LIVING GOOD LIVES on the Autism Spectrum
The Youth Advocate Programs Autism Institute, in partnership with
the University of San Diego School of Leadership and Education Sciences, presents:
LIVING GOOD LIVES on the Autism Spectrum
CLICK HERE FOR LIVING GOOD LIVES REGISTRATION OPTIONS
Click here for information on BAS mini-grants, which can be used for conference attendance.
Where: Penn State Great Valley, 30 East Swedesford Road, Malvern PA 19355 (west of Philadelphia, 40 minutes from Philadelphia International Airport)
When: April 29-30 and May 1, 2009. 8 a.m. registration; presentations 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Credits Available:
- Pennsylvania Department of Education Act 48 Hours
- Graduate Extension Credits through the University of San Diego
- Certificate of Attendance
18 CEU's awarded from DOE Act 48 (PA Teachers)
18 CEU's from NASW (Licensed Social Workers, Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Professional Counselors)
Description
An exploration of autism that challenges present definitions and explanations by demonstrating the power of accommodations and inclusive, relationship-based approaches to create access to "the good life" across the autism spectrum. Since its founding in 2005, the University of San Diego's semi-annual Autism Conference has become renowned as a life-changing, practice-changing experience for participants from across the U.S. and around the world. This is the first time this event will be held on the East Coast. Topics will include:
- Rhythm, Relationship, and Communication
- The Role of Movement Differences in Communication and Participation
- Applying Dynamic Systems Theory
- Autism Self-Advocacy and Its Impact
- Communication Supports
- Sensitivity Training - Understanding the Lived Experience of Persons with the Autism Label
- Supporting Social/Emotional Development
- Relationships and Relationship-Development
- Relaxation Techniques and Yoga
- Exploration in Using Rhythm as Accommodations
Accommodations
The campus is within a few miles of 10 major hotels offering a variety of prices, including Homewood Suites Hotel (adjacent to campus), Holiday Inn, Sheraton, Hampton Inn. See the PSU Great Valley web site here, or by visiting www.gv.psu.edu/conferences.
Transportation
Penn State Great Valley is 10 minutes from the PA Turnpike and Route 76, adjacent to Route 202. Most hotels in the area offer free shuttles to the campus. Bus and train (Amtrak, Septa) schedules are available. Airport limo and taxi service numbers are on the PSU Great Valley web site.
You Will Receive:
- Box lunch (regular or vegetarian)
- Binder of handouts and related materials.
- Individual desk space and computer hook-up for plenary sessions
Since its founding in 2005, the University of San Diego's semi-annual Autism Conference has become renowned as a life-changing, practice-changing experience for participants from across the U.S. and around the world. This is the first time this event will be held on the East Coast.
Plenary Speakers will include:
- Anne M. Donnellan, PhD -- Dr. Anne Donnellan has a distinguished career in teaching, research, and writing on autism and related disabilities. She is a leader in developing and promoting positive and human approaches to support and understanding of individuals with the autism label. Currently, Dr. Donnellan is a Professor in the School of Leadership and Education Sciences at the University of San Diego and Director of the University of San Diego Autism Institute. She also serves on the California Advisory Committee for the Autism Spectrum Disorders Guidelines for Effective Interventions Project. Her recent publications include: "I can't get started: Stress and the role of movement differences for individuals with the autism label" in Stress and Coping in Autism, published in 2006 by Oxford University Press, "Invented knowledge and autism: Highlighting our strengths and expanding the conversation" in RPSD, and "Movement differences and diversity" in Autism/Mental Retardation.
