2026 Collaborative Experience Conference

The stakeholders of the Collaborative Plan is pleased to host the 2026 Collaborative Experience Conference. The conference will take place on November 5-7, 2026 at beautiful Breezy Point.

This three-day conference is designed for parents, DHH teachers, and professionals serving students who are deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing. Conference attendees will enjoy opportunities to network and learn from peers. They will learn the most recent research and information from experts and leaders in the field of deaf education, school counseling, vocational rehabilitation, and more.

Registration is now closed. Please note that onsite registration is not available. Only registered attendees will be permitted to attend

[Access the video with descriptive transcript]

Schedule
Sponsors and Exhibitors

Conference Schedule

This schedule is subject to change.

Thursday, November 5th

Arrival day!

1:00 pm
- Registration opens | Whitebirch I & II Lobby, 2nd floor
- Parents welcome table, hosted by Minnesota Hands & Voices | Whitebirch I & II Lobby, 2nd floor (time TBD)
- Dinner on your own
7:00 - 9:00 pm
- Conference kickoff! Includes networking, table activity, and social hour | Whitebirch I & II
- Snacks and desserts provided | Whitebirch I & II | Sponsored by Triumph Educational Consulting
Friday, November 6th

A full day of opportunities, networking, and learning.

6:30 - 8:00 am
- Breakfast | Marina II Restaurant
8:00 - 9:45 am
- Welcome and conference keynote: Identity, Sovereignty, and Cultural Safety for Native American Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind Students | Cindi Martin | Whitebirch 1 & II
9:45 - 10:00 am
- Break with snacks | Whitebirch I & II Lobby, 2nd Floor
10:00 - 11:00 am

Concurrent session block #1
- When Wires Cross: Recognizing How Past Experiences Influence Our Student and Family Interactions Today | Valerie James Abbott, Jess Dallman | Lakeside A
- Sharing ebooks and media with DHHDB characters that support well-being for teachers and DHH students | Brynn Kraning, Debbie Golos, Cookie Brand, Stevie Middlebrook, Rocco Lauricella, Megan Johnson, Kya Halstengaard and other We-Imagine UMN students | Lakeside B
- Congenital CMV: Blending Education with Lived Experience | Kathleen Smith, Jess Moen | Pelican Room
- Collaborating for Access: Deaf Interpreters and Educational Teams | Gloria Nathanson, Laura SkyQuest | Governor's Room
11:00 - 11:15 am
- Break | Whitebirch I & II Lobby, 2nd Floor
11:15 am - 12:15 pm

Concurrent session block #2
- Persistent Drive for Autonomy | Justin Small | Lakeside A
- REAL Beginnings for the Future: Nurturing Language and Literacy Through Diverse Storytelling and Books | Stacy Abrams, Brian Cheslik | Lakeside B
- Cued American English and Minnesota's READ Act | Sarah Ideen, Heather Stoesz | Pelican Room
- How Robotics Helps DHH Students Develop STEM and Other Vital Life Skills | Harry Wood | Governor's Room
12:15 - 2:00 pm
- Lunch and Exhibit Hall | Minnesota I & II, 1st Floor
1:30 - 2:00 pm
- Fireside Chat with Cindi Martin | Heartland Room I
2:00 - 3:00 pm

Concurrent session block #3
- Late-Identified Hearing Loss in Childhood: What We Know, What We Don't, and What We're Doing About It in Minnesota | Jess Moen, Valerie James Abbott | Lakeside A
- Sparking Equitable READ Act Access: Innovations for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind Learners | Kayna Plaisted, Debbie Golos, Emily Manson, Danelle Gournaris, Leah Dolezal, Chris Bretz | Lakeside B
- Supporting Culturally Diverse Families Where They Are | Lee Vang, Nura Hersi, Elena Miranda | Pelican Room
- DeafBlind Impact Statements for High-Quality PLAAFPs | Ann Mayes | Governor's Room
3:00 - 3:15 pm
- Break with snacks | Whitebirch I & II Lobby, 2nd Floor
3:15 -4:15 pm

Concurrent block #4
- Come Learn SWRL! A Multimodal Teaching Strategy for Hard of Hearing Students Connecting Signing, Reading, Writing, and Listening | Leah Dolezal | Lakeside A
- The Itinerant's Edge: Aligning DHH Specialized Instruction with the MN READ Act | eL Warnest, Michelle Moe | Lakeside B
- DeafBlind Education | Riss Leitzke | Pelican Room
- Deaf Identity, Self-Esteem, and Mental Health | Everett Glenn, Karen Sheldon | Governor's Room
4:15 - 4:30 pm
- Break | Whitebirch I & II, 2nd Floor
4:30 - 5:30 pm

