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About our speakers: Jerry Newport, 58, grew up in Islip, NY. Jerry was raised by two teachers. He was second in his high school class and recently helped run his 40th class reunion. Jerry has a B.A. in Mathematics from the University of Michigan where he was also a member of Delta Chi Fraternity. He was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome in 1995, along with his wife, Mary Meinel-Newport. They are both internationally recognized as advocates, authors and savants, having appeared on 60 Minutes twice. Jerry has authored three books on adult aspects of Asperger’s Syndrome and spoken in 46 states and 8 nations. Nancy D. Wiseman has made a significant contribution to changing policy, improving awareness, and changing pediatric practice in how we screen, refer, and detect young children today. She is the founder and president of First Signs, a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to educate professionals and parents about the early warning signs of autism and other developmental disorders. She has counseled parents nationwide and has appeared in interviews with USA Today, Parents, and NBC’s Today Show. She is the author of Could It Be Autism? A Parent’s Guide to the First Signs and Next Steps. She is the mother of Sarah, who was diagnosed with autism at the age of two. Nancy is the 2006 recipient of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Dale Richmond Award for her achievement in the field of child development. June Groden, Ph.D. Since 1976, Dr. Groden has been the Executive Director of the Groden Center in Providence, RI and holds appointments at the University of Rhode Island and the Center for the Study of Human Development at Brown University. For 30 years she has been actively involved in programs for people with autism and other developmental disabilities. She serves on the Panel of Professional Advisors of the Autism Society of America. As a researcher, Dr. Groden has developed techniques to promote relaxation in special needs children and adults, and has implemented programs utilizing imagery procedures for persons with autism and retardation. She is co-author with Joseph Cautela of Relaxation: A Comprehensive Manual for Adults, Children, and Children with Special Needs and has produced three videos on the use of relaxation procedures. She has written numerous articles and book chapters on stress, relaxation and picture rehearsal. She maintains a private practice and is a consultant to school systems and other institutions. M. Grace Baron, Ph.D. is a behavioral clinician who has worked in the assessment and treatment of autism since the mid 1970s (at Providence, RI’s Groden Center, Inc.). She is also Professor of Psychology at Wheaton College (Norton, MA). With Gerald Groden, she co-edited Autism: Strategies for Change (1988) and co-edited with June Groden, Gerald Groden & Lewis Lipsitt Stress & Coping in Autism (Oxford University Press, 2006). Cooper Woodard, Ph.D. is the Clinical Director for The Groden Center. His research interests include the role and application of positive psychology principles in persons with ASD and other populations, and Exposure/Response Prevention (ERP) therapy interventions. His work has been published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders and Consutling Psychology Journal – Practice and Research. He is a visiting professor at the University of Rhode Island and Wheaton College in Norton, MA. Leslie E. Weidenman, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist and a school psychologist who joined the staff of the Groden Center in 1984. She has served as the Director of the Early Intervention Program, the Livingston Center Preschool, and a number of the classrooms in the Center’s school program. Leslie provides consultation to local school systems in Rhode Island. Mary Pendergast has been working at the Groden Center since the fall of 1989 where she is currently a clinical supervisor. She is the chair of her Local Special Education Advisory Committee, and is a member of the RI Special Education Advisory Committee. Mary has two daughters, a 10-year-old son with Down Syndrome and an adult foster child with autism. Amy Rice holds a dual degree in Child Development and Literature and is currently enrolled in graduate school at Bridgewater State College pursuing a Master’s Degree in education. She served as Residential Supervisor of the Boston Higashi School from 1999-2001. She is currently a Clinical Unit Supervisor at The Groden Center day program. Ayelet Kantor holds a B.S. in Nutrition Science, and a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel with postgraduate studies in the area of brain development. Dr. Kantor worked in the autism field as an educator in the early intervention program, and as a private consultant. Currently, Dr. Kantor is a research associate at the Groden Center. Deborah Alavosius received her M.A. in Child Clinical Psychology from West Virginia University. She has more than 25 years of experience working with children and adults with autism and other developmental and behavioral disorders. Her extensive professional background includes serving as a teaching assistant, teacher, research assistant, parent trainer/evaluator, public school liaison, staff psychologist, behavioral clinician, consultant and administrator. She as been on the staff at the Groden Center for more than 10 years where she currently serves as a Clinical Supervisor. Karen Levine, Ph.D. is a Developmental Psychologist