- Martha A. Leary, MA, CCC-SLP -- Martha Leary is a Speech and Language Pathologist who has worked with people with autism and their families for over 30 years. She has worked with people with complex needs and lectured extensively in the United States, Canada, Ireland, Australia and England. Her highly acclaimed journal article with David Hill and her publications with Anne M. Donnellan, Ph.D. present a scholarly review of alternative ways of viewing the symptoms of movement differences which may affect our understanding of people with challenging behaviors. Her recent publications include: "I can't get started: Stress and the role of movement differences for individuals with the autism label" coauthored with Donnellan and Robledo in Stress and Coping in Autism published in 2006 by Oxford University Press; "Movement differences and diversity" in Autism/Mental Retardation with Donnellan; and "Moving on: Autism and movement disturbance" with Hill in the journal Mental Retardation. Martha is also an urban gardener in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
- Nan Negri, PhD -- Nan has been working with individuals on the autism spectrum and their families since 1972. She has been a classroom teacher, a signed-speech therapist, a staff and parent trainer, a program administrator, a university lecturer, and an educational and behavioral consultant. Nan works with and alongside individuals with autism so that together they can identify the opportunities and support they want and need to develop meaningful relationships across their lives. She believes it is critical to teach skills that promote community presence and value. Nan has an extensive background in applied behavior analysis, and believes it can and should be applied through a humanistic and relationship-based approach. She is committed to finding clear and compassionate ways to communicate, work, and be with people with autism, their families, and others supporting them, and to helping everyone have FUN in the process.
- Kate McGinnity, MS -- Kate McGinnity is an experienced classroom teacher and trainer, and a nationally recognized consultant in the field of autism. She has over twenty-five years' experience working with individuals with autism and their families. During her tenure as a teacher, she was recognized as the Wisconsin Teacher of the Year and The National Teacher of the Year by the Autism Society of America. Together with her husband, Kate had the honor of foster parenting an adolescent on the autism spectrum for two and a half years. For over fifteen years, Kate has been a primary developer and presenter for the Wisconsin State-Wide Autism Training Project, sponsored by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. She is currently in private practice, providing training and consultation to professionals and parents, as well as counseling and yoga to individuals on the autism spectrum. Kate co-authored Walk Awhile in My Autism: A manual of sensitivity presentations to promote understanding of people on the autism spectrum, with Nan Negri. Kate is committed to bringing her passion and compassion to every aspect of her work and life.
- David Pitonyak, PhD -- David Pitonyak, PhD, is a nationally renowned trainer in the field of positive approaches to persons with challenging behaviors, which he views as communications that must be heard. He also teaches that creating more responsive schools and adult services means creating healthy and open organizational cultures.
- Ari Ne'eman (self-advocate, founder of ASAN) -- Ari is the Founding President of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), a non-profit organization of adults and youth on the autism spectrum. He is currently studying Political Science and Economics at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County as a Sondheim Scholar of Public Affairs. Ari has been active in the neurodiversity and disability rights movements for a number of years. He first became involved in self-advocacy as a high school student, arguing for his own inclusion and access to high level academic coursework. He later became involved in disability and education policy advocacy. Ari serves as the Policy Workgroup Leader for the Youth Advisory Council to the National Council on Disability, the Public Policy Chair for the New Jersey Coalition for Inclusive Education, and is a member of the Steering Committee of the New Jersey Olmstead Implementation and Planning Advisory Council advising the NJ Department of Human Services on de-institutionalizing adults with developmental disabilities.
Breakout Sessions (alphabetically by lead presenter or organization name) will include:
1. SESSION TITLE: Getting A Life: Telling Our Stories
SESSION DESCRIPTION: A panel of adults with autism across the spectrum and family members will share how each one living with autism has created an adult life in the community. Some live with family members and some in their own homes. All receive appropriate levels of support in order to live where they choose and work at a variety of real jobs. They embody the possibilities for adults with autism to live integrated into their communities safely, productively, and with fulfillment. There will be a "how to" PowerPoint presentation accompanying the panel.
ABOUT THE PRESENTERS: Autism Living and Working, Inc. (ALAW) was incorporated in 1995 by a group of parents determined to persuade the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to provide services for adults with autism, across the full spectrum. ALAW's mission is to help adults with autism form households and live and work in the community. Services began almost 10 years ago under the OBRA Medicaid waiver for 20 individuals. Today OBRA waiver services support over 100 individuals with autism in Pennsylvania. The panelists in this presentation are young to middle aged adults with autism and their family members who have been about "getting a life" for nearly a decade. Individual biographies of panelists will be distributed as handouts.
