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www.xMinds.org
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| Extraordinary Speaker Meetings |
Social Thinking at Home and School
Wednesday, January 16; 7:00–9:00 p.m.
Speakers: Susan M. Abrams M.A.,C.C.C/SLP and Randi Rosenblatt, M.A., C.C.C/SLP
Location: Rockville Memorial Library; 21 Maryland Ave., Rockville MD 20850
Cost: Free to members; Nonmembers: $15
Registration not required
Are play dates challenging for your child? Is it difficult for your child to establish and maintain friendships? Does your child play alone at school? Is your child a literal thinker? Can your child understand the perspective of others? While most children learn the skills of social thinking intuitively, children on the autism spectrum have great difficulties with this process. Originated by Michelle Garcia Winner, social thinking treatment approaches teach the “why” as well as the “how” of social interaction, so individuals can respond dynamically to a variety of interactions throughout the day. Join us to learn about this dynamic approach and strategies to help your child navigate the social world. Susan M. Abrams, M.A.CCC-SLP is a pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist with over thirty years experience evaluating and treating children with speech and language disorders in Montgomery County, Maryland. Randi Rosenblatt, MA, CCC-SLP is a Speech Language Pathologist with experience diagnosing and treating children with speech and language disorders. She currently practices at Early Intervention Therapists in Rockville, MD where she conducts individual therapy and facilitates social cognitive thinking groups.
Workshop: Writing IEP Goals and Objectives for Students on the Autism Spectrum
Tuesday, February 12; 7:00–9:00 p.m.
Speaker: Suzie Keith Blattner, M.S.Ed.
Location: Rockville Memorial Library; 21 Maryland Ave., Rockville MD 20850
Cost: Free to members; Nonmembers: $15
Registration not required
Bring your student’s Individual Education Program (IEP) and come prepared for an interactive workshop. After a presentation about the essential aspects of an IEP, the audience will practice writing meaningful “Present Levels of Performance” and specific, measurable, realistic, time-limited IEP goals and objectives. Suzie Keith Blattner, M.S.Ed. is a special education consultant who has worked in various capacities in special education for 28 years. Her experiences include a variety of teaching, diagnostics and administrative responsibilities in public schools and major medical facilities. For the past 15 years, Ms. Blattner has served as a consultant for families seeking expert counsel regarding the process of evaluating their child’s needs and securing school services options that best meet those needs.
Executive Functioning Strategies for Students on the Autism Spectrum
Thursday, March 14; 7:00–9:00 p.m.
Speaker: Rebecca Resnik, PsyD
Location: Rockville Memorial Library; 21 Maryland Ave., Rockville MD 20850
Cost: Free to members; Nonmembers: $15
Registration not required
Executive functioning skills are complex, neurologically based processes that help us plan and carry out actions to achieve a goal and regulate our behavior. This includes organization and planning, holding information in our minds while performing tasks, impulse control, flexibility, and self monitoring. Most children on the autism spectrum have challenges with executive functioning, which can interfere with their social and academic success at school. Dr. Rebecca Resnik will explain how to strengthen your child’s executive functioning skills, and how you can help your child be a more flexible learner, as well as help make homework time easier.
Dr. Resnik is Director of Mindwell Psychology’s Bethesda Office. Dr. Resnik began working with children and adolescents as a Special Educator. She completed her Masters Degree in Special Education in 1996. Her experience working within schools gave her a unique understanding of special education law and policy, as well as how to implement best practices for individuals with different educational needs. Dr. Resnik left teaching to begin doctoral training at the George Washington University, graduating as a Doctor of Psychology in 2005. Dr. Resnik currently conducts neuropsychological, psychoeducational, and emotional/behavioral evaluations at Mindwell and also provides psychotherapy services.
Occupational Therapy for Students on the Autism Spectrum
Tuesday, May 14; 7:00–9:00 p.m.
