WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS

Transcription

1 WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS Listed in alpha order by first word of Workshop title Addressing Conversational Skills with Teens and Adults with ASD Presenters: Diane Millar, Professor and Elizabeth Bowen, Graduate Student, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Radford University Age range covered: Ages 13 and up Current research with individuals with ASD has focused on children; there is a dearth of information available for serving adolescents and adults with ASD. This presentation will describe verbal and nonverbal behaviors that may improve conversation skills. Cases will be used to provide specific ideas on target behaviors and activities. Applied Studies Diploma Overview Presenter: Daniel Irwin, Education Specialist: Autism, Intellectual Disabilities, Assistive Technology, Virginia Department of Education This presentation will provide an overview of the Applied Studies Diploma. Topics will include a review of the curriculum map, the process used to develop skills and competencies within the document, and a discussion of future directions for this project. ASD Awareness: Understanding and Preventing Challenging Behavior Presenter: Christine Holland, Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Commonwealth Autism Age Range Covered: ALL There are times when the skill deficits and difficulties associated with autism can lead an individual to engage in behavior that can seem challenging and difficult to understand. The session will provide participants with 1) strategies to determine why challenging behavior may be occurring and 2) strategies and resources to support individuals who may engage in challenging behavior. Autism and Housing A Local Perspective Presenters: Bob Kreps, Parent and Leadership Chair and Greg Hagen, Parent and Lifespan Committee Member, Charlottesville Region Autism Action Group (CRAAG) Age ranged covered: 13 and up This session is targeted at parents and providers interested in developing solutions to address the current lack of housing capacity and related services for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders in the Region Ten service area. After introductory remarks, participants will participate in breakout sessions focused on strategies for developing specific housing solutions for the various levels of need. Autism & Independence: Safety in the Community & On the Internet Age range covered: Age 12 and up This session will explore dangers, dilemmas and successful strategies for safe travel. Whether a walk around the block, a trip around the world or surfing the internet, travel can and will be fun, adventurous and risky. Dennis will explore disclosure to law enforcement and public safety professionals, safe travel tips when driving or on foot, while using public transportation and public facilities including appropriate use of public restrooms and will thoroughly discuss safe use of the internet. Come prepared for a lively, interactive session!

2 Autism & the Decision to Drive Age range covered: Age 12 and up This session describes and illustrates a wide variety of factors to consider when making the decision to drive, including sections on: focus and good driving habits, ability to stay alert, judgment, choosing the right instructor, independence skills, following the rules, among others! Autism & Victimization This session will identify issues of victimization risk including confidence schemes and sex crimes and unintentional offending behavior such as shoplifting, accomplice crimes, personal, phone and internet stalking and unlawful sexual situations. The session will identify strategies for educators and families of less independent persons with ASD and more independent persons on the spectrum that can help reduce victimization and educational options that can help lower the risk of committing unintentional offending behavior. Avoiding Tragic Events Helpful Safety Considerations Presenter: Didi Zaryczny, Parent and Public Safety Training Coordinator, Commonwealth Autism Age range covered: Ages 3 and up This session covers information related to safety risks, prevention/alert, information related to interacting with first responders (including fire, EMS, and law enforcement), disclosure options, and other related information (internet safety, victimization, public bathrooms, etc.). This training was developed in partnership with the Virginia Public Safety Workgroup for Autism. Do You Think My Child Will Ever Talk? Presenter: Adam Dreyfus, Director of the Sarah Dooley Center for Autism Successfully getting a child to talk is one of the greatest challenges we face. Adam will walk you through the interventions that have been proven to successfully result in spoken language in thousands of children. Focus will be on participants leaving with a plan on how to get kids to talk. Group Social Skills Instruction for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders: From Design to Implementation Presenter: Julie Patterson, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA, Virginia Institute of Autism (VIA) Social interaction deficits are considered to be the core deficits exhibited by individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD; Travis & Sigman, 1998; Kanner, 1943). Among others, delays and deficits in the development of social interaction skills impede an individual's ability to develop meaningful social relationships and have been associated with peer rejection and anxiety (Bellini, Peter, Benner, & Hopf, 2007). As such, instruction to remediate these deficits is critical. Social skills groups are often conducted to teach individuals skills (e.g., entering or exiting a conversation, filtering your thoughts, handling a disagreement) used daily to interact and communicate with one another. Though these groups can be fun, running an effective group can be challenging. This workshop will help practitioners design an effective social skills group by first learning how to form a group based on age and compatibility. Then, different ways to develop a curriculum that meets the needs of the participants and allows them to grow within the program will be discussed. Special consideration will be given to the needs of individuals transitioning into adulthood. Additionally, the incorporation of interactive group activities such as theater games, role-plays, and gaming to teach and practice social skills will be presented. Finally, this workshop will share ideas for implementing group contingencies and self-monitoring procedures.