2. SESSION TITLE: Gentle Teaching Is For Everyone!
SESSION DESCRIPTION: Gentle Teaching is about changing caregivers and environments, not about changing people. It requires planning and discipline with regard to support attitudes, language and schedules rather than imposing strict rules for behavior and performance on children and adults with disabilities.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER: Marge Brown, MS, has been working with non-profit agencies for more than 25 years, developing and managing community programs. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Sociology from Barat College in Lake Forest, Illinois and a Master's degree in the Dynamics of Organization from the University of Pennsylvania. Marge's main focus at this time is working with Dr. John McGee and Gentle Teaching International. She is a consultant to the Office of Mental Retardation in Puerto Rico, where all the public institutions for people with disabilities have been replaced by a non-violent community support system based on Gentle Teaching. She is a member of the Independent Expert Team working with the State of Nebraska and the Department of Justice to facilitate the settlement agreement on the Beatrice State Developmental Center.
3. SESSION TITLE: Everyone Communicates! Training Ourselves to Better Hear One Another
SESSION DESCRIPTION: Too often those we care about and support are seen as "non-communicative" or as people who "do not communicate" due to perceptions of disabilities and labels. After nearly a decade, the Communication Mentors' Network and many others have come to realize just the opposite: "EVERYONE COMMUNICATES!" Every person is expressing themselves and communicating all of the time, in a variety of different ways. Sometimes we just need to learn to listen a bit differently! Join us in this highly interactive workshop in discovering what communication really is and the issues that surround all of us, how everyone is communicating (all the time!) regardless of the diagnosis or "level of functioning," how the possibilities of AT (assistive technology) and AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) can assist people to live fuller lives, and how we can ALL support everyone's communication.
ABOUT THE PRESENTERS: Communication Mentors are graduates of The Communication Mentors' Course ™ which was developed to build capacity by supporting people to help others find or expand their voice while increasing independence through AT and AAC systems. Our mantra is "Everyone Communicates"!
4. SESSION TITLE: Improving Odds: On-Campus Preparation for Transition to College for Individuals with Asperger's and ASD
SESSION DESCRIPTION: The session will present information on a second year pilot project that prepares students with Aspergers and ASD for the non-academic side of college. This project is collaboration between Fox Chapel high school's Transition coordinator, Stacie Dojonovic and Duquesne University through the efforts of Dr. Beverley Evans, Education faculty member. Students come to campus on alternating Friday afternoons after high school classes have concluded. The high school students with ASD work with college student mentors on identifying and addressing challenges that they might encounter while navigating a campus, Social and organizational demands of college life are addressed, as well as opportunities to participate in exploring classes of interest and student-work areas on the campus.
ABOUT THE PRESENTERS: Beverley Cush Evans, Ph.D. is an associate professor of Special Education at Duquesne University. She served as the Western Regional Coordinator for GATEWAYS inclusion initiative in the state of Pennsylvania, just prior to moving to Duquesne. Dr. Evans has 14 years of classroom experience working with students with Autism Spectrum Disorders. She taught the first course on autism offered in the state of PA in 1984, as an adjunct with Duquesne, with her mentor Judy Cardamone, a pioneering Pennsylvanian who created programs and supports for persons with autism during the '70s and '80s. Dr. Evans has maintained her connection with persons with ASD through work in the schools, as well as post school options. She continues to serve as a consultant for families and schools. She has also served as an expert witness working with PILCOP. Along with Linda Lengyel, Ph.D., she designed the research protocol and data collection, analysis and summary report for the Gaskin Case, a class-action in Pennsylvania.
5. SESSION TITLE: Professional Awakenings: Lessons from Individuals with ASD
SESSION DESCRIPTION: The session describes and elucidates several vignettes experienced by two professionals through which the professional paradigm of intervention with people with ASD was shattered and replaced with person centered, relationship based reality. These experiences altered the concept of the diagnosis, the approach to intervention, the model for delivering service as well as what services were delivered and how they were delivered. Two case studies will be presented in which this altered framework was used. The effectiveness and client satisfaction will be addressed.