and Instructor in the Harvard Medical School. In the 1990s, she cofounded and co-directed the Center for Autism and Related Disorders at Children’s Hospital in Boston, and developed the Building Blocks Early Intervention Program for children with ASD through the North Shore ARC in 1999. She continues to consult to this program and now is Clinical Director of the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Program at the Center for Child and Adolescent Development at the Cambridge Health Alliance in Medford, MA. She conducts diagnostic assessments and consultations to families and schools, and has written many articles and chapters for families and professionals on children with autism and other developmental disabilities. Carol Gray is the President of The Gray Center for Social Learning and Understanding in Grand Rapids, MI, a nonprofit organization serving people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and those working on their behalf. She is an internationally respected author with over 20 years experience as a teacher and consultant. In 1991, Carol developed Social Stories™, a strategy used worldwide with children with ASD. She has published articles, chapters, and books on topics related to the education and welfare of people with ASD, addressing challenging issues ranging from how to teach social understanding and social skills, bullying, death and dying, and loss, learning, and people with ASD. Most recently, Carol and the The Gray Center have been working in collaboration with Mark Shelley and the Specialminds Foundation, a nonprofit organization, to develop Storymovies™ and coordinating materials. Carol is the recipient of the Barbara Lipinski Award for her international contribution to the education and welfare of people with ASD. Barry M. Prizant, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, Director, Childhood Communication Services and Brown University Center for the Study of Human Development Childhood Communication Seminars, Inc. (CCS) offers continuing education seminars, workshops, and retreats that address topics related to the education and quality of life needs of children and adults with special needs and their families. This symposium is the first national forum to address the importance of understanding stress and coping in the lives of Individuals with ASD and their families. Presentations will focus on the importance of identifying and understanding the sources of stress, as well as problem behaviors related to stress. Presentations will also address approaches to help individuals with ASD of all ages and all ability levels to develop coping strategies through stress reduction and by enhancing abilities that have been shown to prevent or lessen the impact of stress. This symposium is intended for educators, SLPs, OTs, psychologists, paraprofessionals, social workers, therapists, family members and other caregivers who live with and/or support the development of people with ASD. 2315 Grand Army of the Republic Highway Swansea, MA 02777-3910 401.467.7008 kelly@ccseminars.com Community Autism Resources Featuring: C O N T I N U I N G E D U C AT I O N C R E D I T S SLPs: Childhood Communication Seminars, Inc. is approved by the Continuing Education Board of ASHA to offer continuing education activities in speech-language pathology and audiology. Day 1 is offered for .6 CEUs (Various level, Professional area); Day 2 is offered for .6 CEUs (Various level, Professional area). ASHA CE Provider does not imply endorsement of course content, specific products or clinical procedures. OTs: Approved for OT recertification for 6 contact hours each day you attend. MA Educators: Childhood Communication Seminars, Inc. is a registered provider for the state of Massachusetts. 6 PDPs are awarded for each day you attend. RI Educators: This symposium is approved by the RI Department of Education for 6 contact hours for each day you attend. Approval #0700111. Other Credits: Continuing education credit is provided by The Institute for Continuing Education. Continuing Education credit is offered as listed. CE credit is awarded on a daily basis, with full attendance required for each day you attend. Applications for continuing education credit will be available on site. The processing fee is $25.00 per person and is to be paid directly to The Institute at the time of submission of continuing education credit application. If you have specific questions regarding continuing education, please call The Institute: 251-990-5030; fax: 251-990-2665; email: instconted@aol.com. Psychology: This event is co-sponsored by Childhood Communication Seminars and The Institute for Continuing Education. The Institute for Continuing Education is approved by the American Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. The Institute for Continuing Education maintains responsibility for the program. Counseling: The Institute for Continuing Education is an organization recognized by the National Board for Certified Counselors to offer continuing education for national certified counselors. The Institute for Continuing Education adheres to NBCC continuing education guidelines. NBCC Provider No. 5643. Social Work: The Institute for Continuing Education is approved as a provider for social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), through its Approved Continuing Education program (ACE). The Institute for Continuing Education maintains responsibility for the program. Licensed social workers should contact their individual state jurisdiction to review current continuing education requirements for licensure renewal. ASWB Provider No. 1007. Marriage/Family Therapy: The Institute for Continuing Education is an organization recognized by most state boards of marriage/family therapy to offer continuing education for licensed marriage/family therapists. Nursing: The Institute for Continuing Education is an approved provider of continuing education in nursing by the Alabama State Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the ANCC Commission on Accreditation. Improving Quality of Life in a Chaotic World: Stress, Coping & Emotional Regulation for Individuals with ASD THE 12th ANNUAL ASD SYMPOSIUM 2007 ■ Jerry Newport, B.A. Individual with Asperger's Syndrome; National Speaker on Autism ■ Carol Gray President, The Gray Center ■ Nancy D. Wiseman Founder, First Signs; Author and Parent ■ Karen Levine, Ph.D. Developmental Psychologist; Instructor, Harvard Medical School ■ June Groden, Ph.D., Executive Director, The Groden Center ■ M. Grace Baron, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology, Wheaton College ■ Cooper Woodard, Ph.D., Leslie E. Weidenman, Ph.D, Mary Prendergast, Amy Rice, Deborah Alavosium & Ayelete Kantor The Groden Center RHODE ISLAND CONVENTION CENTER, PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND HOSTED BY A Fundraiser for our Parent Retreat and Family Support Activities Barbara Domingue, M.Ed., Executive Director Community Autism Resources, Inc., Swansea, MA Community Autism Resources is a family created and oriented community services organization. The valuable input we receive from families furthers our goal of meeting the needs of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Our statement of purpose is: We are families and professionals strengthened by the experience of autism in our lives, dedicated to supporting individuals with autism and their families. Our commitment to sharing knowledge, information, and enhancing skills will enable persons with autism to live satisfying and fulfilling lives within the community. MARCH 9 – 10, 2007 A Fundraiser for our Parent Retreat and Family Support Activities Rhode Island Convention Center One Sabin Street Providence, RI 02903 For directions: 401.458.6000 www.riconvention.com/directions nonprofit org us postage paid fall river, ma permit no 59 Schedule of Events Friday, March 9 Saturday, March 10 7:15 – 8:15am 8:15 - 8:30am 8:30 – 10: 00am Registration and Continental Breakfast Introduction and Program Overview Every Stress is NOT a Ten Jerry Newport, Author 7:15 – 8:15am 8:15 - 8:30am 8:30 – 10: 00am Registration and Continental Breakfast Introduction and Program Overview Replays: An Interactive Symbolic Play-based Technique to Address Challenging Behaviors in ASD Karen Levine, Ph.D., Developmental Psychologist NEW PRESENTATIO N The session identifies common challenges related to stress, for different age groups in the autism lifespan. It describes effective coping strategies and activities designed to help the autistic person grow into a person who accepts stress as part of normal life and becomes confident about coping with it. The aim is to help each autistic person achieve a realistic form of happiness as opposed to a stress-free fantasy. True happiness is a quiet confidence that one can handle whatever life throws at him, either alone or with help from a natural support circle. 10:00 – 10:15 am 10:15 – 11:45am Beverage Break Entering the Maze: Getting Answers, Getting Help, Getting Going Nancy D. Wiseman, Parent & Author Replays is a fun, playful approach for parents, teachers and therapists to help children work through challenging behaviors. It is based on integrating play therapy approaches with interaction, communication and play in the development of regulatory capacity in typically developing children. Replays is helpful for a variety of behavioral challenges common in children on the autism spectrum. Techniques for using Replays for young, preverbal and presymbolic children as well as for older children and/or children with Asperger’s, will be discussed and illustrated with examples and video examples. Replays has just been published as a book by Jessica Kingsley Publishers by Karen Levine and co-author Naomi Chedd (Replays: Using Play to Enhance Emotional and Behavioral Development for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, November, 2006) 10:00 – 10:15 am 10:15 – 11:45am 11:45am – 1:15pm 1:15 – 2:45pm Beverage Break Replays [cont’d] Karen Levine, Ph.D., Developmental Psychologist Lunch on your own From Kid•tastrophe to Cooperation: Helping People with ASD Learn from Life’s Day-to-Day Losses Carol Gray, President, The Gray Center NEW PRESENTATIO N Parents often feel paralyzed once they receive a diagnosis of autism and don’t know where or how to begin. Professionals often are unsure how to support parents at this sensitive time. Nancy Wiseman, through her nonprofit organization, First Steps, and her recent book, Could It Be Autism? A Parent’s Guide to the First Signs and Next Steps (Broadway Books), helps to empower parents and professionals by giving them the tools they need to get started on this challenging journey and navigate what can be a timeconsuming, complicated, and often frustrating and overwhelming process. Parents often enter the maze with goals, but the path is unclear and full of false turns. Getting to the goal quickly requires persistence, skill, knowledge, and sometimes, a bit of luck. 11:45am – 1:15pm 1:15 – 2:45pm Lunch on your own The Impact of Stress and Anxiety on Individuals with Autism and Developmental Disabilities June Groden, Ph.D & M. Grace Baron, Ph.D., The Groden Center This presentation will address the characteristics of autism that make this population especially vulnerable to stress; assessment procedures to measure responses to stressors; and clinical, educational, and home/ community-based strategies for stress reduction. Special emphasis is given to the role and value of self-control to reduce the stress in the lives of individuals with autism and strategies for teachers to increase the use of practice, adaptive, coping techniques. 2:45 – 3:00pm 3:00 - 4:30pm Break with light refreshments Fostering Resilience, Optimism, and Other Character Traits: Applying Positive Psychology to Autism Cooper Woodard Ph.D., Leslie Weidenman Ph.D., Ayelet Kantor, Mary Prendergast, Amy Rice & Deborah Alavosius, The Groden Center Students with ASD may have unique and/or intense emotional/behavioral stress reactions to setbacks; setbacks that others may frequently view as relatively minor or inconsequential. In these instances, parents or professionals may feel that they have unknowingly made a wrong turn into “the lion’s den” of autism—with no clear way out. Students with ASD need systematic and comprehensive assistance to learn how to handle the unanticipated twists and turns that are a part of each day (loss of a favorite item, a change in routine, etc.) as well as greater setbacks (illness or death of a friend or special person, loss of friendship, loss that results from being the target of bullying). Using lecture, PowerPoint, case examples and activities, this presentation explores loss, learning, and people with ASD (from early childhood through adolescence) and emerges with guidelines and several strategies to teach students with ASD more effective responses to the unexpected elements of life. 2:45 – 3:00pm 3:00 - 4:30pm Break with light refreshments From Kid•tastrophe to Cooperation (cont’d) Carol Gray Positive psychology is a strength-based approach to human functioning designed to maximize meaning and engagement in life, as well as positive emotional states. Promoting emotional health through character strength development, with the goal of preventing and reducing stress in the lives of persons with ASD, traditionally has not been an area of focus for persons with ASD. This presentation describes and promotes the application of positive psychology concepts and related practices in five selected areas --humor, self-efficacy, kindness, optimism, and resilience. These will be addressed through specific examples of programs and procedures aimed at fostering these strengths in persons with ASD in home, school and community settings. All presentations provide practical strategies for supporting persons with ASD and their families. Bookstore The Special Needs Project (www.specialneeds.com) will provide a bookstore featuring information/resources on ASD education and treatment approaches. Peruse their website and e-mail la@specialneeds.com at least one week before the symposium if there are particular products you would like the bookstore to include. Lodging A block of rooms is being held at the Westin Hotel attached to the Convention Center for $176 single/double (401.598.8000) and the Biltmore Hotel, a block from the Convention Center, for $154 (jr. suites) (401.421.0700) until February 9. Please reserve early. To obtain the special rate, mention Community Autism Resources when making reservations. Other lodging options can be found at www.pwcvb.com, by calling 401.351.2090, or by emailing info@pwcvb.com. Confirmation & Cancellations A $30 cancellation fee will apply to all registrants who cannot attend. Notice of cancellation must be given two weeks prior to the symposium. No refunds will be granted after that date. The same policy applies for purchase orders. A substitution may be made at any time. Returned checks will be charged $25. Confirmations with directions to the convention center will be mailed (on-line registrations will receive an e-mail confirmation).  Call 401-467-7008 t Fax 401-383-3980 t Mail to address below t www.community-autism-resources.com Earlybird Rate for Professionals ends on 2/2/07. Call Kelly at 401-467-7008 or e-mail kelly@ccseminars.com with questions. RATES (please circle)  Fri & Sat  Fri or  Sat R E G I S T R AT I O N I N F O R M AT I O N Parent/Student/Paraprofessional $190 $110  Spouse $70  Spouse $50 Professional $275 / $250 (earlybird before 2/2) $175 / $150 (earlybird before 2/2) Group (5 or more)* $240 per person $140 per person Spouse name (if attending):____________________________________________ Total: _________________________ * Need to receive registrations at same time to qualify for group rate. Please fill out a separate registration form for each registrant. ___________________________________________________________________________ Last Name Home Address Home Phone Place of Employment Address E-Mail Address First City Work Phone Occupation City Middle Initial State/Zip Payment Method, Select One: ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________  Check Enclosed Check # __________________________  Visa  MasterCard  Bill Organization P.O. # ____________________________ Exp. Date ____________________ Card# ____________________________________________ Signature _________________________________________ Please make check or purchase order payable to: ASD Symposium State/Zip ___________________________________________________________________________ * ASD Symposium 2024 Broad Street Cranston, RI 02905