Workshops
Keynote
Speaker, Temple Grandin, Ph.D.
Developing Talents
and Encouraging Mentoring Opportunities
Our
keynote speaker brings her life-long experiences and knowledge to encourage
talented individuals on the spectrum to use their areas of strength in their
lives and to find mentors who will assist in realizing their goals.
10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Competitive Employment: The JUMP Model and Mentoring in the Workplace
Valerie Gaus, Ph.D. , Moderator
Lynda Geller, Ph.D., Ginnie Cover, M.S.W.,
M.B.A., Cheryl Couch, B.A.A.
JUMP (Jobs for Us Mentoring Program)
seeks to assist adults on the spectrum gain competitive
and meaningful employment by bringing skilled
employees to employers while providing support
to both the employee and the employer. Our panel
will present JUMP's promotional video, informational
literature and discuss the program.
11:30am
-12:45pm Workshop Period A
A1
Resiliency
Temple Grandin, Ph.D.
Dr. Grandin offers her professional and personal
insight into a topic of importance rarely explored:
an individual's ability to turn resistance into
resiliency? What helps some cope and succeed
where others withdraw and give up? The workshop
will explore this interesting and critically significant
topic.
A2
Demonstration:
High School Transition Planning Team Meeting
Faith Kappenberg, Ph.D., LCSW, Presenter
Dave Makowski, Ph.D., Joan Hourihane,
parent, Patrick Hourihane, student
Develop an effective transition plan, including
the student, parents, school personnel, and outside
professionals. This process will demonstrate
the importance of a team approach to planning
for further education, future employment and
independent living.
A3
From Entitlement to Eligibility
Helene Fallon, M.A., Lynn Russo, Michelle
Giuliano, LMSW
During this workshop, we will identify the key
differences between special education entitlement
services and adult services eligibility. The
workshop will cover an overview of the New York
Performance Plan including the transition indicators,
and will also focus on person centered planning
in a creative, unique way.
A4
Understanding and Managing Emotional
Distress with Asperger Syndrome and Related
Conditions
Beth Yurman, Psy.D.
This presentation will discuss common factors
contributing to symptoms of anxiety and depression
frequently experienced by older adolescents and
adults with Asperger syndrome. The focus will
be on understanding causes and developing coping
strategies to better manage distress.
12:45p.m.
-1:45 p.m. Lunch
1:45pm
-3:00pm Workshop Period B
B5
Successful Post High School Solutions:
Finding the Right Supports
Mitch Nagler, M.A., LMHC, Diana Milillo,
Ph.D., Karen Noel, M.S.W., Peter Wigg, Psy.D.
This program will provide an overview of what
to expect when students capable of college-level
material are supported in the college setting,
assisted in accessing these supports and helped
to integrate into college life. Faculty and student
representatives from various colleges and college
support services will describe their programs
and give suggestions and offer strategies for
success.
B6
Transitioning to Adulthood: A Social
Skills Program Designed for Adolescents and
Young Adults on the Autism Spectrum
Mary Riggs Cohen, Ph.D.
This program focuses on developing awareness
of nonverbal cues, skills in conversation, job
interviewing and interpersonal relationships.
Participants practice in class, and then work
individually with a social coach to reinforce
their learning. The workshop will demonstrate
how experience in varieties of settings creates
greater motivation to socialize due to reduced
anxiety in the social setting.
B7
Effective Pharmacotherapy
for ASDs: Tools to Use and the Important
Questions to Ask Before Considering Medication
Peter Della Bella, M.D.
Workshop session will initially review pharmacotherapy
trends for people with ASDs. The discussion
will then cover how to best find out about
available treatment options and the questions to
ask to make treatment the best it can be.
B8
Understanding Yourself, Prelude
to Self-Advocacy: How to Find and Express Your
Strengths
Stephen Shore,
Ed.D., Cheryl Couch, B.A.A.
This interactive workshop will provide an introduction
to the job interview process, tips on how to
prepare and practice for the interview, recommendations
on how to address behavioral idiosyncrasies during
the interview, and a discussion on how and when
to disclose.
3:15pm
-4:30pm Workshop Period C
C9
The College Coaching Project
Lynda Geller, Ph.D.
Coaching, based on student individual profiles
and needs, offers an effective mechanism that
can allow students to attend any postgraduate
program that fits them best while receiving specialized
support. This presentation will discuss
a new model for training and assisting coaches
to do this rewarding and essential work.
C10
Making It On Your Own - Navigating Adult Life
Zosia Zaks, M.S.
For adults on the spectrum, independence can
be a challenge. This workshop will provide concrete
suggestions and will demonstrate how to utilize
typical autistic characteristics to solve problems.
The importance of interdependence as part of
independence will be stressed. The workshop will
also discuss the balancing act between struggling
to fit in on the one hand and validating who
you are on the other, with an emphasis on negotiation,
self-esteem, self-advocacy and developing talents
and strengths.
C11
Legal Forms are Not Enough: Asking
the Deeper Questions
Sharon Kovacs Gruer, Esq.
Many questions come up when planning for the
future of a young adult on the spectrum, including
consideration of what is involved in the preparation
of a letter of intent and how it might assist
your family member's caregivers and trustees
when you are no longer around to explain; selection
of a trustee and how making the right decision
can help or harm your child; the thought process
involved in deciding whether a guardianship is
necessary or whether a health care proxy and
power of attorney would suffice; and, coordination
of your non-probate assets with your special
needs trust.
C12
Guys and Girls Growing Up Together: Fostering Successful Social
Relationships
Shana Nichols, Ph.D., Samara Pulver Tetenbaum, M.A.
We will focus on the various aspects of relationship
building the adolescent years. Topics such as
attraction, friendships, dating and relationships
and will discussed,
as well as how specific programming (e.g., socials,
young adult groups) can facilitate the learning
and practice of skills among peers in the
community.
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