{"id":66164,"date":"2026-04-01T12:30:05","date_gmt":"2026-04-01T16:30:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/events\/?post_type=tribe_events&p=66164"},"modified":"2026-04-01T12:43:23","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T16:43:23","slug":"inclusive-school-safety-practices-for-students-with-disabilities","status":"publish","type":"tribe_events","link":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/events\/calendar\/inclusive-school-safety-practices-for-students-with-disabilities\/","title":{"rendered":"Inclusive School Safety Practices for Students with Disabilities"},"content":{"rendered":"

INCLUSIVE SCHOOL SAFETY PRACTICES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES – PROFESSIONAL EVENT:<\/strong> The Connecticut Center for School Safety and Crisis Preparation at Western Connecticut State University, in collaboration with Southern Connecticut State University, will present a statewide professional event focused on advancing safe, inclusive practices for students with disabilities.<\/p>\n

This free, full-day event brings together educators, school mental health providers, school resource officers, disability advocates, families, and community partners to explore evidence-based strategies that promote student safety while honoring accessibility, dignity, and equity. Participants will gain practical tools, research-informed approaches, and real-world perspectives to support inclusive safety planning, threat assessment, and effective cross-disciplinary collaboration in schools.<\/p>\n

The program features nationally recognized leaders in school safety, disability advocacy, and mental health, along with interactive breakout sessions tailored to professional roles. Together, we will examine how to strengthen school safety systems while ensuring that students with disabilities are supported, understood, and included.<\/p>\n

The event will take place at the Southern Connecticut State University Michael J. Adanti Student Center, Room 325, 345 Fitch Street in New Haven.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

8 a.m. <\/strong>\u2013\u00a0Sign-in\u00a0opens;\u00a0coffee\u00a0available
\n8:30\u20138:35\u00a0a.m.<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Welcome\u00a0and\u00a0announcements
\n8:35\u20138:40\u00a0a.m.\u00a0<\/strong>\u2013\u00a0Welcome\u00a0from\u00a0State\u00a0Representative\u00a0Jennifer\u00a0Leeper<\/strong>,\u00a0Chair\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0CT\u00a0Education\u00a0Committee
\n8:40\u20139:10\u00a0a.m.\u00a0<\/strong>\u2013 Keynote: Dr.\u00a0Christina\u00a0Cipriano,\u00a0<\/strong>Director,\u00a0Education\u00a0Collaboratory\u00a0at\u00a0Yale\u00a0and\u00a0Associate\u00a0Professor,\u00a0Yale\u00a0Child\u00a0Study\u00a0Center\u00a0on\u00a0Be\u00a0Unapologetically\u00a0Impatient:\u00a0The\u00a0Mindset\u00a0Required\u00a0to\u00a0Change\u00a0the\u00a0Way\u00a0We\u00a0Do\u00a0Things<\/em>
\n9:15\u201310:30\u00a0a.m<\/strong>.\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Morning\u00a0Plenary:\u00a0Michele\u00a0Gay<\/strong>, M.S., Co-Founder & Executive Director, Safe and Sound Schools on Especially\u00a0Safe:\u00a0An\u00a0Inclusive\u00a0Approach\u00a0to\u00a0Safety\u00a0Preparedness<\/em><\/p>\n

10:45 a.m.\u2013noon<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0MORNING\u00a0BREAKOUT\u00a0SESSIONS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Breakout\u00a01<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Especially\u00a0Safe:\u00a0Safety\u00a0Planning\u00a0for\u00a0Students\u00a0with\u00a0Disabilities\u00a0provided\u00a0<\/em>by Michele Gay – <\/em>Practical\u00a0strategies\u00a0for\u00a0developing\u00a0inclusive,\u00a0trauma-informed\u00a0safety\u00a0plans\u00a0that\u00a0support\u00a0students\u00a0with\u00a0disabilities\u00a0through\u00a0accessibility,\u00a0collaboration,\u00a0and\u00a0equity.<\/p>\n

Breakout\u00a02<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Threat\u00a0Assessment\u00a0and\u00a0Disability:\u00a0Case\u00a0Studies\u00a0and\u00a0Best\u00a0Practices,\u00a0provided\u00a0by\u00a0<\/em>Dr.\u00a0Dewey\u00a0Cornell\u00a0–\u00a0<\/em>Explore\u00a0real-world\u00a0cases\u00a0using\u00a0the\u00a0CSTAG\u00a0model,\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0focus\u00a0on\u00a0applying\u00a0threat\u00a0assessment\u00a0fairly\u00a0and\u00a0effectively\u00a0when\u00a0students\u00a0with\u00a0disabilities\u00a0are\u00a0involved.<\/p>\n