Concurrent session block #5
- Access in Action: Making School Emergencies Safe for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing | Jeanne D'Aloia, Emily Manson | Lakeside A
- 15 Principles for Reading to Deaf Children and Incorporating Language and Cultural Factors | Brian Cheslik, Stacy Abrams | Lakeside B
- Bridging Assessment and Instruction: Strategies after the Communication Matrix Assessment | Ann Mayes | Pelican Room
- Beyond the Warning Signs: Suicide Prevention, Intervention, and Postvention for Deaf Youth | Tarra Grammenos, Laura SkyQuest | Governor's Room
5:30 - 7:00 pm
- Dinner and Exhibit Hall open | Minnesota I & II, 1st Floor
6:30 - 7:00 pm
- Meet and Greet the Authors | Heartland Room I
7:00 - 8:00 pm

Concurrent session block #6
- Asking the Money Question | Sara Kennedy, Jodi Roberts | Whitebirch I & II
- Project Fast Forward: A Higher Education Pathway for Deaf & Hard of Hearing High School Students | David Strom | Pelican Room
Saturday November 7th
Make the most of this last day!

6:30 - 8:00 am
- Breakfast | Marina II Restaurant
7:00 - 8:00 am

Private gathering with MNH&V with parents only | Marina II Restaurant, Water's Edge Private Room

8:30 - 9:30 am

Concurrent session block #7
- Beyond the Spectrum: Supporting DHH Students with Neurodivergence | Nicki Melby, Jaime Monson | Lakeside A
- CMV Stories: Three Mothers Reflect on their Experiences with D/HH Children with CMV | Elizabeth Schnobrich, Pajjar Yang, Julie Olson Rand, facilitated by Jess Moen | Lakeside B
- Learning Centers that Work: UDL, Differentiation, and Independence in Deaf Education | Trevor Anderson, Lauren Anderson | Pelican Room
- Designing Access: A Human-Centered Design Approach for DeafBlind Learners | Paula MacDonald | Governor's Room
9:30 - 9:45 am
- Break with coffee and snacks | Whitebirch I & II Lobby, 2nd Floor
9:45 - 11:15 am
- Closing keynote: Beyond Language Access: Supporting Deaf Immigrant Students and Multilingual Families | Celena Ponce | Whitebirch 1 & II
11:15 - 11:30 am
- Closing remarks | Whitebirch I & II
11:30 am - 12:00 pm
- Box lunch | Whitebirch I & II Lobby, 2nd Floor
  Attendees can opt to stay and eat in the Whitebirch room or take lunch home.
11:30 am - 12:00 pm
- Fireside Chat with Celena Ponce during box lunch | Whitebirch I & II
12:00 pm
- Conference ends. Travel home safe and remember to fill out the evaluation form!
Thank You Sponsors and Exhibitors

Learn more about opportunities to sponsor or exhibit at the 2026 Collaborative Experience Conference.

We appreciate our sponsors! This conference would not be possible without you.

Access Partners

Thank you, Access Partner sponsors for helping to provide interpreting and captioning services.
- ASL Interpreting Services
- Deaf, DeafBlind & Hard of Hearing State Services
- Gallaudet - Clerc Center
- Keystone Interpreting Solutions
- Minnesota Department of Education
- Minnesota Department of Health, Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI)
Education Excellence

Thank you Education Excellence sponsors for supporting educational opportunities.
- LingoForce
Community Connectors

Thank you, Community Connector sponsors for helping to provide refreshments, connection, and networking opportunities.
- Minnesota Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf
- St. Catherine University
- Triumph Educational Consulting
Thank you, exhibitors!
- ASL Interpreting Services
- BrightWorks - Greater Minnesota Psychological Assessments for Students who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or DeafBlind (GM Launch PAD)
- BrightWorks - Minnesota DeafBlind Project
- Clerc Center, Gallaudet University Regional Center Midwest
- Deaf, DeafBlind & Hard of Hearing State Services
- LingoForce
- Minnesota Employment Center
- Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS)
- Minnesota Department of Health, Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI)
- Minnesota Hands & Voices
- Minnesota Resource Library
- Minnesota State Academies for the Deaf and the Blind
- National Loon Center Foundation
- RIT/NTID
- Supporting Success for Children with Hearing Loss
- Therapeutic Services Agency
- Triumph Educational Consulting
- Volunteers of America
- ZVRS