Join us as we dive into innovations in education for students with special needs. The local leaders and experts on our panel have created and implemented innovations at a community level, and they are willing to share their experience. We hope LEAs, school administrators, parents, lawmakers and teachers walk away from this event with adaptable innovations for local Utah schools.

Our panelists include:

• Brittanie Flint is the Founder and President of GiGi’s Playhouse Layton, a Down syndrome achievement center. An entrepreneur from an early age, she also owns Flippers Gymnastics and Cheer, Flippers Tumble Bug Preschool, and is an IEP advocate. She is a single mom of 5 children — her fourth child is a darling little boy, Linkon, who happens to have Down syndrome. She works closely with schools and families with children who have special needs from all over the Western United states as their advocate through IEP meetings. Her mission is to provide all families and children with special needs all of the opportunities they need and deserve.
• Leah Lobato is the Director of the Governor’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities and Business Relations with the Utah State Office of Rehabilitation. She promotes the employment and retention of individuals with disabilities in competitive employment by promoting public and private partnerships and efforts. She has a BS degree from the University of Utah and is a Certified Public Manager. She is on the board of Utah’s Chapter of Job Placement and Development, a member of the National Rehabilitation Association, Utah Rehabilitation Association, Utah Diversity Connections and the Utah Business Leadership Network.
• Liz Longhurst is a Utah licensed Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (TRS) and brings her Bachelors in Therapeutic Recreation and a Masters in Adaptive Physical Education to the National Ability Center as well as teaching certificates in state and nationally-accredited programs. Liz worked as a physical education teacher in neurotypical and neuro-diverse classes pre-k through 12th grade. Liz supports individuals with different abilities as they prepare to lead a life of independence ranging 16-years and older all with a wide range of skills and goals. She manages and cultivates the development of a team to lead the Camps and Community Programs that run year-round at the National Ability Center.