Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Conference 2026: Full Schedule

You will be able to validate your attendance (Check-In to sessions) using your personal schedule.

10:00am CDT

Health, Hope, and the Future: Transition Planning for Students with Complex Medical Needs

Friday July 17, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am CDT

Salon D @ 3001 Kalahari Blvd, Round Rock, TX, USA

This session will help families and self-advocates understand how to plan for the transition from school-based supports to adult life for students with complex medical needs. It will cover key issues such as healthcare transition, education, employment, daily living, benefits, and long-term supports, with a focus on building a realistic and hopeful plan for the future. Families will leave with a better sense of what steps to take, what systems to prepare for, and how to support their child’s growth into adulthood.

Session times are placeholders for now. Final times will be set once we confirm clinician schedules.

Moderators

Audrey Vernick

Director of Patient and Family Advocacy, Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Alliance

Audrey Vernick is the Director of Patient and Family Advocacy for the Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Alliance. Her journey into advocacy began with her son, Bennett, who suffered an in utero stroke leading to unrelenting infantile spasms. After failing multiple anti-seizure medications... Read More →

Speakers

Roni Jo Frazier, M.Ed., CAS, QIDP

Chief Executive Officer, Bloom Consulting

Roni Jo Frazier is a dedicated leader in the field of education and disability services, driven by a personal mission to help every individual reach their full potential. Her work is centered on the belief that with the right support and innovative programming, the transition from... Read More →

Jamie Moyer

Chief Program and Development Officer., Bloom Consulting

Jamie Moyer is a dedicated advocate who believes every student deserves a clear path to a meaningful and independent future. As the National Director of Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) at Bloom Consulting, Jamie focuses her expertise on ensuring young people with disabilities... Read More →

Health, Hope, and the Future Transition Planning for Students with Complex Medical Needs pdf

Friday July 17, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am CDT
Salon D 3001 Kalahari Blvd, Round Rock, TX, USA

Transition to Adulthood

4:00pm CDT

A Lifetime of Support: Building Your Child’s Financial Safety Net

Friday July 17, 2026 4:00pm - 4:45pm CDT

Salon C @ 3001 Kalahari Blvd, Round Rock, TX, USA

Most parents are the "engine" that keeps their child’s world running, but what happens when you are no longer there to steer the ship? Vital government benefits like SSI and Medicaid provide a foundation for healthcare and housing, allowing your child to live a full, independent life. Without a formal plan, a simple inheritance or savings account can accidentally disqualify them from this vital safety net. This session cuts through the jargon to show you how tools like ABLE accounts and special trusts work with the system to protect your child’s money and medical benefits, ensuring the care and support they need are always there, no matter what.

Moderators

Audrey Vernick

Director of Patient and Family Advocacy, Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Alliance

Speakers

Mary McDirmid, ChSNC

Co-Founder, Special Needs Financial Planner, All Needs Planning

When Mary isn’t helping families navigate the world of special needs financial planning, she is being a wife to Jay and a mom to Charlie and Ruth. In addition to her leadership role at All Needs Planning and a volunteer advocate for kids with rare diseases. She takes the title “Mom... Read More →

260617 ANP Support Your Family Mary pdf

Friday July 17, 2026 4:00pm - 4:45pm CDT
Salon C 3001 Kalahari Blvd, Round Rock, TX, USA

Transition to Adulthood

10:00am CDT

The Parent Experience: Safety, Self-Determination, and the Dignity of Risk

Saturday July 18, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am CDT

Salon D @ 3001 Kalahari Blvd, Round Rock, TX, USA

Aimee Day and her son Ty share an honest look at the tension between keeping a child safe and preparing them for adulthood. Aimee will reflect on her instinct to protect, while Ty will share what it felt like to want more independence. Together, they explore dignity of risk, trauma-informed support, and person-centered planning. Parents will learn how to gradually shift from protector to partner, helping their child build confidence, self-advocacy skills, and a fulfilling adult life without losing sight of health and safety.

Session times are placeholders for now. Final times will be set once we confirm clinician schedules.

Moderators

Nicole Murray

Director of Development, Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Alliance

Nicole Murray serves as the Director of Development for the Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Alliance (formerly The Brain Recovery Project), returning to the organization where she previously served as Development Director. In her current role, she leads strategic fundraising initiatives... Read More →

Speakers

Ty Day

Advocate

Ty Day is a young man with a passion for helping others. He frequently presents at conferences, sharing his journey of becoming a strong self-advocate. Through his experiences, Ty has learned the importance of informed choice and positive control, which have been crucial in planning... Read More →

Aimee Day

Director of Person-Centered Planning and Family Outreach, Texas A & M University, Center on Disability and Development

Aimee Day is the Director of Person-Centered Planning and Family Outreach at the Center on Disability and Development and a Person-Centered Thinking Mentor Trainer. She strives to incorporate Person-Centered Practices in all aspects of her professional and personal life. She has spoken... Read More →

Dignity of Risk PES conference pdf

Saturday July 18, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am CDT
Salon D 3001 Kalahari Blvd, Round Rock, TX, USA

Transition to Adulthood

10:00am CDT

4:00pm CDT

10:00am CDT

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