RE:CON 2026
PRESENTATIONS
Sessions for this year’s re:con
Building Resilience
PRESENTED BY: Yarden Blumstein
Resilience is a set of skills that can be developed and strengthened over time. This interactive presentation explores practical strategies for building resilience in the face of adversity, stress, and change. Participants will learn how mindset, emotional regulation, healthy relationships, and purposeful action contribute to long-term well-being. Through evidence-informed concepts attendees will leave with actionable tools to navigate challenges and foster resilience in both their personal and professional lives.
MiABLE 101- Saving without Sacrifice
PRESENTED BY: Scott de Varona
Financial security shouldn’t come at the cost of essential benefits — and with MiABLE, it doesn’t have to! Join MiABLE Program Director Scott de Varona for a deeper dive into how MiABLE accounts empower people with disabilities to save money while preserving critical benefits like SSI and Medicaid. MiABLE is a vital financial resource designed for individuals with disabilities, who have historically faced barriers to saving money. Learn how MiABLE works, who qualifies and how you can help your clients take advantage of this game-changing program. With real-life success stories, discussions and a Q&A, you’ll be equipped to further advocate for financial independence within the disability community! Help those you serve achieve financial success — without sacrifice.
The Serious Business of Play
PRESENTED BY: Melissa Kaekel LPC LMHC
Many adults quietly abandon play as responsibilities increase, despite growing evidence linking play, curiosity, creativity, and leisure participation to resilience, emotional wellbeing, cognitive flexibility, and recovery. Rehabilitation professionals are uniquely positioned to help clients reconnect with joy, exploration, hobbies, social connection, and meaningful activity. This interactive presentation explores the role of play in adult mental health and rehabilitation and provides practical interventions that clinicians can immediately incorporate into practice.
Transition Through to Employment
PRESENTED BY: Dr. Lynn Boza
Accommodations used in school through to employment will be identified, presented and discussed using case studies and interactive input from the audience.
Learning Objective 1: As a result of participation in this workshop, audience will be able to define the terms “accommodation” and “transition” used when providing services to individuals with disabilities.
Learning Objective 2: Using two samples, audience will identify typical accommodations for individuals with specific physical and learning disabilities.
Learning Objective 3: Using specific disabilities of “expressive and receptive language disorder” and “rheumatoid arthritis”, audience will engage in an interactive problem-solving session, in which they recommend specific accommodations for each individual. Final actual employment outcome and evolving need for accommodations for the latter individual will be presented.
