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Breakout Session Details
March 13, 2010
Breakout Session 1:
10:15 – 11:45 a.m. Sessions
There Is No "I" in Team
Sara Meerse, MSW, Esq.
This is an introductory session for parents and service providers of children with special needs. In developing treatment and educational programs designed to meet a child's unique needs, a team process is required. Rather than utilize a "me vs. them" approach, learn ways to be an equal participant in a team process. By the end of this session, participants will know: 1) the required timelines for when parents need to be notified of actions in the special education process; 2) ways to include information from outside providers for consideration when developing programs for a child; 3) strategies for ensuring a parent is heard; and 4) what to do when you agree to disagree.
Sara Meerse is the directing attorney of KIDS LEGAL and the Family Law Unit of Pine Tree Legal Assistance. She represents children and youth in education, family law, housing and health matters. She also mainatains the medical-legal collaboration with the Barbara Bush Children's Hospital. She provides consultations and trainings to professionals who work with low-income children and writes client education materials. Sara graduated magna cum laude from the University at Buffalo Schools of Law and Social Work in 1996, with her JD and MSW, concentrating in child welfare and education law. She has been practicing throughout the State of Maine since 1996.
Creative Housing Solutions
Cullen Ryan, MA
This interactive workshop is at the intermediate level and is geared toward parents, or anyone wanting more information on housing solutions. It will feature a discussion of various housing options including supportive housing for people with autism and some exploration of the pros and cons of each. It will discuss the current state of funding options for housing, as well as the state of services integral to supportive housing. Participants will learn about community integration models including group homes, congregate living, individual apartments, home ownership, Low Income Housing Tax Credit setasides, Section 8, and micro boards. Participants will also learn how to become involved in advocacy efforts and the history of the parent-led Maine Coalition for Housing and Quality Services.
Cullen Ryan has been the Executive Director of Community Housing of Maine, the largest supportive housing developer/provider in Maine, since 2004. Cullen has a MA in Counseling and Psychological Services from St. Mary's University (Minnesota), and a background as a direct service provider for homeless and special needs populations for 22 years with supervisory positions for 15 years. Cullen chairs the Maine Coalition for Housing and Quality Services, a parent-led coalition with 4000 participants consisting of individuals and groups concerned with housing and services for persons with developmental disabilities. Community Housing of Maine provides supportive housing for homeless and special needs populations throughout the state, and provides advocary on behalf of these populations.
Assistive Technology: Opening Up a New World to People with Autism
Linda Bonnar, MA, CCC-SLP, ATP and Shannon McFarland, MA, CCC-SLP, ATP
For years, a variety of technology tools have been used to improve the quality of life of people who have disabilities. In this session, we will explore how technology (low-tech, mid-tech and high-tech) can help people with autism to increase or improve their receptive and expressive communication skills, social skills, academic skills, and daily living skills.
Linda Bonnar, MA, CCC-SLP/ATP is a Speech and Language Pathologist and Assistive Technology Professional with more than 20 years of experience working with children and adults of varying disabilities including those on the autism spectrum. She is the Director of Communication Pathways, a program of Pine Tree Society, where she and her staff perform evaluations, consultations and, in some cases, direct services across the state of Maine. She also holds the certificate of Assistive Technology Professional, which she utilizes to address challenges that many people face in accessing curriculum material or other tasks they are presented with in all of their daily environments.
Shannon McFarland, MA, CCC-SLP/ATP is a Speech-Language Pathologist and Assistive Technology Professional. As a staff member of Communication Pathways, a program of Pine Tree Society, Shannon provides services to children and adults with a variety of disabilities, including autism. She conducts evaluations and provides direct therapy and consultation services to help individuals and their teams use assistive technology tools more effectively. Shannon also holds the credential of Assistive Technology Professional which is overseen by the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA).
How to Identify and Manage Challenging Behaviors
Linda Cluff, M.Ed., Special Education Administrator
Beth Ellsworth, M.A., CCC-SLP, Speech & Language Pathologist
Debora Harvey, Milieu Coordinator
John Mangum, Ed.M., LCSW, Program Director
All behavior has meaning—including the most challenging negative behaviors. Treatment Team members of the Spring Harbor Hospital Developmental Disorders Program will describe their multi-discipline approach to understanding children’s behaviors and how they support children and families in replacing negative behaviors with new, healthier behaviors.
