April 30th, 2024

Rothchild Catering & Event Center (8807 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37923)

Registration & Networking – 7:00 AM – 7:30 AM

Breakfast – 7:30 AM – 9:00 AM

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Keynote Speaker

Elizabeth Vosseller

Elizabeth Vosseller is the Executive Director of I-ASC and the founder of Spelling to Communicate (S2C). She has been working with individuals who have complex communication and sensory-motor differences since 1995, in various settings such as hospitals, universities, and private practices. In 2013, she started using assistive technology to teach students the purposeful motor skills required to accurately spell to communicate. After witnessing countless individuals who have difficulty speaking successfully communicate and learn through spelling and typing, Elizabeth founded I-ASC, a nonprofit organization committed to ensuring that all nonspeaking individuals have access to communication through training, education, advocacy, and research.

https://i-asc.org/our-team/elizabeth-vosseller/

Honorable Guests

Kim Kredich – Autism Acceptance Award

Kim Kredich is the mother of three sons, one of whom was diagnosed with autism at 2 and a half years old in 2001. Kim has served as a volunteer advocate for hundreds of students with disabilities in East Tennessee since moving to Knoxville in 2005, working with families to help their children gain rightful, supported inclusion in their zoned schools and the general education environment to the maximum extent possible through the IEP process. With degrees in Music from Duke University and New England Conservatory, Kim created the eXceptional Orchestra (XO) inclusive children’s arts program as her 2003-2004 Virginia Partners in Policymaking advocacy program project and expanded this inclusive arts project in Knoxville from 2008-2010. Since 2015, Kim has worked closely with various attorneys in Tennessee to promote systemic change and awareness of the rights of people with disabilities. By age 23, her son, Ben, had achieved the three tenets of IDEA: further education (having graduated from four years of the University of Tennessee FUTURE program), employment (as a professional pianist at assisted living centers), and independent living (with minimal supports and use of public transportation). Kim and her husband, Matt, are committed to spreading the message of successes like Ben’s to benefit their community and beyond.


Awarded to individuals who have gone above and beyond in their efforts to promote acceptance and understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Denny Dukes – Trailblazer Award

Denzel (Denny) Dukes came to Knoxville to attend UT and stayed. At UT he met his future wife, Chris, got undergrad and graduate degrees, and was awarded a Chancellor’s Citation for Extraordinary Academic Achievement. He spent the early years of his career in management positions with local nonprofits and a decade at UT Medical Center. He then spent 20+ years managing a research center in the UT College of Social Work before retiring.

Denny has long been involved with the community as a volunteer and leader in local and statewide organizations. But since being part of its founding 25 years ago, Breakthrough has been at the heart of Denny’s community work. He has given thousands of hours of volunteer time to Breakthrough. He has twice been Chair of Breakthrough’s board (including chairing its first board), and he has led various board committees and other activities through the years.

Denny and Chris have two sons. Their older son, Chandler (Denny calls him “the spark that started Breakthrough”), has autism, is intellectually disabled, and requires extensive supports every day. After caring for their son at home for 42 years, Denny and Chris moved Chandler into residential services with Breakthrough. Their other son, Clay, lives in New York with his wife and their two sons.


Awarded to individuals who have paved the way for improved services, increased opportunities, and exceptional quality of life for adults with autism.

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