2025 Courses Coming Soon.

2025 Mad Hatter Tea Party

Join Cari Ebert for an All-Day Training: Dive into Autism, Executive Functioning, and Sensory Skills!

Autism Summary, Executive Function Skills Summary, and Sensory Summary (4 KDHE hours) presented by Cari Ebert.

Photo of Cari Ebert
Carie Ebert, MS, CCC-SLP

Carie Ebert, MS, CCC-SLP, is a pediatric speech-language pathologist in private practice in the Kansas City, Missouri area. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa in 1993 and her master’s degree from Southern Illinois State University at Carbondale in 1995. Cari is a therapist, consultant, author, product developer, and nationally recognized speaker who gets paid to do what she loves the most–TALK! She has an animated personality, and this translates to a high-energy speaking style. Most importantly, Cari has an autistic son, allowing her to engage audiences both as a professional and as a parent of a neurodivergent child.

This day with Cari will:

  • Explain what autism is using neurodiversity-affirming language and explain what it means to provide neurodiversity-affirming care.
  • Explain how play-based learning differs from traditional learning and summarize how educators, therapists, and parents can support the development of executive function skills during play-based learning.
  • Describe the 5 external sensory systems and the 3 internal sensory systems, and summarize how to create sensory-rich learning opportunities to support children with sensory differences.

Early childhood professionals will leave the session equipped with valuable knowledge on autism, executive functioning, and sensory skills to enhance their program!

Don’t forget about the Mad Hat Contest!

Participate in the best competition of the year! Bring your maddest hats for the Mad Hat Contest: store-bought, handmade, or created with the help of tiny fingers – we want to see them all! Top three hats win free registration for next year’s event.

Photo of a creative Mad Hat
Photo of another painted creative mad hat
photo of a floral and lady bug mad hat
2024 Mad Hatter Hat Winners
Alumni Center Conference Room photo
K-State Alumni Center Ballroom

When:

  • Saturday, March 1, 2025 from 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM

Where:

  • Venue: K-State Alumni Center; 1720 Anderson Ave., Manhattan, KS 66502
  • Nearby Hotels:
  • Parking: Free parking is available in the west lots next to St. Isadore’s Catholic Church. You can also use the University Parking Garage to the East of the Alumni Center which may have an hourly fee at the time.

Registration Opens January 13, 2025!


Health Statement:

As many illnesses continue to spread, we are cautiously optimistic and prepared to manage our Mad Hatter event in person, with the health and safety of you, our guest speaker, vendors, and staff in mind. We are mindful of the young and vulnerable population that you work with every day and strive to ensure their safety and well-being as well.  

We recognize our shared responsibility to be vigilant of potential COVID and illness systems. As such, should you develop and symptoms in the days leading up to the event, notify our staff to discuss your options.