Breakout\u00a03<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Best\u00a0Practices\u00a0for\u00a0Police\u00a0Interactions\u00a0with\u00a0Students\u00a0with\u00a0Autism,\u00a0provided\u00a0by\u00a0<\/em>Dr. Stephanie Leite –<\/em>Learn\u00a0communication\u00a0strategies,\u00a0de-escalation\u00a0techniques,\u00a0and\u00a0approaches\u00a0that\u00a0promote\u00a0safe,\u00a0respectful\u00a0school-based\u00a0interactions.<\/p>\n

noon\u20131 p.m.<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Lunch\u00a0and\u00a0networking\u00a0(boxed\u00a0lunch\u00a0provided)<\/p>\n

1\u20132:15 p.m. \u2013 AFTERNOON BREAKOUT SESSIONS<\/strong>
\nPlease\u00a0note:<\/strong>\u00a0Breakout\u00a04\u00a0and\u00a0Breakout\u00a06\u00a0are\u00a0Repeat\u00a0Sessions<\/strong>\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0morning\u00a0offerings.<\/em><\/p>\n

Breakout\u00a04\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<\/strong>Especially\u00a0Safe:\u00a0Safety\u00a0Planning\u00a0for\u00a0Students\u00a0with\u00a0Disabilities\u00a0provided\u00a0<\/em>
\nby\u00a0Michele\u00a0Gay<\/em>\u00a0–\u00a0Practical\u00a0strategies\u00a0for\u00a0developing\u00a0inclusive,\u00a0trauma-informed\u00a0safety\u00a0plans\u00a0that\u00a0support\u00a0students\u00a0with\u00a0disabilities\u00a0through\u00a0accessibility,\u00a0collaboration,\u00a0and\u00a0equity.<\/p>\n

Breakout\u00a05\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<\/strong>Student\u00a0Panel:\u00a0Lived\u00a0Experiences\u00a0in\u00a0Accessibility\u00a0and\u00a0School\u00a0Safety,\u00a0with\u00a0<\/em>Facilitator:\u00a0Elisabeth\u00a0Morel\u00a0–\u00a0<\/em>Hear\u00a0directly\u00a0from\u00a0students\u00a0about\u00a0how\u00a0safety\u00a0policies\u00a0and\u00a0school\u00a0environments\u00a0impact\u00a0accessibility,\u00a0inclusion,\u00a0and\u00a0belonging.<\/p>\n

Breakout\u00a06\u00a0<\/strong>\u2013\u00a0Best\u00a0Practices\u00a0for\u00a0Police\u00a0Interactions\u00a0with\u00a0Students\u00a0with\u00a0Autism,\u00a0provided\u00a0by\u00a0<\/em>Dr.\u00a0Stephanie\u00a0Leite\u00a0–\u00a0<\/em>Learn\u00a0communication\u00a0strategies,\u00a0de-escalation\u00a0techniques,\u00a0and\u00a0approaches\u00a0that\u00a0promote\u00a0safe,\u00a0respectful\u00a0school-based\u00a0interactions.<\/p>\n

2:30\u20133:45 p.m. <\/strong>Closing\u00a0Plenary:\u00a0Research\u00a0and\u00a0Best\u00a0Practices\u00a0in\u00a0Threat\u00a0Assessment\u00a0for\u00a0Students\u00a0with\u00a0Disabilities<\/em>\u00a0presented\u00a0by\u00a0Dr.\u00a0Dewey\u00a0Cornell<\/em><\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfa4\u00a0Presenters:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dr.\u00a0Christina\u00a0Cipriano<\/strong>,\u00a0Director,\u00a0the\u00a0Education\u00a0Collaboratory\u00a0at\u00a0Yale\u00a0and\u00a0Associate\u00a0Professor,\u00a0Yale\u00a0Child\u00a0Study\u00a0Center;<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dr.\u00a0Dewey\u00a0Cornell<\/strong>, Developer of the Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG) and Professor of Education, University of Virginia;<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dr.\u00a0Stephanie\u00a0Leite<\/strong>,\u00a0Clinical\u00a0and\u00a0Forensic\u00a0Psychologist,\u00a0Forensic\u00a0Intelligence,\u00a0LLC;<\/strong><\/p>\n

Michele\u00a0Gay<\/strong>,\u00a0M.S.,\u00a0Co-Founder\u00a0&\u00a0Executive\u00a0Director,\u00a0Safe\u00a0and\u00a0Sound\u00a0Schools;<\/strong><\/p>\n

Elisabeth\u00a0Morel<\/strong>,\u00a0M.Ed.,\u00a0C.A.G.S.,\u00a0Director,\u00a0AccessAbility\u00a0Services,\u00a0Western\u00a0Connecticut\u00a0State\u00a0University.<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Register to attend at https:\/\/wcsutickets.regfox.com\/inclusive-school-safety-event-tuesday-april-28-2026<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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