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Title: Potty Power! Toilet Training Young Children with Autism
Date: Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Time: 7:00 p.m. 9:00 p.m.
Presenter: Gretchen Vaillancourt, M.S., BCBA
- This training will provide an overview of the steps involved in toilet training young children. Included is a review of the pre-requisite skills, how to arrange the environment, planning a training schedule as well as important components of the teaching process. A variety of "helpful hints" will be presented and participants are encouraged to share strategies.
Title: How to Make Good Decisions About the Use of Psychotropic Medication
Date: Monday, March 1, 2010
Time: 7:00 p.m. 9:00 p.m.
Presenter: Jason Bourrett, Ph.D., BCBA
- Increasing numbers of children diagnosed with autism are prescribed medication to treat problem behavior but these meds are not guaranteed to work and may cause serious side effects. Deciding whether or not to use medication, which medications to use, and what doses are appropriate can be difficult and parents should be as informed as possible when working with a psychiatrist. In this presentation, I will be discussing tips for working with psychiatrists, ways to measure medication effects, and guidelines for making decisions about medication.
Title: Meeting the Social Needs of Children with Autism
Date: Monday, March 22, 2010
Time: 7:00 p.m. 9:00 p.m.
Presenter: Christine Morse, M.S., BCBA
- There are many skills that become higher priority as children reach adolescence. Topics related to Heath Skills and Sexual Education are difficult to teach in both general and special education, but should be incorporated into lesson planning. This training will review issues related to teaching Health Skills to adolescents with autism spectrum disorders. Emphasis will be given to identifying skills most appropriate to the age and functioning of those individuals. Resource lists will also be provided.
Title: Trends in Autism Research: What the Data Do and Do Not Tell Us
Date: Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Time: 7:00 p.m. 9:00 p.m.
Presenter: William H. Ahearn, Ph.D, BCBA
- This presentation will cover several areas of autism research in which new results have recently been published. Effective treatment and critical treatment components for optimal outcome, autism prevalence, causes and the course of the disorder are among the topics that will be covered.
Title: Challenging Behavior
Date: Saturday, May 1, 2010
Presenters: Allen Karsina, M.S., BCBA and Frank Ciccone, M.A., M.S., BCBA
- This is a two-part training, individuals are welcome to register for one or both parts of the training.
Part 1: Pro-Active Strategies for Managing Challenging Behavior
Time: 10:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m.
- This interactive training will address assessment and intervention of challenging behavior. The focus will be on defining, assessing and the creating a function based treatment for challenging behavior. Common assessment techniques will be reviewed and participants will have the opportunity to practice the use of some of the assessments.
Part 2: De-Escalation of Challenging Behavior
Time: 1:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m.
- This interactive training teaches a variety of de-escalation and prevention strategies of challenging behaviors. Real-life situations will be discussed, and participants are encouraged to participate with their own examples and questions.
*lunch will be provided between sessions on this day
Title: Transition Planning for Adult Placement
Date: Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Time: 7:00 p.m. 9:00 p.m.
Presenter: G. Tracey Toran, M.S., BCBA and Mike McSweeney, M.S., BCBA
- This training will review the essential components of transition planning for adult placement, which can start as early ages 14-16. Issues raised in the most recent governors commission on Mental Retardation will be addressed. Types of placements and how they are determined will be discussed including critical timeframes, and important linkages. Critical IEP objectives necessary to facilitate a successful transition to adult placement will be identified. Legal, medical, and financial considerations as they relate to transition planning will be reviewed. A representative from DMR will be available for a brief question and answer period following the training.
Title: Overcoming the Challenges of Community Based Activities
Date: Monday, May 17, 2010
Time: 7:00 p.m. 9:00 p.m.
Presenter: Julie Yankauskas-Flynn, M.S.Ed., BCBA
- Community and group events can be both fun and challenging. This training will involve a discussion of the challenges and solutions for several different types of community based activities including, play groups, family events, holidays, and community based events. Panel members will present information on these topics and time will be reserved for questions from the audience.
Title: Supporting Siblings of Children with Autism
Date: Monday, June 7, 2010
Time: 7:00 p.m. 9:00 p.m.
Presenter: Jeanette Gould, M.A.
- Raising a child with ASD has profound effects on a family, including siblings. We will explore these effects while discussing topics such as explaining autism to your child, supporting your child so that they can form a meaningful relationship with their brother or sister, and balancing the needs of the entire family. Resource lists will be provided.
Title: Increasing Motivation in Individuals with Autism
Date: Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Time: 7:00 p.m. 9:00 p.m.
Presenter: Richard B. Graff, M.S., BCBA
- One goal that parents and caregivers often have for children with autism is that their behavior is controlled by "natural consequences", and not by "contrived" or artificial reinforcers that are delivered by another person. However, many children are not "intrinsically" motivated to learn or work, and in these cases, additional reinforcers are required to maintain performance. This presentation reviews the importance of motivation in learning, and practical ways to assess preferences and reinforcers in children with autism.
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