with learning disabilities (LD) and ADHD as they transition to post-secondary education. We will place particular emphasis on the responsible and effective use of artificial intelligence (AI) to support student transition.
Participants will learn about transition challenges—including legal precedent, increased academic independence, executive functioning demands, self-advocacy, and navigating disability services—and examine how targeted supports can promote student success.
The session will share practical ways teachers and students can use AI tools to enhance organization, planning, reading comprehension, writing, and study skills. Attention will be given to teaching students how to use AI ethically, transparently, and in alignment with institutional policies and accommodation guidelines. Examples will include using AI for task breakdown, time management, drafting and revising written work, clarifying complex texts, and preparing for exams.
Through case examples and applied discussion, attendees will gain guidance on helping students develop metacognitive awareness, maintain academic integrity, and build independence as they enter postsecondary education. The session is designed for educators, disability service professionals, and families seeking concrete, forward-looking strategies to support successful college transitions for students with LD and ADHD in an AI-enabled learning environment.
DDEL Preconference: Culturally Sustaining and Intersectionally Conscious Family Engagement: From Involvement to Transformation
Session Purpose and Rationale
In the field of transition and special education, family engagement is often treated as a checklist of involvement rather than a partnership of transformation. This preconference workshop, sponsored by DDEL, addresses the critical need for practitioners to move beyond superficial compliance. By centering culturally sustaining practices and intersectionality, we empower educators to recognize the diverse identities of the families they serve. This session provides a structured pathway, moving from traditional involvement to transformative collaboration, ensuring that transition planning is truly co-constructed with families.
Learning Objectives
By the conclusion of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Identify the diverse identities of families served through the lenses of culturally sustaining pedagogy and intersectionality.
- Utilize the Continuum of Family Engagement to evaluate current practices and identify shifts needed for transformative collaboration.
- Synthesize case study data to design engagement strategies that move from passive "service" to active "partnership."
- Develop a context-specific framework for embedding these strategies into their own school, district, or agency settings.
Anticipated Outcomes
Participants will leave this preconference not just with theoretical knowledge, but with a Practical Engagement Toolkit. This includes the Continuum Framework, case study templates, and a personalized action plan. The ultimate outcome is a shift in the field toward transition practices that honor the cultural wealth of families and foster truly collaborative, life-changing outcomes for students with disabilities.
DETAILS
WHEN
WHERE
Sheraton New Orleans Hotel