Easterseals SoCal (ESSC) hosted its inaugural Disability, Science and Service Conference (DSSC) in August at the Grand in Long Beach, bringing together more than 300 ESSC team members, both in person and virtually, from across the organization.
The inaugural conference was open to all ESSC service areas, with plans to open the event to outside participants next year at DSSC 2027, which will be held July 23-24 at the Hyatt Regency in Irvine.
“The conference showcases our work at Easterseals,” said Joyce Tu, Ed.D., BCBA-D, VP, Clinical Transformation, Autism Services, “specifically, how we leverage science, technology and data in our everyday practice, from both a clinical and operational perspective, to enhance the quality of life for people with disabilities.”
Added Paula Pompa-Craven, PsyD, Chief Clinical Officer, Autism Services, “When we combine lived experience from the people we serve and their families with research, we create opportunities to improve outcomes, challenge assumptions, foster innovation and strengthen our communities. Progress happens when we continue to ask questions, share knowledge and learn from one another. Ideas shared translate into meaningful impact and lasting change.”
Featured Speakers & Topics
The event featured some of the most respected professionals in their fields addressing timely topics around science, research and disability:
Joan Beasley, PhD — KEYNOTE: The Importance of Inclusive, Evidence-Informed Practices
Founder of the person-centered Systemic, Therapeutic, Assessment, Resources and Treatment (START) model—a nationally recognized best practice for children and adults with IDD—Dr. Beasley is a research professor and director of the National Research Consortium on Mental Health in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities at the UNH Institute on Disability UCEDD. She also serves as adjunct research faculty at Georgetown University Thrive Center and is a visiting Scholar at The Lurie Institute at Brandeis University.
David Cox, PhD., BCBA-D — INVITED SPEAKER: Seeing Both Forests and Trees: How Simple Analytics Can Improve Client Outcomes and Clinical Decision-Making
Having worked 20 years in behavior analysis, Dr. Cox is a bioethicist (master's degree, Union Graduate College), a board-certified behavior analyst at the doctoral level (University of Florida), a behavioral economist (post-doc training, Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine) and a data scientist (post-doc training, Insight! Data Science Fellowship).
Shaji Haq, PhD, BCBA-D — The Importance of Inclusive, Evidence Informed Practices
A board-certified behavior analyst-doctoral, Dr. Haq is Regional VP of Complex Behavior Services for ESSC’s Severe Behavior Lab, Autism Services, the only treatment program for severe behavior west of the Mississippi and one of only a few such programs in the country.
