Thank you to everyone who attended our second

TAP N2 Hope Conference!

2026 Conference Sponsors

Thank you to Our Gold Sponsor

Thank you to Our Bronze Sponsor
Thank you to Our Exhibitors

DDHomes
Easterseals Central Illinois
Illinois Crisis Prevention Network
Northern Illinois University
Progressive Behavior Solutions
Springbrook Autism Behavioral Health System
Stride Autism Centers
The Arc of Illinois
Tobii Dynavox
Visions, LLC

Joy F. Johnson - Keynote Presentation

The Cost of Forced Conformity: How "Good Behavior" Training and Forced "Normalcy" Became a Blueprint for Harm—And a Catalyst for Activism

Amie Burke

Stay Human While Doing Hard Things

Lynn Schumacher & Jessica Hinojosa

Bridging Clinical Psychology and Behavior Analysis in Rural Communities to Advance Social Development in Adolescents with Autism

Kati Shepardson

Neurodiversity Affirming Clinical Practice

Meika Valerio

Tech That Makes a Difference: Practical Tools Improving Autism Services Today

Scott Sanders

Recognizing and Addressing Atypical Obsessive-Compulsive Presentations in Autism and Intellectual Disabilities

Becky Nelson

Expanding AAC Usage across Environments

Joy F. Johnson, M.Ed., M.S., BCBA, IBA is an Autistic behavior analyst, clinical director, and educator with experience in clinical practice, supervision, and higher education. Her work examines ethics, social validity, and culturally responsive approaches within Applied Behavior Analysis, informed by clinical experience and lived experience navigating educational and therapeutic systems.

Joy has provided services across multiple settings and currently works as a clinical director and owner while teaching graduate-level coursework related to behavior analysis and clinical practice. Her professional focus centers on neurodiversity-affirming care, ethical decision-making, and the deliberate prevention of harm—ensuring Autistic individuals are not asked to endure the same ethical failures, erasures, or losses of autonomy that have historically been embedded in therapeutic and educational systems. Her work prioritizes dignity, consent, and long-term quality of life as essential outcomes of ethical practice.

Keynote Topic

The Cost of Forced Conformity: How “Good Behavior” Training and Forced “Normalcy” Became a Blueprint for Harm—And a Catalyst for Activism

A direct discussion of how childhood compliance training and lowered expectations contributed to vulnerability to exploitation in adolescence, including entering high-risk adult environments as a survival response.

This ethics-centered conversation examines how early behavior-based interventions—before modern credentialing and ethical standards—shaped my identity, autonomy, and long-term vulnerability as an Autistic child. Diagnosed at six and Nonvocal until I became vocal at twelve, I experienced compliance-heavy therapies that taught me to fight against who I was: my Autistic identity, sensory needs, communication style, and Blackness.

Amie Burke

Amie Burke

M.S., BCBA

received her master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis and Therapy from Southern Illinois University and has worked in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities for over 30 years. She has been with Hope for more than 10 years, supporting individuals across the lifespan and helping teams build practical, sustainable skills. Amie provides training on evidence-based practices including challenging behavior, data collection, leadership, caregiver support, and empowering Direct Support Professionals. She is passionate about making complex concepts approachable and helping others feel confident in their work. Outside of work, Amie enjoys a good cup of coffee, laughing often, soaking up the sun, and spending time with her family and dogs.

Lynn Schumacher

Lynn Schumacher

M.S., BCBA

is a second-year doctoral student in the Behavior Analysis and Therapy program at Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. Lynn has been a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst since 2023 and obtained her master’s degree from Mount Saint Mary’s University. Lynn focuses on Early intensive behavioral interventions, and her research focuses include preference assessment procedures as well as generalization procedures. Together with Jessica Hinojosa, M.S., Lynn co-created and facilitated a social skills group for adolescents with autism since 2024.    

Jessica Hinojosa

Jessica Hinojosa

M.S.

is a fifth-year doctoral candidate in the Clinical Psychology – Child Track at Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. Jessica’s clinical work is grounded in cognitive-behavioral therapy and has focused on her clinical training in the areas of pediatric psychology, behavioral sleep medicine, and neurodevelopmental disorders. Jessica’s research interests involve addressing barriers to health care services, brief intervention development, and exploring the intersection of sleep disturbances, neurodevelopmental disorders, and chronic health conditions. Together with Lynn Schumacher, M.S., BCBA, Jessica created and facilitated a social skills group for adolescents with autism since 2024.   

Kati Shepardson

Kati Shepardson

M.A.

is a fourth-year PhD candidate in Clinical Psychology at Wheaton College with an emphasis in neuropsychology. She provides psychotherapy and neuropsychological assessment services across community-based and private practice settings, working with children, adolescents, adults, and families. Her clinical work is grounded in a neurodiversity-affirming, strengths-based framework, and she specializes in supporting autistic and otherwise neurodivergent individuals across the lifespan. As a neurodivergent clinician, her work is informed by both research and lived experience.

Meika Valerio

Meika Valerio

M.Ed., BCBA, LBA

is Regional Director at The Autism Clinic at Hope and has worked with individuals on the autism spectrum providing Applied Behavior Analysis services 2011. Her clinical interests include systematic desensitization, intensive toilet training, and functional communication training. Meika is passionate about clinical outcomes for children and utilizing OBM to drive organizational performance.

Scott Sanders

Scott Sanders

M.S., BCBA, QMHP

is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst with over 20 years of experience supporting individuals with developmental disabilities, mental health challenges, and complex behavioral needs. He blends applied behavior analysis with trauma-informed care and ACT to create scalable, compassionate interventions across clinical and community settings. Scott trains professionals throughout the Midwest and advocates for integrating behavior analysis within whole-person care frameworks.

Becky Nelson

Becky Nelson

M.S., BCBA, LBA

has worked as a BCBA at The Autism Clinic at Hope for 5 years. Becky graduated from SIU Carbondale in 2020. She previously worked at Project 12- Ways and the Language and Cognition Development Clinic led by Dr. Mark Dixon where she had the opportunity to assist in a variety of research studies. Becky is extremely passionate about individualized assessments and programming as well as teaching self-advocacy and autonomy to her clients.

Funding provided in whole or in part by The Autism Program of Illinois and the Illinois Department of Human Services.

Symposium Archives

About us

The Autism Program of Illinois (TAP) Service Network is a collaboration of 5 universities and 9 organizations that together operate 20 centers across the state. As a network, TAP is able to offer services that respond to the unique needs of different communities across Illinois.

Contact

The Autism Program of Illinois

Hope Pavilion
5220 S. 6th Street,
Suite 2300B

Springfield IL 62703