ABOUT THE PRESENTERS: Moya Kinnealey Ph.D., OTR/L is associate professor and chair in the Department of Occupational Therapy, Temple University, in Philadelphia, PA. She has systematically studied the impact of sensory processing disorders and its impact on social emotional well being in adults. She has shared and used this information with adults with ASD resulting in useful and practical practices and shares this information with families and professional.
Dr. Kristie Koenig is an assistant professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at New York University. Her research interests include the effectiveness of sensory integration intervention, and the impact of sensory processing disorders and motor planning in the lives of individuals with ASD. She has presented nationally and internationally. Dr. Koenig and Dr. Kinnealey developed a relationship based training curriculum for Youth Advocate Programs using an "inside/out" perspective.
6. SESSION TITLE: Living Good Lives - Perspectives of Those on the Spectrum
SESSION DESCRIPTION: This panel of individuals with ASD will engage in a dialogue about what it means for individuals to live good lives. The moderator will begin by framing some of the issues. Participants on the panel will discuss what it means to live good lives, the ways in which their own lives are currently "good," and what friends, family-members, and professionals can do to help them live good lives. Topics may include living arrangements, self-advocacy, social relationships beyond the disability community, creativity, and sexuality. Panel members will entertain questions from conference participants.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER: Alan Kurtz is a doctoral candidate in Education at the University of New Hampshire where he has a concentration in autism spectrum disorders. He also works for the Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies at the University of Maine. Most of what he has learned about ASD has come as a result of having a sibling with autism and a close friendship with a person with autism. Alan is known for his work around assistive and augmentative communication and employment supports for persons with ASD.
7. SESSION TITLE: The Art of Living Good Lives
SESSION DESCRIPTION: Participants will be introduced to the art therapy modality and its efficacy with individuals on the Spectrum. Based on the premise that engaging in the creative process is a healing and life-enhancing activity, the session will explore how art therapy augments relationship-building, communication, and empathy skills. The reciprocal relationship between resiliency and creativity will be discussed with regards to supporting family members and caregivers. The workshop will be participant driven with hands on art-making as well as a dialogue between the presenter and participants fueling the direction of the session.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER: Diana Matteson, MA, ATR-BC received her Masters in Art Therapy from The George Washington University. She is a Registered and Board Certified Art Therapist. Diana has 15 years of clinical experience and has worked with non-profit agencies in Pennsylvania, New York City, and the District of Columbia as well as Central America, Spain, and Romania. Diana coordinates an Annual Client Art Show that honors and celebrates participants and their families' efforts in art therapy and educates the local community about art therapy while reducing the stigma attached to seeking out behavioral health services.
8. SESSION TITLE: Promoting Social Competencies through Improvisation
SESSION DESCRIPTION: This session will focus on the work of Carol Moog, Ph.D. and Douglas Cornman, MA, DTR, co-leaders of a theater improvisation/social competency group for children and adolescents on the autism spectrum. Moog and Cornman will show videotaped examples of their work and discuss the challenges and successes of using theater improvisation to promote social competencies. They will demonstrate techniques, discuss interventions, and offer advice on using improvisation with individuals on the autism spectrum. Please come prepared to role play and participate in improvisational games.
ABOUT THE PRESENTERS: Carol Moog, PhD is a licensed psychologist with over 35 years of experience working with children, adolescents and adults, with a particular emphasis on discovering unique personal resources, goal clarification and skill development. In addition to her private practice, she has been the consulting psychologist for The Miquon School since 1977. Using a wide range of creative modalities, she draws from her training and experience as a professional musician, writer, communications consultant and theater improviser. Moog earned her Master's and Doctoral degrees at the University of Pennsylvania.
