Atlanta, GA Conference

Achieving Reading Comprehension for Autism and Other Disabilities, with Marion Blank, Ph.D.
Effective reading comprehension has proven to be one of the most elusive skills for children with language problems. Even when decoding is not an issue, difficulties in understanding what has been read persist, affecting the child’s chances for both academic and life success. Using insights from linguistics and cognitive psychology, the workshop will demonstrate innovative programs that use new materials and techniques to steadily guide children to significant levels of comprehension. The approach also provides a comprehensive framework that parents and practitioners can use for more effective communication in a variety of settings. Learning objectives for participants: 1) Increase knowledge of the underpinnings of effective comprehension 2) Increase awareness of the problems raised by many commonly used materials 3) Implement instruments to assess children's functioning 4) Implement programs to enhance their functioning 5) Increase awareness of ways to interpret language issues in a variety of settings 6) Develop ways to apply the concepts to a variety of communicative situations.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Transition from School to Post-School: Best Practices, with Patrick Schwarz, Ph.D.
Longitudinal transitional practices from school to post-school are presented in this workshop. Definitions, key players, when to start transition planning and other important information pieces are covered. Real-life learner examples are illustrated and participants are guided into creating a plan for an individual they represent for an authentic and meaningful application that can be utilized immediately. Learning objectives for participants: 1) Identify the essential players in a school to post-school transition 2) Identify important planning areas in transition including higher education, living, work and play 3) Describe key milestones in school and the curriculum that contribute to effective transition 4) Learn to facilitate future planning processes such as MAPS (McGill Action Planning System) 5) Learn the importance of teaching and supporting key life skills at times they actually occur 6) Engage in action planning and prioritizing for transition.