Speaker: Lois Hunter, OTR/L, Senior Occupational Therapist, The Frost School/Rockville
Location: Rockville Memorial Library; 21 Maryland Ave., Rockville MD 20850
Cost: Free to members; Nonmembers: $15
Registration not required
What is occupational therapy? How are therapy needs determined and how can therapy benefit students with autism? Join us for an informative presentation about occupational therapy and learn strategies that address challenges that may impact participation in school, including sensory processing strategies, play activities to instruct and enhance social interaction and communication, coping strategies for transitioning between activities, self-help skills, and adaptive strategies to address difficulties such as handwriting.
Past topics and events include:
Monday, September 24, 2012
Parent Workshop
Emotional Regulation Tools: Make-and-Take
Helping our children understand their emotions is the first step in teaching them how to stay calm and to regulate themselves in challenging environments. xMinds president, Staci Daddona, will lead this workshop to explain visual tools that can be used with children to help them identify emotions and encourage self regulation. Join other parents and make one tool during the meeting to take home and receive a list of recommended resources to make others.
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Extraordinary FAMILY FUN Day
Are other festivals with crowds and loud music overwhelming for your child? Then join us, RAIN OR SHINE, for our first Family Fun Day to connect with other families in Montgomery County with children on the autism spectrum in a welcoming, fun atmosphere with a moon bounce, art activity (decorate a mask), and table games for all ages.
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
“Neuropsych Evaluations 101”
Speaker: Dr. Taruna Ahluvalia
Dr. Taruna Ahluvalia, a pediatric neuropsychologist, has worked with children and adolescents (preschool through early college years) on the autism spectrum for more than 10 years to provide comprehensive evaluations of cognitive, academic, and social/emotional functioning.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
“Meltdowns vs. Tantrums: What is the Difference?”
Speaker: Dr. Laura Anthony
Dr. Laura Anthony, PhD, specializes in the assessment and treatment of children and teens with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Her current research is focused in developing classroom teaching strategies to help children with ASD learn cognitive and behavioral flexibility.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Functional Behavior Assessments and Behavior Plans
Speaker: Dr. Paul Livelli, Ph.D.
What are functional behavior assessments? What do well-written behavior intervention plans include and how can they help your child be more successful in school? Back by popular demand, Dr. Paul Livelli, Ph.D. will explain what a good functional behavior assessment entails and why it is critically important when developing appropriate behavior plans. Dr. Livelli is an educational and behavioral consultant and has been a special education teacher for students with autism, emotional disturbance, and juvenile offenders in both public and private programs. He worked for a large behavioral health hospital running six special education schools for students with autism throughout the State of Maryland. Currently he works with families and school systems to improve the services for students with special needs.
2011-2012 topics included:
Mainstreaming Students on the Autism Spectrum
A panel of parents will share their experiences in working with teachers and school staff to help their children succeed in general education.
Individual Education Programs (IEPs) for Students on the Autism Spectrum
Speakers: Janet Price and Jennifer Engel-Fisher, Weinfeld Education Group
The authors of Take Control of Asperger's Syndrome: The Official Strategy Guide for Teens With Asperger's Syndrome and Nonverbal Learning Disorders will present information on successful IEPs for students on the autism spectrum.
Extraordinary Minds in MCPS
Our fourth annual forum for parents to learn how diploma-bound students on the autism spectrum are educated in Montgomery County.
Parent Panel: Student Experiences in Special Education
Meet and talk with parents whose children receive services in Gaithersburg or Churchill Bridge Programs; elementary/middle/high school Aspergers programs; and the Cabin John, Gaithersburg, and Silver Spring International middle schools.
College and Post-secondary Education Planning
Speaker: Judith Bass, Bass Educational Services
Judith Bass, founder of Bass Educational Services, will present a step-by-step process for high school planning and transition to post-secondary education; finding the best fit for your child’s unique learning needs; examining whether a “gap year,” two-year, or four-year college is appropriate; and improving student self-knowledge and self-advocacy skills.
Evening Social and Light Dinner
Join other parents at an end-of-school year social event! A light dinner and beverages will be served.
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