
SPRING 2025 CONFERENCE
AHEAD in Texas – Building Bridges and Breaking Barriers
March 31 – April 2, 2025
El Paso is our host city, and the conference will be on the campus of University of Texas at El Paso – UTEP campus.
AHEAD in Texas focuses on fostering collaboration, connection, and understanding across higher education to support students with disabilities. As Disability Services professionals, we continue to bridge gaps—not only between Disability Services and faculty/staff—but also between students’ expectations and the realities of transitioning to college. We are so glad to have you all join us this year to connect with fellow professionals and refine our practices to stay ahead of the changing needs of our diverse student population.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Shawn P. Saladin, Ph.D., CRC, CPM, Director of Student Accessibility Services at the University of Texas Rio Grenade Valley. He grew up hard of hearing and later became late deafened. Coming from a military family, he was exposed to a variety of different cultures. Dr. Saladin is trained as a Special Education teacher and has worked as Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor with a caseload focused on hearing loss. He earned his PhD at The University of Texas at Austin, College of Education Department of Special Education, in the Rehabilitation Counselor Education Program. He has published and presented several scholarly works related to Deafness and hearing loss. Stay tuned for more interesting facts!
Registration is Open!
Early Bird Special ends March 5, 2025
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Conference Proposals (Due by 2/14/25)
Conference Information
Book Your Hotel Reservations Now!
Silent Auction Donation
Vendors and Sponsors
Vendors – Become a vendor now and show your Support of AHEAD in Texas and Disability Service providers.
Become an Exhibitor
More conference information to come as we get closer to the date!
Conference 2024
Enjoy the photos from this year’s conference. Fun, collegial friendship, and information are always available throughout the conferences.
We look forward to YOU joining us in March 2025 for the Spring Conference.



President-Tamara Mancini, Past President-Cindy Lowery, Treasurer- Shawn McNeil, Secretary-Samantha Johnson, Director-at-Large -Elvira Smith, Director of Communication and Membership- Laura Ramsey












AHEAD in TX Board of Directors Leadership
President-Tamara Mancini, Past President-Cindy Lowery, Treasurer- Shawn McNeil, Secretary-Samantha Johnson, Director-at-Large -Elvira Smith, Director of Communication and Membership- Laura Ramsey