3 Handheld Technology to Support Employment Presenters: Pat Burns, AT Specialist and Carrie Clawson, AT Specialist, Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) Age range covered: Ages 18 and up Are you interested in learning how Virginia s vocational rehabilitation program is using handheld technology to benefit individuals with autism to obtain and maintain employment? If so, this session is for you! How to Decide Who Decides When I Can t Decide: Is Guardianship the Only Option? Presenter: Dana Traynham, Senior Staff Attorney, disability Law Center of Virginia Age range covered: Ages 18 and up Parents are often told that guardianship is the best or only option for individuals with disabilities as they enter adulthood. However, there are other options! Come explore this topic and learn about alternatives to guardianship and why we should look at alternatives first. Innovative Employment Projects and Initiatives Presenters: Richard Kriner, Autism Services Program Coordinator, Jessica Stehle, DD Employment Resource Specialist, and Mark Peterson, DD Employment Resource Specialist, Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) Age range covered: 13 and up This session will provide an overview of three VA DARS projects aimed at enhancing Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) services and employment outcomes for persons with ASD and IDD. The session will cover DARS Project SEARCH programs, its newly developed Autism Services Programs, and a new initiative to develop and test Customized Employment services. Intervention Programs for Young Children with ASD: Development, Implementation, and Outcomes Presenter: Jane Hilton, Associate Professor and Director of the UVA Speech-Language-Hearing Center, University of Virginia Age range covered: Ages birth to 5 years Intervention, particularly early intervention, has been demonstrated to improve developmental functioning, decrease problem behaviors, and reduce symptom severity for children with ASD. Families and clinicians are faced with numerous options. We will discuss two of these approaches. Making a Nonverbal World a World of Communication Presenter: Lisa Falke, Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Commonwealth Autism Research has demonstrated that lack of a form of functional communication is highly correlated with problem behaviors and more restrictive educational and living placements. Individuals who are non-verbal experience limits in their access to peers, jobs, and community involvement. But there is hope and behavior analysis on our side! This presentation will explore the challenges for nonverbal individuals and the potential impact on their quality of life, as well as explore strategies for teaching and shaping communication and receptive language. My Therapist Has Four Legs: Understanding Animal Assisted Therapy Presenter: Heather Pugh, MA, OTR/L, Shenandoah Valley Regional Program If you re interested in learning more about animal assisted therapy and how it may benefit individuals with autism, this is the session for you. Current research, types of services, and information on how to access local providers will be discussed.

4 Now Serving: Developmental Disabilities- A Comprehensive Overhaul to the DD and ID Waivers Presenter: Emily Helmboldt, BCBA, LBA, LPC, Technical Assistance Coordinator, VCU Autism Center for Excellence This session will focus on the recent revisions to the Intellectual Disabilities and Individual and Family Developmental Disabilities Supports Waivers. The following topics will be explored: brief history of waivers, overall review of new waivers and timelines, and in depth information regarding developmental disability populations, diagnosis and eligibility requirements. Participants will engage in case studies. Information will be presented in everyday language and questions are encouraged. Social Security and Work at Age 18 and Beyond: The Age 18 Re-determination and Key Work Incentives to Help With Your Transition to Adulthood Presenters: Elizabeth Horn, Parent and Disability Rights Advocate and Julie Triplett, Self Advocate and Disability Rights Advocate, disability Law Center of Virginia Age range covered: Ages Turning 18 comes with new rules. For example, Social Security eligibility rules change for the beneficiary. What is the Age-18 SSI re-determination and what if it s denied? Can they explore work while seeking SSI? How do they bridge the gap between school and gainful employment and/or continued benefits? Is there help during this important transition? The Redesigned Waivers for Persons with Developmental Disabilities Presenter: Dawn Traver, Director, Waiver Operations, Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) This session will review the latest information regarding the implementation of the waiver redesign for individuals with developmental disabilities. Included will be a review of services in each of the three amended waivers, eligibility requirements, the waiting list/slot assignment processes, and the new service authorization system. The intersection of waiver redesign with compliance with the CMS Home and Community Based settings requirements will also be discussed. Vocational Preparation In High School & Beyond: Increasing Interaction, Integration, and Independence Presenters: Andrew Stowe, Lead Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor and Suzie Klein, Rehabilitation Counselor, Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) Age range covered: 13 and up This presentation will address what high school students on the Spectrum can do to prepare themselves vocationally during high school and beyond. As well, highlights will focus on some of the major changes that occur in education and support services beyond secondary school, and what evidence-based practices and experience tell us on how to prepare for, and adapt to, those shifts. In addition, the presenters will provide background on the public vocational rehabilitation (VR) program and address ways to navigate the process with success. This will include information on application, eligibility, financial aspects, the development and implementation of a plan, and the definition of success within that system. Wave to the Camera: Using Video Modeling for Effective Skill Instruction Presenter: Christine Holland, M.S., BCBA, LBA, Director of the Learning Institute, Commonwealth Autism Video modeling is an evidence-based intervention strategy that has been shown to be effective across age groups and skill areas. This presentation will review the different types of video modeling and introduce practical strategies for using this strategy in the home and community.

5 What is Preventing My Student from Being Successful? Presenter: Adam Dreyfus, Director of the Sarah Dooley Center for Autism One of the primary barriers to student success is missing skills that haven't been identified. The purpose of this presentation is to highlight some of the research and interventions such as: attending to materials placed in front of them, orienting towards an adult voice and beginning listener skills When Feeling Doesn t Feel Right : Sensory Processing in ASD Presenter: Dr. Brice Jackson, Connections Achievement & Therapy Center The processing of sensory information is critical to making our way through the world. And while we know it is so important, difficulties in sensory processing are not yet formally diagnosed. But ask any parent of a special needs child about sensory processing, and they re likely to describe how it manifests in their child. This presentation will help you understand the importance of sensory information, non-drug interventions that can improve it, and build your patience when sensory problems turn into unwanted behaviors.