SEIT Conference 2026

Location:
Bank Street College of Education
610 West 112th Street
New York, NY 10025

Event Title:
Special Education Itinerant Teacher (SEIT) Conference 2026
“Supporting Neurodivergent Students: Strategies for Building Relationships, Social Learning, and Communication”

Description:
Join us for our annual Special Education Itinerant Teacher (SEIT) Conference hosted by the Bank Street Family Center. This year, we will explore the theme, “Supporting Neurodivergent Students: Strategies for Building Relationships, Social Learning, and Communication.” Participants will attend the following three workshops:

• The Therapeutic Power of Narration: A Social Story and Book-Making Workshop
  A narrative is one of the most valuable tools that we can use to support very young children’s cognition, emotional regulation, and self-esteem. But how do we choose between a simple social story and a longer narrative? What are the elements to consider when individualizing these tools for a specific child or group of children? We will explore these questions and more in this hands-on, creative workshop.
  Facilitator: Sarah Piel, MSEd
• Supporting Social Skills with a Neurodiverse-Affirming Lens
  In this workshop, we will examine social skill expectations through a neurodivergent-affirming lens. Moving beyond traditional compliance-based models, participants will learn to observe and reflect on student social interactions with a focus on individuality and authentic connection. Together, we will define and apply neurodiversity-affirming principles to student social dynamics, practice observation techniques to better understand students’ unique social skills, and design individualized, scaffolded goals and activities that support social development while incorporating an understanding of neurodiversity.
  Facilitators: Becky Thomas, MSEd, and Nicole Geller, MSEd
• Beyond Compliance: Understanding and Supporting Young Children with Pathological Demand
  Avoidance (PDA)
  Designed for SEITs, this workshop explores PDA in early childhood—what it is, how it presents, and practical strategies to better support the young learners in your classroom. Emphasis is placed on connection-driven solutions that move beyond compliance and toward meaningful, relationship-based support.
  Facilitator: Amy Houston, MSEd

Cost:

• $30
• $40 for CTLE Credits

RSVP:
Registration will be available soon.