Behavioral challenges in children with autism spectrum disorder require a consistent approach and keen observation. Parents will learn basic principles of behavior management—how to identify problem behaviors; what their causes are; and basic strategies to address these issues using positive reinforcement. They will come away with some helpful tools to assist them in implementing the best strategy for their individual child.
Panel participants are Treatment Team members of the Spring Harbor Hospital Developmental Disorders Program. The DDP serves 4-20 year-old children living with developmental disorders who also experience psychiatric disorders. The DDP includes a 12-bed in-patient unit and Spring Harbor Academy, a ME DOE licensed private, special-purpose school, that work in collaboration.
Breakout Session 2:
1:00 – 2:30 p.m. Sessions
Dealing with Daily Mealtime Challenges
Kristin Winston, PhD, OTR/L
This workshop is geared toward parents however the information may be helpful for practitioners as well. The information presented will be on a basic level and will cover the following: 1) What are the day to day routines and activities related to mealtimes and snacktimes?; 2) Defining concerns regarding mealtimes and snacktimes; 3) Developing strategies for dealing with shopping and meal planning; 4) Developing strategies for dealing with mealtimes and snacktimes; 5) Developing strategies for dealing with community eating and non mealtime food issues.
Kris Winston has been practicing as an occupational therapist for over 20 years primarily working with young children and their families. A focus of her practice over the last 15 years has been in the area of feeding and eating concerns. Her recent study and research has demonstrated the complexity of this daily activity for both children and their families.
Social Communication
Fran Bodkin, MA CCC-SLP
This session is presented for parents, professionals and therapists at all learning levels. We will explore the language and cognitive building blocks for developing social skills and discuss instruction techniques. Input and questions from attendees are welcomed to support a better understanding of social skill development and generalization.
Fran Bodkin is a speech language pathologist who works with children and adults supporting communication across settings. She is the Exec Director at the Center for Communication located in Springvale.
Transition to Adulthood: A Collaborative Approach
Erin Igo Bernard, Janet Hinchee-Barnes and Trish Knight
Presentation will be geared toward parents and professionals to help explain the process of transition and vocational planning. The content will be basic with examples applied to youth with Autism. Emphasis will be placed on strategies that help the youth participate in the transition and vocational planning, as well as the value of collaboration between the youth, parents, the school system and outside agencies. Participants will leave with an understanding of the value of hands-on experiences and how to best advocate for their youth's future goals.
Erin Igo Bernard has worked with Vocational Services since 2005, first as a job coach with the Summer Youth Employment Program while completing her undergraduate degree at Stonehill College, then starting full time while working and completing her Master Degree in Education with the University of New England. Erin now works predominately with transition age youth offering support in employment and education, and also runs the Summer Youth Employment Program.
Trish Knight has worked with Spurwink Services since 2001 in educational and case management roles and since 2006 as the Transition Specialist. Trish is an active member of the Southern Maine Advisory Council on Transition and serves on a number of transition related committees. Trish holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Southern Maine and is working on a Master's Degree with the Muskie School of Public Service.
Janet Hinchee Barns, B.S., is a Transition Specialist at Spurwink Services in Portland, Maine. She received her degree in Special Education at the University of Connecticut and has over 25 years of experience in the field of special education. Janet has developed a program to help youth plan for the future. It is outcome oriented with a focus on promoting self-advocacy and collaboration with all stakeholders involved in the youth's life. Janet has served as a regional member of the Maine Committee on Transition for 15 years. Janet has worked collaboratively with hundreds of youth and their families in conjunction with her professional colleagues during her career.
Parent Panel: Welcome to Holland!
Panel discussion facilitated by Carolyn Cheney
A special session featuring a panel of thoughtful paretns who love and care for a child, teen or adults with autism spectrum disorders. Each panel member will share some of the important knowledge and insights they have gained through their experiences at home, schools and in the community. This includes a discussion of defining moments, valuable resources/therapies they have discovered, things they wish they had known at the beginning, challenging life eventsthey can laugh about now and more. Ample time will be allotted for participants to ask questions and some panelists will be available throughout the day for further discussion.