As Program Director for The Center for Autism, Douglas Cornman, MA, DTR oversees the delivery of treatment to clients enrolled in the Center's Social Competency program and provides clinical direction and supervision to the program's therapeutic staff. He has worked at the Center in various clinical positions for over seven years. He holds a Masters Degree in Creative Arts in Therapy from Hahnemann University, Philadelphia, PA, and a Bachelors Degree in Theatre Performance from Messiah College in Grantham, PA.
9. SESSION TITLE: Creative Connecting: Promoting Health and Happiness for Individuals with Autism Through Yoga
SESSION DESCRIPTION: Yoga develops new pathways for learning and being, and the yoga tradition provides useful structure and repetition. This session will explore in an active way the use of physical movement to encourage sensory integration, increased body awareness, increased coordination and balance, and greater internal focus. Research on the connection between learning and movement disciplines such as yoga will be examined.
ABOUT THE PRESENTERS: Nan Negri, PhD, has been working with individuals on the autism spectrum and their families since 1972. She has been a classroom teacher, a signed-speech therapist, a staff and parent trainer, a program administrator, a university lecturer, and an educational and behavioral consultant. Nan works with and alongside individuals with autism so that together they can identify the opportunities and support they want and need to develop meaningful relationships. She is committed to finding clear and compassionate ways to communicate, work, and be with people with autism, their families, and others supporting them, and to helping everyone have FUN in the process.
Kate McGinnity, MS, is an experienced classroom teacher and trainer, and a nationally recognized consultant in the field of autism. She has over twenty-five years' experience working with individuals with autism and their families. During her tenure as a teacher, she was recognized as the Wisconsin Teacher of the Year and The National Teacher of the Year by the Autism Society of America. Together with her husband, Kate had the honor of foster parenting an adolescent on the autism spectrum for two and a half years. For over fifteen years, Kate has been a primary developer and presenter for the Wisconsin State-Wide Autism Training Project, sponsored by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
10. SESSION TITLE: The Power of Relationships
SESSION DESCRIPTION: This session will explore the simple idea that difficult behaviors result from unmet needs. In a sense, difficult behaviors are messages which can tell us important things about a person and the quality of his or her life. People with difficult behaviors are often missing: meaningful relationships, a sense of safety and well-being, power, things to look forward to, a sense of value and self-worth, relevant skills and knowledge.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER: David Pitonyak, PhD, is a nationally renowned trainer in the field of positive approaches to persons with challenging behaviors, which he views as communications that must be heard. He also teaches that creating more responsive schools and adult services means creating healthy and open organizational cultures.
11. SESSION TITLE: Parenting Multiple Children with ASD: Building creative options for maximizing potential
SESSION DESCRIPTION: Having more than one child on the spectrum can be an opportunity to create workable solutions for success and harmony. One such solution has evolved into a family of performers whose talents have been a blessing for them and the community. Seeing gifts and strengths of our children while improving their weaknesses may be easier than you think.
ABOUT THE PRESENTERS: Susan Oscilowski (Lemoyne PA; formerly from Philadelphia) is a mother of eight children. Three have been blessed with Asperger's Syndrome. With help from the community, a background in teaching, journalism, public speaking, and media relations, as well as creative enthusiasm, she has helped her family to give witness to the power of seeing our children's differences as gifts to be shared.
12. SESSION TITLE: Finding the Voice in My Life and the Road to Communication Amid Detours, Road Blocks, and Potholes
SESSION DESCRIPTION: This presentation traces my steps from a boy diagnosed as retarded and non-verbal to a savvy professional man who is making a name for himself presenting on the importance of communication rights for all who cannot speak in a conventional way. This session is designed to help you acknowledge the importance of augmentative and alternative communication, help others find the way to open the door of their lives, understand what it means to be self determined to make my life my own and to be freed from silence, and recognize that what matters most is how you see yourself.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER: I am Mark Reeves and I am Autistic. I was also diagnosed with Down Syndrome and was born without speech. As a child I was seen as being severely retarded and not having anything to contribute to the world. With the help of a school teacher that recognized I was smart I was able to speak with the help from my Link. I now take great pride in presenting at conferences across the country about the importance of augmentative and alternative communication and how my life is now my own and I have choices in my life. I am writing a book about my life. I bought and paid for my own house. I am a member of the Northumberland County Self Determination Group and a member of TASH. My website is www.markreeves.com Please allow us to become all we can be, not what you think we can't be.
13. SESSION TITLE: Presuming Intellect: 10 Ways to Enrich Our Relationships Through a Belief in Competence
SESSION DESCRIPTION: What does it really mean to presume intellect? How do we interact with a belief in competence? And how do we reconcile myths and stereotypes with appreciating that we are all more alike than different? Author William Stillman (Demystifying the Autistic Experience) facilitates an interactive dialogue using his 10-point document, "Presuming Intellect," as the foundation for insightful and thought-provoking discussion.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER: William Stillman is author of numerous books including Demystifying the Autistic Experience, The Autism Answer Book, The Everything Parent's Guide to Children with Asperger's Syndrome, The Soul of Autism, and Autism and the God Connection. He has worked in human services since 1987. An adult with Asperger's Syndrome, his message of respect has been presented nationally through his workshops and consultations. He is also founder of the Pennsylvania Autism Self Advocacy Coalition (PASAC). Stillman sets a tone for collective understanding of the autistic experience in ways that are uniquely personal. He maintain a web site at www.williamstillman.com
Titles and descriptions of sessions will be added as they are finalized.
Registration
Early Bird Fee (through April 10):
$370 recipients of Act 48 hours or 2 GECs
$330 (NASW members) recipients of Social Work CEUs (18 credits)
$335 (non-NASW members) recipients of Social Work CEUs (18 credits)
$320 all other attendees
$130 support person (attending with a self-advocate)
Regular Registration Fee (after April 10):
$395 recipients of Act 48 hours or 2 GECs
$355 (NASW members) recipients of Social Work CEUs (18 credits)
$360 (non-NASW members) recipients of Social Work CEUs (18 credits)
$345 all other attendees
$140 support person (attending with a self-advocate)
The support person will receive meals and conference handouts.
To pay electronically, visit the payment/registration options below and select the appropriate conference choice.
To pay by check, include your contact information (as listed below) and mail with a check in the appropriate amount payable to YAP, Inc. Please use a separate form for each registration. Please indicate whether you wish to receive GECs, Act 48 hours, or a Certificate of Attendance. Also, please indicate whether you would like a regular or vegetarian lunch.
- Name
- Title and/or Organization
- Address
- Phone
- Email
Mail to:
Youth Advocate Programs, Inc.
Attn: Shannon Grove
2007 North 3rd Street
Harrisburg, PA 17102.
Agencies and school districts: Youth Advocate Program's FEIN # is 23-1977514.
Questions?
For further assistance, call Sandy Wynn at (717) 232-7580. Please contact us in advance should you require special accommodations (e.g. sign‐language interpreter, materials in Braille).
Conference Evaluations from Past Attendees
Interaction from the heart with true concern and respect.
Well-organized; enthusiastic and knowledgeable speakers.
I appreciate the way the conference was ended with all of the participants in the "open forum" setting. It helped to close all of the great things that were covered the last 3 days.
I liked how the presenters were humorous and refrained from professional jargon overload.
I go out with a more open and broader mind, thank you!
I've gained more knowledge and awareness of the importance of the perceptions we have of those who are on the spectrum. How we view those we support can have a tremendous impact.
I was very appreciative of the quotes and presentations from people with the diagnosis of autism. The more information that I have about autism from a person with the diagnosis, the more I can understand his behavior and be a better educator for him/her.
Speakers made me think and open my heart to other ways to work with children who do things differently.
I'm so glad I attended this conference. I would recommend it to any educator or anyone who'd like to learn more about this topic.
A very uplifting conference. It made me love and appreciate even more of what I do on a daily basis.
This was great, it really opened up my world to realize all people can communicate, many have to find their way.
One of the best conferences I have ever attended in a long time. I will take this information back to the agency I work for and share their ideas with my colleagues.
