Advance Your Expertise.
Strengthen Your Evaluations.
Improve Outcomes for Students.
Accurate SLD identification depends on more than administering tests or following protocols. It requires a deep understanding of exclusionary factors, the science behind learning, and the real-world conditions that influence student performance.
At this virtual conference, you will learn from the leading voices in the field, gain clarity on the most current research, and walk away with practical tools you can apply immediately.
This is the only conference built by the creators of the Cross-Battery Assessment Method/X-BASS and designed to help practitioners move confidently from “I think this is right” to “I know this is best practice.”
Misidentification Is Common. The Impact Is Lasting.
Students from Indigenous, African American, Latino, and linguistically diverse backgrounds are disproportionately identified for special education. With stronger evaluation practices, you can help prevent these errors and support more equitable outcomes.
SLD Cannot Be Identified Without Understanding the Rule-Outs.
Many of the required rule-outs in SLD identification receive little attention in schools. Yet they are essential for accurate identification. Factors like language development, acculturation, trauma, Traumatic Brain Injuries, intellectual disabilities, and speech/language impairments can all affect performance. Without evaluating these correctly, misidentification becomes far more likely.
Missteps in Evaluation Impact a Student’s Future
When evaluation practices are unclear:
- Misidentification or delayed identification becomes more likely.
- Students may receive inappropriate interventions or no interventions at all.
- Families feel confused and unsupported.
- Professionals spend more time justifying decisions instead of confidently presenting them.
When evaluation practices are aligned with current research:
- Teams collaborate better and trust your recommendations.
- Decisions are clearer and more defensible.
Interventions match student needs and lead to measurable improvement. - You improve outcomes for individual students and strengthen your broader system of practice.
This conference equips you with the knowledge and tools to make that shift and support students with confidence.
Learn From Experts Who Have Shaped the Field
Witness a landmark moment in school psychology as Dr. Cecil R. Reynolds and Dr. Randy W. Kamphaus, the visionary architects of the world’s most widely used behavioral assessment, reunite to unveil the highly anticipated BASC-4.
Deepen your clinical expertise with Dr. Elaine Fletcher-Janzen, a distinguished neuropsychologist and Professor of School Psychology with 40 years of experience across public schools and neuropsychiatric settings.
Experience the visionary leadership of Dr. Frank C. Worrell, a Distinguished Professor at UC Berkeley and the 2022 President of the American Psychological Association, who has a staggering portfolio of over 350 scholarly works.
Join Dr. Melissa A. Bray and Dr. Johanna M. deLeyer-Tiarks for a much-needed session on the relationships between SLD and Speech Language Impairment (SLI).
Unlock unparalleled expertise in special education law with Jose Martín, attorney and seasoned partner at Richards Lindsay & Martín in Austin, TX, with over 30 years of experience.
Master the complexities of equitable evaluation with Dr. Samuel O. Ortiz, an internationally recognized expert in nondiscriminatory assessment and the evaluation of English learners.
Plus, 18 more researchers, scholars, and educators dedicated to advancing the field of SLD identification and intervention
What You'll Get
21 sessions with 24 world-class speakers, all dedicated to strengthening SLD identification and intervention.
- No travel or hotel costs.
- Three months of on-demand access to all purchased sessions.
- Practical, research-aligned strategies you can apply immediately.
- A deeper understanding of exclusionary factors and how to evaluate them.
- APA-approved Continuing Education credits available for purchase.
- Microcredentials available.
Bonus Sessions, sponsored by Pearson
A special pre-conference preview of the BASC-4 with authors:
- Cecil Reynolds, Ph.D.
- Randy Kamphaus, Ph.D.
Included with a two-day conference purchase.
Who Should Attend
This conference is designed for professionals committed to accurate assessment, clear identification, and effective intervention.
Ideal for:
- School Psychologists
- Clinical Psychologists
- Educational Psychologists
- Neuropsychologists
- Special Educators
- Learning Disability Consultants
- Researchers
- Educational Evaluators
- Trainers
- Graduate Students
- Any professional working with SLD identification
Practical Skills You Can Use Tomorrow
Across Three Days, You’ll Gain:
- A comprehensive understanding of exclusionary factors and their role in SLD identification.
- Updated research across cognitive, neuropsychological, and educational frameworks.
- Tools for making defensible decisions, even in complex referral questions.
- Strategies for improving intervention planning and student outcomes
- A clear, integrated model for conducting evaluations with precision and confidence.
You will leave with a stronger professional foundation and practical steps to elevate your daily work.
Full Agenda
Session Topics:
- The New BASC-4: Strengthening Comprehensive Assessment with Randy Kamphaus, Ph.D.; Cecil Reynolds, Ph.D.; Erin Gunelson
- Maximizing the Impact of BASC for Differential Diagnosis and Eligibility Determination with Kathleen Woodward
- Focus and Attention: The Intersection of Psychology and Technology with Tina Eichstadt and Rich Brancaccio
- Co-Morbid and Confused Conditions: Vision and SLD with David Damari
- DSM-5-TR Diagnoses and SLD Identification in Schools: Clinical Reasoning in the Face of Possible Comorbidity with Ara Schmitt
- SLD and SLI Identification with Melissa A. Bray and Johanna deLeyer-Tiarks
- SLD Eligibility Under IDEA: Role of Assessment, RTI, Exclusionary Factors with Jose Martin
- Navigating the Identity of Learning Disabilities in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students with Tania Thomas-Presswood
- Autism with Erin McDonough
- Nonverbal Learning Disability and Developmental Visual-Spatial Disorder: Definitions, Assessment, and Treatment with Amy Margolis
- Integrating Assistive and Instructional Technologies to Improve Student Success with David Schwartz
- Precision in Practice: Ruling Out Sensory, Motor, and Instructional Barriers in SLD Identification with Marlene Sotelo-Dynega
- Low-Resourced Environments Impact Child Learning and Academic Difficulties with Tammy L. Hughes
- Neuropsychological Perspectives on Exclusionary Factors for SLD Identification with Elaine Fletcher-Janzen
- Differentiating SLD from Other Developmental Disabilities with Kim Robinson and Laurel Snider
- Academics Is Only Part of Education: Learning Coping Strategies and Decision-Making Skills Provides “Whole Education” Learning with Jim Mazza
- Still Using Discrepancy? Replace It with an Integrated Identification Model with Karen Apgar
- Unlocking Potential: Identifying and Supporting Gifted Students with Specific Learning Disabilities with Frank Worrell
- The Challenges in Gifted Assessment and Identification of the Twice Exceptional Student with Steve Pfeiffer
- Addressing Language and Culture as Exclusionary Factors in Multilingual Evaluations: Domain and Composite Level Analysis with the New C-LIM with Samuel Ortiz
Join a Community of Professionals Dedicated to Elevating Practice
With hundreds of attendees across past CAI conferences, this event has become the go-to training for professionals who want to stay at the cutting edge of SLD identification. You will join a community committed to learning, collaboration, and improving student outcomes nationwide.
Save Your Spot
Strengthen your practice. Improve your evaluations. Make a meaningful difference for the students you serve.
Be part of the CAI Virtual Conference, January 28 to 30, 2026.