Carolyn Cheney is the director of Pine Tree Society's Case Management Services. She has been a member of the Pine Tree Society team for 28 years. She serves on the board of Southern Maine Parent Awareness and the Southern Maine Advisory Committee on Transition. She is a past board president of Rehabilitation Professionals of Maine. Carolyn has rich and varied experience networking with multiple provider agencies and specialists to ensure quality service delivery to families in need.
Breakout Session 3:
2:45 – 4:00 p.m. Sessions
Addressing the Need for Occupational Therapy Across the Life Span of Those with Autism
Betsy DeBrakeleer, BA, COTA/L, ROH
Betsy will be joined by University of New England OT studentsAshley Dickerson, Amanda Whiting, Jeffrey Champagne, and Taylor Hovey
Occupational therapy practitioners are among the professionals who provide services to children and adults with autism. Occupational therapists help promote the participants and performance of people with "autisms" (O/Hara, N.H. 2006) in all of the tasks, activities and jobs that occpuy their time as they live their roles as family members, students and workers. This review of the current research and occupational therapy interventions and programming for those of all ages with autism is applicable to parents, individuals with autism and professionals. Suggestions will be offered for assisting individuals with autism to engage in occupations and activities that they find to be meaningful from childhood to their elder years.
For the past 16 years, Betsy DeBrakeleer has been the Clinical Fieldwork Coordinator and an assistant instructor the the Occupational Therapy Department at the University of New England. She has been a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant for 28 years, primarily practicing working with adults with physical disabilities, elders, and children with development disabilities. Betsy is also the co-coordinator of the Biddeford Parks and Recreation Department's "Universal Recreation" program which provides recreational opportunities for chidlren with and without disabilities, including those with autism. She organizes and facilitates the program with the assistance of UNE occupational therapy interns.
Positive Reinforcement, Negative Reinforcement and Discipline
Amanda Evans Powell, LCSW
This presentation will briefly review the history of reinforcement and the basic proposals. We will then go on to when and where to use reinforcements and discipline. Attendees will walk away with ideas and suggestions to use in their everyday lives. This presentation will benefit parents and professionals alike. Feel free to bring your personal experience to the session so that we can talk with the group to come up with ideas and suggestions.
Amanda Evans Powell has been working with children who have autism and developmental disabilities for 10 years. While getting her Master's degree at Boston College, she found that working with children and families who are on the Autism spectrum and have disabilities, is her area of passion. She is employed at Maine Medical Partners Pediatric Specialty Care in the Developmental Behavorial Pediatrics Division.
Tools and Strategies to Keep your Loved One with Autism Safe
Linda Bonnar, MA, CCC-SLP, ATP and Matt Brown
This session will explore strategies and tools to ensure that your loved one with autism is safe in a variety of environments. The discussion will include strategies on proactively partnering with your local police department, fire department and emergency responders and utilizing communication strategies including social stories and video modeling and simple and creative solutions that have worked for others. This will be an interactive discussion, so please come with questions and feel free to share what's worked for your family.
Linda Bonnar, MA, CCC-SLP/ATP is a Speech and Language Pathologist and Assistive Technology Professional with more than 20 years of experience working with children and adults of varying disabilities including those on the autism spectrum. She is the Director of Communication Pathways, a program of Pine Tree Society, where she and her staff perform evaluations, consultations and, in some cases, direct services across the state of Maine. She also holds the certificate of Assistive Technology Professional, which she utilizes to address challenges that many people face in accessing curriculum material or other tasks they are presented with in all of their daily environments.
Matt Brown is a federal law enforcement officer who is also an Information Specialist with the Autism Society of Maine. He has developed a training program for police, fire and EMS on how to recognize autism and how to appropriately interact with individuals with autism spectrum disorders. Matt has a 12 year old son with autism.
Taking Care of Yourself and Your Family
Jack Burke, M.Ed.
Caring for a loved one with autism can put a great deal of strain on a family. In fact, the divorce rates of parents with children who have autism are reported to be as high as 80-90%. Geared toward parents, this presentation will explore the family emotional system and strategies to prevent burnout, martyrdom and other marital issues. Participants will be able to see the difference between misery and irritation...a differentiation that can save a marriage...really!
Jack Burke is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Scarborough. He has worked with families in Maine for over 30 years. Much of his career has been spent working with special needs families. Jack is irritatingly optimistic and believes that misery is optional.