Dare to Dream Student Leadership Conference May 22, 2017 William Paterson University 8:30 – 9:00 Registration, Continental Breakfast 9:00 – 9:15 Welcome, Dr. Kathleen Waldron

President of William Paterson University Beth Marmolejos, Vice Chair of the Passaic County Workforce Development Board & Disability Committee Chair

9:15 – 10:30 Special Guest & MC: Kerry Magro

Kerry Magro is an award-winning disability advocate, best-selling author of 3 books, movie consultant for films about autism, and the founder of a non-profit that has given over 35 scholarships for students with autism for college. Kerry was completely non-verbal until the age of two and a half and was diagnosed with autism at 4 years old. He now travels around the country as a motivational speaker and disability advocate. In 2014, he received accreditation from the National Speakers Association as one of the only professionally certified speakers with autism in the country. In the past 7 years, Kerry has talked at over 700 events about his journey on the autism spectrum. Those speaking engagements led to a stint in TV hosting his own local cable show called the "Different is Beautiful Show," which focuses on people who overcome adversity.

Voices of Experience: Matthew Mullins, student at William Paterson University Christopher Gagliardi, Special Needs Outreach Coordinator for Assemblywoman Valerie Huttle

Student Keynote Presentations:

Elyse Palmer: You Don’t Have to Feel Alone Just Because You Have a Medical 504, Vernon Township High School

Briana Palmer: My Long Path toward a Military Career, Vernon Township High School Wendy Garcia: What Makes a Successful Student, Benway School Miguel Velazquez: Living With Bipolar Disorder, Benway School Benjamin Stark: NJ Center for Tourette Syndrome and Associated Disorders, Inc. Jeffrey Dominguez: The Value of Participating in DECA, School of Business, Technology and Marketing Gil Tov: Superb Abilities of Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Celebrate the Children School

10:30 - 10:45 Cookie Break 10:45 - 11:30 Breakout Session 11:45 - 12:30 Breakout Session 12:30 - 1:30 LUNCH – Open Microphone

Special Thanks to the Passaic County Workforce Investment Board and William Paterson University for their partnership in conference planning.

Dare to Dream is sponsored by the New Jersey Department of Education, Office of Special Education Professional Development - Funded by IDEA Part B

1st Breakout Session: 10:45 – 11:30

The Outside Me & Inside Me: Students will lead an activity in which participants will identify characteristics about themselves that others can easily know about them.

Presented by students from Wallkill Valley High School Location: Room 211

Labor Law Bingo: Presenters will facilitate a Bingo game by calling out questions focused on post-secondary employment. Participants will have game boards and game pieces and may win a prize by answering the questions and getting bingo.

Presented by students from Wayne Hills High School Location: Room 216

Stress-Relieving Techniques for the Classroom: Students will learn some valuable stress-relieving techniques and brain boosters to improve performance in class. Techniques to reduce test anxiety will also be presented.

Presented by students from Mahwah High School Location: Room 168A

Who am I?: This activity will help students explore their inner self through the use of identifying with inspirational quotes. Each participant will then discuss how a quote relates to him or her.

Presented by NJ Department of Education Location: Room 168B

The Walk of Courage on Display: Presenters will highlight courageous, famous people, who despite their disability have become successful. This session will allow participants to have their own personal "walk of courage on display," where students are able to speak positively about their personal disability, and how it has empowered them and others!

Presented by students from University Academy Charter School Location: Ballroom A, B, C

2nd Breakout Session: 11:45 – 12:30

Interviewing Success: Put Your Best Self Forward: Participants will learn how to decide what type of job to apply for, experiences to include in your resume, and how to prepare for a job interview. Students will engage in mock interviews to prepare them for their next job interview.

Presented by the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services Location: Room 211 ”I Am” Poem: This activity will help students combine interests, preferences and strengths that they have been considering. After completing this activity, students will use poetry to describe themselves and use reflection and express themselves in writing.

Presented by Sandy LaCorte, DIAL Center for Independent Living Location: Room 168 A

Team Building: Team building exercises and activities for high school students are constructive and fun ways to help people get to know each other, build trust, communicate comfortably, develop relationships and most importantly, learn to work together to accomplish a goal. Besides, student team building activities also help them hone their communication, leadership and problem-solving skills.

Presented by students from Madison High School Location: Room 168 B Self Advocacy: Our panel will talk about their own self-advocacy experiences and introduce four video vignettes about self advocacy in the classroom, the workplace, the economy, and life; plus audience participation will bring self advocacy skills to life for the participants in this workshop. Presented by students from Banyan High School and Life Academy Location: Room 216

The Juggernaut Student: How to be Unstoppable in Your Academic Career. In this session you will have the opportunity to hear from students who had challenging beginnings but were able to overcome their obstacles by never giving up and keeping their eyes on their goals. As a group we will share some hurdles of our own that will be engaging, and through discussion will provide skills and strategies for staying focused and finishing the race to achieve our academic goals and beyond. Presented by Elijah Thomas (ACT Academy) and Kaelah Pace (BTMF Academy) JFK High School Location: Ballroom A, B, C