36th Annual Courage to Risk Conference 2025
A Collaborative Conference for Special Education
January 24 - 25, 2025  ·  Broadmoor Hotel

Registration opens on Friday, October 18th!!


Welcome!

 

The Courage to Risk Conference is a collaborative conference comprised of a variety of organizations committed to the educational success of students with diverse learning needs. The mission of the CTR conference is to provide quality educational experiences to parents, students, teachers, and community members; to provide networking experiences for participants; to motivate those working with students with diverse learning needs. The CTR committee seeks to accomplish this by hosting an annual conference in Colorado for educators and families of students with diverse learning needs.


We are pleased to announce that the 36th Annual Courage to Risk Conference will be held at the beautiful Broadmoor Resort in Colorado Springs on January 23-25, 2025. Early check in is from 5-7 PM on January 23rd. Regular check in will begin at 7 AM on Friday the 24th. 


New this year you will be required to provide tax exempt information if using a tax exempt credit card to register. The following information will be required: tax exempt number, organization as shown on credit card and name as shown on credit card. Have this information available when registering.


Check under Hotel information for room rates and parking information.


Agenda
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
“Why We Need to Unlearn Deficit Thinking”
10:15 AM - 11:15 AM
10:15 AM - 11:15 AM
Crystal Reid, Jeanne Bonds and Courtney Berry
10:15 AM - 11:25 AM
Caron Westland Ph.D., Emma Luthans, M.A., and Emily Martins
10:15 AM - 11:25 PM
10:15 AM - 11:25 PM
Katrine Gosselin and Aimee Massafra
11:45 AM - 1:15 PM
11:45 AM - 1:15 PM
Tiffany Fixter and Morgan Forsyth
1:45 PM - 2:55 PM
Stephanie Cavallaro and Stephanie Games
Tammy Curan, Jessica Bodden, Jenna Jeffress, Kyla Pellouchoud and Dana Green
Dennis DeBay, Karin Rager, Beyza Emine and Ron Tzur
Katherine Rains and Ann Wilson
3:15 PM - 4:25 PM
3:15 PM - 4:25 PM
Corey Pollard M.S.
Lindsey Blankenship and Kati Cahill
Christy Morgan
Carolyn Wyman and Courtney Parker
Craig A. Knippenberg, LCSW, M.Divinty
8:15 AM - 9:25 AM
8:15 AM - 9:25 AM
Colorado Spotlight Speaker, Cynthia Hildner
Colorado Spotlight Speaker; Beth Friel
10:20 AM - 11:20 AM
10:20 AM - 11:20 AM
Toni Grishman, BSN, RN
10:20 AM - 11:30 AM
10:20 AM - 11:30 AM
Nicole Crain-Girten
Krista Klabo, Ed.S., NCSP, and Shani O’Brien MA CCCSLP,
Dr. Bri Makofske and Christie Bowers
Maddie Karanevich and Peter Karanevich
Brandi Vos, Ed.S., NCSP and Jennifer Mills, M.A., LPC
Cindy Goldrich, Ed.M., ADHDCSSP and Carly Wolf, MA
11:45 AM - 12:55 PM
11:45 AM - 12:55 PM
Andrea Laser and Julia Pfitzer
Bryan Wickoren, Kelly Kennedy, Sarah Brockberg and Katie Spirek
Scott Schwartz, Ph.D., CCC/SLP
Raquel Caspi Ph.D.
Kristen Schrader, Ph.D., NCSP, LC, Barb Umsted, MS, CCC-SLP, Shay Markle, OTR/L, DSc, and Jill Sprafke, M.Ed
Speakers

Byron McClure

"Why We Need to Unlearn Deficit Thinking" "How to SPOT Student Strengths: Practical Strategies You Can Start Tomorrow"

Craig Knippenberg

Care and Feeding of the Exceptional Teachers/Parents Soul Wired and Connected: Understanding and Teaching Impulse

Ella Munk

My Journey: Striving for Inclusion and Connections

Tiffany Fixter

Brewability Morgan Forsyth and Tiffany Fixter

Morgan Forsyth

Brewability Tiffany Fixter and Morgan Forsyth

Cynthia Hildner

Are We Having FUN Yet? Reconnecting to Joy

Tracy Gershwin

The Calm Before the Learn: Creating Trauma-Informed Classrooms for Teachers and Students

Beth Friel

Building a Better Road - Colorado Decision Review:

No records found.

Exhibitors

No records found.

Hotels
LOCATION
Broadmoor Hotel, 1 Lake Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80906
Map
Location: Broadmoor Hotel, 1 Lake Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80906
Hotel information

People attending the conference may book rooms at The Courage to Risk Conference rate. 

To make a reservation by phone call the Broadmoor Resort directly at (855) 634-7711. Use reservation code CRC0125.

Room rates in the West Building, where the conference is being held, are $179 for a single and $185 for a double. There is a resort fee of $32/day.

Overnight parking is $35 and Valet parking overnight is $45.

Parking in the garage is $25 for up to 10 hours, over 10 hours is $35.

We suggest carpooling to avoid extra charges or tickets for parking in the neighborhoods.

Registration

Registration/Check In will be located in front of the Rocky Mountain Ballrooms in the Broadmoor West. Early check in will be held on Thursday from 5:00 - 7:00 pm. Registration/Check in will then re-open at 7:00 am on Friday. 



Sy Wallach Scholarship

The Sy Wallach Scholarship has been created in the spirit of collaboration and teamwork by building bridges between educational teams. 

There are a limited number of Sy Wallach Scholarships available. Qualification and the application form is available when registration opens and can be accessed at https://www.couragetorisk.org/sy-scholarship.

Silent Auction

Bidding for the Silent Auction is coming soon. You will find the link here when it opens.

Items are added as they come in. You will be able to see everything during the Silent Auction Reception from 4:30 - 6:00 in the West Lobby. Bidding will close at 5:45.

Main floor session rooms map
Main floor session rooms map
Lower level session rooms map
Lower level session rooms map