MTSA Conference 2020
Focus: To assist young adults with disabilities in planning to achieve their transition goals.
Who should attend: Educators, agency personnel, parents, individuals with disabilities, and caregivers.
Featuring: Keynote speakers, session presenters, exhibitors, and more!!!
Conference Location
Dates and Times:
- March 16th 2020 from 12:00pm to 4:00pm EDT
- March 17th 2020 from 8:00am to 4:00pm EDT
- March 18th 2020 from 8:00am to 12:00pm EDT
- Location Name: Grand Traverse Resort
- Address: 100 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme, MI 49610 US
Click HERE to book your MTSA room reservations at Grand Traverse Resort.
You can also call our Reservations Department directly at 1-800-968-7352 and mention the MTSA Conference to receive the discounted rate.
Pre-Conference Keynote
Information coming soon.
Conference Keynote
Zack Gottsagen – Actor
Zack Gottsagen dreamed of being an actor as he grew up in West Palm Beach, Florida. While some thought Gottsagen’s acting goal seemed unlikely because he has Down syndrome, Gottsagen never let that stop him. He enrolled in a performing arts school and took acting lessons, and after years of training and dedication to the craft, Gottsagen achieved what many thought would be impossible. Listen to Zack’s amazing story that helped him land the lead role in The Peanut Butter Falcon.
Rachel Barcellona~Autism Advocate, Model, Author, Singer, Actress, Pageant Winner
Rachel has competed in several pageants in order to build her confidence, winning many national titles and using the platform for autism awareness to make a difference; to show that she can do anything!
Rachel currently serves as a board member for C.A.R.D. USF, and SafeMinds, and is an ambassador for The Unicorn Children’s Foundation, all which have impacted the lives of families and autistic children everywhere. The Unicorn Children’s Foundation has raised a quarter of a million dollars to help donate to families who don’t have money for the necessary therapies/resources for their children.
The Peanut Butter Falcon special screening for MTSA Members
The Peanut Butter Falcon is an adventure story set in the world of a modern Mark Twain that begins when Zak, a young man with Down syndrome, runs away from the nursing home where he lives to chase his dream of becoming a professional wrestler by attending the wrestling school The Salt Water Redneck. Through circumstances beyond their control Tyler , a small-time outlaw on the run becomes Zak’s unlikely coach and ally. Together they wind through deltas, elude capture, drink whisky, find God, catch fish, and convince Eleanor , a kind nursing home employee with a story of her own, to join them on their journey.