CELEBRATING a DECADE of DT Dedication!

Friday October 3rd, 2025

8:30-3:30

Moraine Valley Community College

The IDTA is proud to announce our 10th annual conference exclusively for Developmental Therapists in the Illinois Early Intervention field. This will be an excellent opportunity to connect with your peers, gain tips to further your practice, and honor the achievements of Developmental Therapists with The Benny D Rising Star Award and Wehman Award of Excellence.

We are excited that you have made the commitment to join your fellow DT colleagues to continue to expand our knowledge together and learn from leading experts in our field. 

This page will serve as your portal to everything that you may need throughout the day. Here you will be able to do things such as:

Keynote Speaker:  Dr. Mona Amin

 I’m a first-generation Indian American, born and raised in southern California. I attended UCLA for my undergraduate training, majoring in psychobiology (the biology of psychological conditions).  I went on to attend medical school at ATSU-SOMA in Arizona where I obtained my Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Degree. After medical school, I completed  pediatric residency training at the Bernard and Millie Duker Children's Hospital in Albany, New York. I've been a practicing pediatrician since 2015 where I see newborns to 21-year-olds! I've had my IBCLC (Certified Lactation Consultant) since 2021. I love sharing relatable and practical advice to make your motherhood journey a lot more joyful. I love guiding parents to raise children with a healthy relationship with food, positive body image, healthy coping skills, and a value for sleep. All things that can prevent major health issues in adulthood and beyond. I’ve built an inclusive and caring community of over 500,000 supporters and followers on my various channels.

Morning Breakout Sessions:

                              Jessica Kazaniwskyj- The Vicarious Load:  Preventing Burnout and Emotional Spillover in Developmental Therapy

Speaker Bio:

 Conscious Leadership & Trauma-Informed Development Expert.
 Jessica Kazaniwskyj is the early childhood industry’s straight-talking mirror — the one who isn’t afraid to reflect back the truths that actually create change. As Program Director and CEO of Rise Beyond Your Roots Inc., she’s on a mission to help early childhood professionals rewrite what “trauma-informed” really means: not just child-facing strategies, but grown-up leadership rooted in emotional intelligence, self-accountability, and real healing. With over 20 years of leadership and trauma-informed practice experience, Jessica combines trauma science, nervous system leadership, and the raw reality of how our own childhood stories keep repeating — in children’s behavior, staff dynamics, and the culture that keeps people stuck — unless we choose to lead and teach differently. She trains educators, leaders, and helping professionals to see how unaddressed trauma shapes not just kids’ nervous systems but the adult culture that surrounds them — so the work doesn’t end at the classroom door. Her bottom line? Real transformation doesn’t come from another checklist. It comes when we hold ourselves to the same standard we hold children to: safety, trust, and the courage to grow beyond what’s familiar — so every child, every educator, and every workplace culture can feel safe, seen, and supported to thrive.

Tracy Patton- The Mess that Calms- Tying Sensory play to BIG feelings.

Tracy Patton, Founder of Once Upon Some Messy Fun, LLC. is a Child Development consultant, national speaker, presenter and trainer, that illuminates pathways for child development by captivating audiences with humor and expertise. Recognizing how Social Emotional Learning and sensory play transforms behavior, she shares insights with parents, caregivers and educators, emphasizing how play impacts all language, math, and self-regulation. Her workshops at Once Upon Some Messy Fun (since 2012) blend passion for mess-making with self-regulation, literacy and sensory activities. Tracy (she/her) is trained in trauma informed care, volunteers as a facilitator for Buddy’s Place – a grief support group for children 4-18 and holds an M.S. in Child Development/Infancy from the Erikson Institute (2011), in addition to her 25+ years devoted to EC staff, children and their families.

Amy Nelson-  The Playful Way

Amy Nelson, LCSW, LSCSW, RPT-STM, is a dynamic keynote speaker in early childhood education and a self-proclaimed "Quirky Kid." She is deeply passionate about promoting neurodiversity and fostering inclusion in the classroom. As the founder of Emotional Milestones, Amy aims to inspire and motivate educators to "LEAN IN" and embrace these thinking and learning differences.

Lila Ayyad-Alharsha :  How to Encourage Caregivers to be the Motivators.

Lila Ayyad-Alharsha, M.Ed., LBA, BCBA, IBA

Lila Ayyad-Alharsha brings over 29 years of educational and professional experience spanning both General and Special Education settings. She is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), holding a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. After completing her certification in School Administration, Lila was appointed Assistant Principal in the public school system.  In 2014, she earned Board Certification as a Behavior Analyst and soon after became Director of Education at Helping Hand School, a therapeutic day school in Countryside, Illinois, serving children with autism until 2021.

In 2016, Lila founded Academic and Behavior Consultants of Illinois (ABC Health), a company committed to providing services for children diagnosed with autism and consultation services to schools. In January 2022, she expanded her vision by opening a therapy clinic under the name ABC Health in Worth, Illinois.

Lila is an experienced presenter and trainer in school leadership, parent education, youth empowerment, and applied behavior analysis. A published author, she is dedicated to empowering individuals, families, and communities to lead with purpose, compassion, and resilience.

Above all, Lila is a proud mother of four, including her youngest son, Mustafa, who was diagnosed with autism. This personal journey deepened her commitment to the autism community and gives her a unique perspective that blends professional expertise with lived experience, fostering an approach grounded in empathy, collaboration, and a general understanding of the challenges and hopes families face.

Closing Speaker:  Amy Nelson

Amy Nelson, LCSW, LSCSW, RPT-STM, is a dynamic keynote speaker in early childhood education and a self-proclaimed "Quirky Kid." She is deeply passionate about promoting neurodiversity and fostering inclusion in the classroom. As the founder of Emotional Milestones, Amy aims to inspire and motivate educators to "LEAN IN" and embrace these thinking and learning differences.