SPEAKER SERIES
2012-2013

All events are free and open to the public. 

DATE: September 12, 2012
TITLE: The IEP and Beyond
PRESENTER: Attorney Gail Mangs, CT State Department of Education
SUMMARY: Discussion of content areas of the Individualized Education Program (IEP), your child’s rights and important new legislation.
MATERIALS: IEP, ETC. (Powerpoint Format)

DATE: October 3, 2012
TITLE: Embedding Social Thinking Within the Elementary Classroom
PRESENTER: Ruby Hsu, M.A.
SUMMARY: Discussion of the use of the Superflex curriculum (Madrigal and Winner – 2008) in the general education classroom and its impact on students’ behavioral regulation and awarenness of their social behaviors. Highlighted: the importance of integrating social cognitive concepts with literature to promote comprehension and inferential thinking in all students.
MATERIALS: Social Thinking (PDF Format) AND Superflex (PDF Format)

DATE: October 16, 2012
TITLE: ADHD: What Is It and How Do You Know?
PRESENTER: Robert Kruger, Ph.D.
SUMMARY: Discussion of what ADHD looks like in children of different ages; how it affects academic and daitly performance; “co-morbid” (co-existing) conditions and the importance of understanding a child’s complete diagnostic profile before beginning treatment; how ADHD is diagnosed; whether or not to evaluate children for it and, if so, when; whether or not medication is a necessary intervention, and what non-pharmacological interventions can be helpful; and the long-term outlook for children with ADHD.
MATERIALS: ADHD (Powerpoint Format)

DATE: November 29, 2012
TITLE: Auditory Processing Disorders: Mysteries and Misconceptions
PRESENTER: Lydia Soifer, Ph.D.
SUMMARY: Discussion of what auditory processing is; how auditory processing issues can be identified and remediated; how auditory processing is related to language and learning; and often-confused terminology (auditory processing, language processing, and ADHD).
MATERIALS: Auditory Processing Disorders (PDF Format)

DATE: December 4, 2012
TITLE: The Marshmallow Test: Executive Functioning in Children and Teens
PRESENTER: David Anderson, Ph.D.
SUMMARY: Suggested strategies, for school and home, to support children and teens with executive function deficits. Children and teens with executive functioning deficits have difficulties such as: making mature judgments regarding right & wrong and cause & effect; managing time constructively; setting goals appropriately; controlling emotional and behavioral impulses; prioritizing; sustaining attention;planning and organizing; starting tasks and following through; and self-regulating.
MATERIALS: The Marshmallow Test (PDF Format)

DATE: December 12, 2012
TITLE: A Compromised Generation: The Epidemic of Chronic Illness in America’s Children
PRESENTER: Beth Lambert, M.A.
SUMMARY: Discussion of how millions of children are becoming chronically ill, disabled or dysfunctional due to elements of American culture, including decades of pharmaceutical over-usage, toxic or nutritionally anemic diets, excessive exposure to environmental toxins, specific American habits and lifestyles, and excessive or improperly administered vaccines.

DATE: January 15, 2013
TITLE: Training Your Child’s Brain: Neurofeedback and Vision Therapy – Is your child working up to his or her potential?
PRESENTERS: Lori Coda, M.S. and Randy Schulman, O.D.
SUMMARY: Explanation of QEEG brain mapping and neurofeedback, and discussion of how the visual system works, the effects of common and often undiagnosed problems (such as convergence disorder), and how vision therapy can strengthen learning skills and remediate learning problems.
MATERIALS: Neurofeedback (PDF Format) AND Vision Therapy (PDF Format)

DATE: February 7, 2013
TITLE: Integrating Movement with Learning: Sensory Processing and Neuron-Do®
PRESENTERS: Terri R. Epstein, O.T. and Douglas DeMassa, DC
SUMMARY: Explanation of sensory processing and the importance of sensory regulation for learning. Discussion and demonstration of techniques that help to regulate a child physically, including the concept of a “sensory diet,” at home and at school, to allow children to be more present and available for learning. Also: discussion of how Neuron-Do®, Dr. DeMassa’s brain-based martial art, integrates physical movement with learning to help students improve attention, endurance, short-term memory skills, impulse control, time-on-task, visual tracking, balance, coordination, and self-confidence.
MATERIALS: Integrating Movement (PDF Format) AND Neuron-Do® (PDF Format)

DATE: February 28, 2013
TITLE: Can We Talk? – Language Skills and Social Success: The Hidden Curriculum
PRESENTER: Lydia Soifer, Ph.D.
SUMMARY: Discussion of the numerous components of successful social communication as well as methods for parents to develop better diagnostic eyes and ears regarding communcation skills.
MATERIALS: Language Skills (Powerpoint Format)

DATE: March 18, 2013
TITLE: Knowledge Is Power: How and Why to Advocate for Your Child with Special Needs
PRESENTER: Attorney Dana A. Jonson
SUMMARY: Discussion of the importance of advocating effectively so that your child can receive appropriate special education services.
MATERIALS: Knowledge Is Power (Powerpoint Format)

DATE: April 3, 2013
TITLE: Assessing Language Comprehension and Use in Preschool and Elementary Aged Children
PRESENTER: Nancy Schwartz, Ph.D.
SUMMARY: Comprehensive definition of language, and explanation of pragmatics, semantics, syntax, and phonology on both receptive and expressive levels. Discussion of tools and methods for assessing each of these areas in children from ages 3 through12.
MATERIALS: Language and Assessment (PDF Format)

DATE: April 29, 2013
TITLE: Understanding and Treating the Whole Child with Autism
PRESENTER: Margaret Bauman, M.D.
SUMMARY: Overview of current issues regarding autism as well as the work of the Autism Treatment Network (ATN).
MATERIALS: Autism (Powerpoint Format)

DATE: May 14, 2013
TITLE: Assistive Technology Supports for Struggling Students
PRESENTER: Nicole Feeney, M.Ed.
SUMMARY: Discussion of assistive technology (AT) equipment and devices that are currently available for students who require such support in school.

DATE: June 4, 2013
TITLE: Section 504 Plans versus IEPs: Differences and Distinctions
PRESENTER: Attorney Amy Vatner
SUMMARY: Examination of issues regarding Section 504 Plans including: the types of services and supports that a child may receive through a Section 504 Plan, the legal protections that accompany a Section 504 Plan, and how a Section 504 Plan may continue to assist a child/young adult beyond high school.
MATERIALS: Section 504 Plans (Powerpoint Format)

Visit THE ARCHIVES for descriptions of previous Speaker Series presentations, as well as downloadable materials.