Name: Can I Learn and Play With You?
Start: 2026-04-29T13:00:00-0400
End: 2026-04-29T13:45:00-0400

Welcome to Empower Youth Success 2026!
Get ready for an exciting few days of innovative learning, engagement, networking, and fun. Whether this is your first time or you’re a returning attendee, we’re so glad you’re here to help make this event unforgettable!

Can I Learn and Play With You?

Wednesday April 29, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm EDT

Kelsey's

My content will include introspective questions of why community programs are not including neurodiverse children more in their programming. Could a trained consultant expedite the programs up to an agreed compliance to ensure students in the existing school population have an opportunity for more social development with their peers? Are the programs hesitant to include students with ASD because they are not sure, what it is?

Moderators

Lesley Lawrence

CNY Program Specialist, New York State Network for Youth Success

Lesley Lawrence is a Program Specialist with the NYS Network for Youth Success’s School-Age Technical Assistance Resource Center (SATARC). She provides individualized support to LEAPS and BOOST grantees in program management, grant implementation, program quality, and data systems. With over 20... Read More →

Presenters

Donna McGowan

Parent/Caregiver Decision Maker, Autism Advocate

Donna McGowan is a Metro NYC parent. She is a long-term certified Project Management Professional with a background in Sociology and a Master of Business Administration. Due to a recent layoff and as a parent of a young child on the autism spectrum disorder, Donna discovered in her... Read More →

Wednesday April 29, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm EDT
Kelsey's Kelsey's

Speed Session, Experienced Community Schools Track

Empower Youth Success 2026

Lesley Lawrence

Donna McGowan

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