Thursday, March 14 and Friday, March 15, 2019 CanadInns Destination Centre Polo Park

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1 Across the ASD Spectrum Thursday, March 14 and Friday, March 15, 2019 CanadInns Destination Centre Polo Park Offering new perspectives on Autism and our response to it, our presenters will provide evidence- based and personal experiences of Autism as a shared human experience. Please join us for a thought provoking, information filled two days focusing on Autism and relationships featuring author and therapist, Barry Prizant, author of Uniquely Human, and Kristine and Jake Mastronardi, mother and son. Kristine is an RDI certified therapist and Jake lives with autism. Who Should Attend? Social Workers, Psychologists, Teachers, Guidance Counselors, Mental Health Clinicians, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Pathologists, Parents of People with Autism How To Register: Visit us online to register: AttachmentNetwork.ca Thursday March 14 8:00 a.m. Registration 8:45 a.m. Welcome 9:00 a.m. to 4 pm Barry Prizant There will be two breaks, morning and afternoon and one hour for lunch on your own; time of breaks to be determined by presenter What Are The Costs? Early bird registration date: January 15, 2019 Early bird cost: $ Regular cost: $ Adult with autism: $ Parents of person with Autism: $ Student: $ Demonstrate full time enrollment in a post secondary institution by ing attachmentnetwork@shaw.ca Friday March 15 9:00 am to 11:45 am Kristine Mastronardi and Jake Mastronardi 11:45 am to 1 pm Lunch (on own) 1 pm to 2:30 pm Panel discussion: A panel of local practitioners will discuss how the information presented at the Conference is being utilized locally. 2:30 pm to close: Q&A In the event you have paid and can no longer attend, we cannot offer a refund but are happy to transfer your attendance to a colleague.

2 Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism Barry M. Prizant, Ph.D., CCC-SLP Adjunct Professor, Brown University Dr. Barry Prizant is a speech-language pathologist with 45 years experience as a researcher and international consultant for individuals with ASD. He is an Adjunct Professor, Brown University and Director, Childhood Communication Services, a private practice. Publications include The SCERTS Model manuals, an educational approach now implemented in more than a dozen countries, two edited books and 130 scholarly chapters and articles. Barry has presented more than 800 seminars and keynote addresses internationally, and he continues to consult for school districts and families. Honors include : 2014 Honors of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (their highest honor) 2005 Princeton University-Eden Career Award in ASD, and 2013 Divine Neurotypical Award of GRASP. His new book is Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism (Simon & Schuster, 2015), recipient of the Autism Society of America s 2017 Dr. Temple Grandin Award for the Outstanding Literary work in autism

3 Learning the Dance of Life Kristine Mastronardi, RDI Certified Consultant Jake Mastronardi, Certified Dog Trainer Kristine Mastronardi is an RDI Certified Consultant and Veteran Parent of the RDI program, Relationship Development Intervention. Kristine began her autism education when her son Jake was diagnosed with autism. Kristine was trained in Applied Behavior Analysis, and created a website to create visual activity schedules. Kristine also works with families from all over the world in accessible online groups. Kristine has had the opportunity to work directly with Dr. Gutstein, founder of RDI, on the cutting edge Dynamic Intelligence Curriculum. Jake Mastronardi is a Certified Dog Trainer, passionate animal advocate and avid cyclist. Diagnosed with autism, Jake struggled in his daily life, unable to engage, choosing to isolate himself in repetitive behaviors and rituals. Jake s life was transformed when he began RDI, Relationship Development Intervention. Jake developed the ability to form meaningful relationships. Jake progressed from an out of district school placement to a self-contained classroom before full inclusion prior to graduating Westfield High School. Jake was a member of his High School Marching Band, Symphonic Band and Track and Field. Jake has been a pioneer of the Dynamic Intelligence Curriculum, developed by Dr. Gutstein, founder of RDI. Jake serves as a peer mentor in online groups with other teens in the program. Jake has presented his story at Love and Autism in San Diego, California, candidly sharing his insights into his struggles and success to inspire others. Learning the dance of life starts with our primary guides: our parents. Jake struggled in his daily life, unwilling or unable to dance until his mother learned the tools to enable him to be a successful dance partner with her work with RDI, Relationship Development Intervention. See how Jake learns the beauty of flexibility, the desire for growth and the importance of relationships, including the relationship to himself, so he could become the man he wants to be. Watch Jake s self-development evolve with his ability to navigate the world of conversation through the meeting of minds. Using the tools of RDI Jake learns how to navigate his experiences, learning from them and propelling himself forward to achieve his goals and handle his challenges in daily life. Learn how RDI transformed Jake s life and led him to be a lifelong learner, self-advocate and successful dance partner to LIFE itself.

