Tampa Area, FL Conference

Adolescents on the Autism Spectrum, with Chantal Sicile-Kira
Adolescence is a time of positive growth as well as challenges. This session will provide practical strategies for teaching teenagers of all ability levels the necessary life skills of self-care, self-regulation, self-advocacy, and self-esteem. What and how to explain about puberty, relationship boundaries and sexuality will be discussed, as will common adolescent concerns such as bullying and masturbation. Individualized transition plans will be covered. Areas to be emphasized include: focusing on the student’s strengths, developing work/career skills, preparing for college, different types of employment structures, employer needs and the use of mentors. Learning objectives for participants: Attendees will be able to: 1) Identify strategies to teach teens about their changing bodies, hygiene and self-care 2) Identify strategies to teach teens about modesty, privacy and appropriate public behavior 3) Discuss what and how to teach teens about relationship boundaries, and sexuality 4) Discuss what and how to teach teens about new work and career skills 5) Identify strategies on dealing with the changing emotions of teens, including meltdowns, aggression and depression.

Friday, November 7, 2008

Building Social Relationships in Autism Spectrum Disorders, with Scott Bellini, Ph.D.
This engaging workshop will provide an overview of a social skill instructional model developed by Dr. Bellini. The workshop will provide research on social-emotional functioning as well as practical and effective strategies for teaching social interaction skills to children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs). The model provides a systematic and comprehensive framework to guide parents and practitioners in the development and implementation of effective social skills programming. Learning objectives for participants: 1) Increase knowledge of social and emotional functioning 2) Increase awareness of the relationship between social skill deficits and social anxiety 3) Develop skills necessary to assess social functioning 4) Increase awareness of skill acquisition versus performance deficits 5) Increase awareness of available social skills strategies 6) