Conferences

Family Resource Network's 2010 Fall Autism Conference

Dr. Jed Baker

The 2010 Fall Conference on Autism will feature a Keynote Address by Dr. Jed Baker, Ph.D. , “Positive Strategies for Managing and Preventing Behaviors”.

Dr. Baker will discuss his strategies for managing and preventing behaviors, as well as how to successfully transition to adulthood and encourage social skills in individuals living with Autism and Asperger Syndrome.

In the afternoon, we will offer two breakout sessions. Attendees will have the opportunity to choose to attend two of six workshops offered.

About Dr. Baker

Dr. Baker is the director of the Social Skills Training Project, a private organization serving individuals with autism and social communication problems. He also directs social skills training for Millburn Public Schools in New Jersey. He is on the professional advisory board of Autism Today, ASPEN, ANSWER, YAI, the Kelberman Center and several other autism organizations.

In addition, he writes, lectures, and provides training internationally on the topic of social skills training and managing challenging behaviors. He is an award winning author of five books, including Social Skills Training for Children and Adolescents with Aspergers Syndrome and Social Communication Problems; Preparing for Life: The Complete Handbook for the Transition to Adulthood for Those with Autism and Aspergers Syndrome; The Social Skills Picture Book; The Social Skills Picture Book for High School and Beyond; and No More Meltdowns: Positive Strategies for
Managing and Preventing Out-of-Control Behavior.

His work has also been featured on ABC World News, Nightline, the CBS Early Show, and the Discovery Health Channel.

When:
Thursday October 28, 2010

Where:
The Owego Treadway Inn, 1100 State Route 17C, Owego, NY

Schedule
8:15-9:00 Registration & Agency Fair
9:00-12:00 Keynote Address
12:00-1:00 Lunch & Agency Fair
1:00-2:15 Breakout Session I
2:15-2:30 PM Break
2:30-4:00 Breakout Session II

SESSION I

  1. Social Skills for Children and Adolescents Living with Autism and Asperger Syndrome

    Speaker - Dr. Jed Baker
    This session will describe how to target relevant social skills, create motivation for learning, select appropriate skill training strategies, generalize skills, and create accepting peer communities.

  2. Parents as Equal Partners by Using MAPS (Parent Reporting).

    Speaker - Janine Kruiswijk - Executive Director of the Autism Society of Albany New York. Advocate and trainer for the last 20 years. Parent to four children, one of whom is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.
    In preparation for your child's annual review, Janine Kruiswijk will take you step by step through the Management, Academic, Physical and Social (MAPS) part of the IEP. This workshop will provide you with the tools you need to organize your thoughts regarding your child's strengths and needs, as well as the supports and services they need to progress through their school year. This is a wonderful workshop for empowering families to participate as equal members of their child's team!

  3. Why Me? Grieving the Loss of the Perfect Child

    Speaker - Mary Jo Hebert - Mary Jo Hebert is the Regional Coordinator with the Capital District office of Parent to Parent of NYS.  She is an instructor of Training and Development Programs for the NYS Office for People with Developmental Disabilities.  Mary Jo is past president of the NYS Chapter of the American Association on Intellectual Disabilities and a member of the Capital District Developmental Disabilities Services Office Family Support Council.  As the parent of a child with developmental disabilities, she is a frequent contributor of articles on the challenges faced by parents of children with special needs.

    For some parents it begins the day their child is born.  For others there are weeks, months, even years of suspecting that something is wrong.  At some point parents learn the difficult news that their child is not the perfect child they expected.
     In order to let go of our lost dreams and generate new dreams, parents must experience the process of grieving.  Grieving is an unlearned and spontaneous process that allows parents the opportunity to undergo positive life-changing transformations and to build emotional resilience.
     The grieving process is enhanced when parents are able to recognize and acknowledge their feelings.
     In this training, parents will learn to:
     - Recognize common emotional reactions: denial, anxiety, fear, depression, guilt, anger, and acceptance
     - Examine different kinds of losses
     - Understand why parents of children with special needs are often denied the right to grieve

SESSION II

  1. Social Skills for Children and Adolescents Living With Autism and Asperger Syndrome (repeated from Session I)

    Speaker - Dr. Jed Baker
    This session will describe how to target relevant social skills, create motivation for learning, select appropriate skill training strategies, generalize skills, and create accepting peer communities.

  2. School Discipline and Students with Disabilities: What Every Parent Should Know

    Speaker - Julie Keegan, Esq. - Ms Keegan is a special education attorney. Ms. Keegan is a member of the Special Education Task Force, and the NYS Bar Association’s Committee on Issues Affecting Persons with Disabilities, and is a Governing Board member of the Center for the Disabled. 

    Under certain circumstances, students with disabilities are entitled to special consideration when a school district decides to impose a suspension or other disciplinary action. This workshop will cover the rights of disabled students and the responsibilities of school districts before and after disciplinary action is taken. Strategies for preventing incidents which lead to disciplinary action will also be offered.

  3. Collaboration

    Speaker - Duke Fisher - Independent Experiential Learning Consultant/Trainer and Group Facilitator - founder of Learning Laboratories

    Collaboration equates with communication. This session will explore strategic listening and creative probem solving empowering you to work with others, whether they are families or providers.

Registration Form

First and Last Name *REQUIRED*
Organization
Address (Line 1) *REQUIRED*
Address (Line 2)
City/Town *REQUIRED*
State *REQUIRED*
Zip Code *REQUIRED*
Phone *REQUIRED*
E-mail address *REQUIRED*
Please indicate whether you are a Parent/Grandparent or a Provider *REQUIRED*
Please indicate the afternoon workshops you plan to attend. Choose one workshop from Session 1 and one workshop from Session 2. *REQUIRED*
Session I
Session II
For Providers - Method of Payment
If paying by check, please make it out to Family Resource Network, Inc. and send to Family Resource Network, Inc, 46 Oneida St., Oneonta, NY 13820
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