4 Local Clinicians Panel A panel of local clinicians working in the field of Autism, introduced and moderated by Roseanne Papadopoulos, OT Reg. (MB) Rosanne s intense curiosity of the brain and behavior has driven her professional journey within occupational therapy. She began working in the hospital system in child neuro-psychiatry and left the hospital system to work in her own occupational therapy business on a part-time basis within the offices of Labyrinth Therapies (Kim Barthel). Since then, she has done many things including teaching at the University of Manitoba; developing a sexuality curriculum for special needs students; developing a workshop entitled Understanding Behavior from a Sensation Point of View ; attending conferences on attachment by Bruce Perry and Daniel Siegel and becoming a Relationship Development Certified consultant. The pivotal learning about the brain and behavior began when she trained as a Relationship Development Intervention (RDI) program certified consultant in It was, and continues to be, an incredible journey about the powerful impact of relationships on children s developing minds. This training focuses on development, attachment and coaching parents/caregivers to recognize the moments of emotional and cognitive connection with their child. Relationships can change the biology of the brain! But even parents who work the magic of RDI sometimes reach a plateau. That sent Rosanne off in search of how to overcome these obstacles and she discovered Integrated Listening Systems (ils). ils is a multi-sensory approach that addresses the challenges of learning, attention and processing through an auditory stimulation program. Through ils, Rosanne has also become a provider of the Safe and Sound Protocol, founded by Dr. Stephen Porges. Rosanne has also received training in Rhythmic Movement Training International (TM), a homebased program which integrates retained or underdeveloped primitive or postural reflexes that interfere with learning. Her most recent training includes Bala-Vis X which uses rhythmic ball activities to stimulate the mind s ability to focus and regulate. Rosanne s passion is finding techniques that work for her clients and families.

5 Barry M. Prizant, Ph.D., CCC-SLP Adjunct Professor, Brown University There are many misconceptions about autism and the experience of autistic people. In this presentation, myths surrounding 1) behaviors observed in autism, 2) the family experience of autism, 3) the view of autism as a tragedy and 4) the belief that autism is only experienced by the individual with the ASD diagnosis will be challenged and a paradigm-shifting perspective will be offered. ASD is defined by a checklist of impairments, and this perspective leads to treatments that often focus on ridding a person of autistic symptoms. Instead of classifying behavior as deviant and pathological, we will examine such patterns as part of human development and human behavior a range of strategies to communicate and to cope with a world that feels confusing, overwhelming and frightening. Informed by published research, four decades of experience working with autistic people and their families, and first-person accounts, the experience of autistic people is addressed in a manner leading to more respectful and developmentally appropriate approaches. The notion of autism as a tragedy for the individual and family will also be challenged by parental accounts of raising and living with family members with autism. Finally, the notion that autism is best understood as a shared human experience involving relationships within the family and community, rather than a condition within a person will also be considered. The presentation will conclude with a summary of evidence that leads to a compelling new way of understanding and living with autism, by honoring the uniqueness of each individual, by building on interests and strengths and by providing a range of appropriate supports. Specific educational/treatment implications will be presented that challenges approaches that focus on fixing people with autism and that measure progress primarily on the basis of eliminating symptoms. The themes presented are drawn from Dr. Prizant s best- selling book, Uniquely Human: A Different way of Seeing Autism, winner of the Autism Society of America s 2017 Temple Grandin Award for Outstanding Literary Work.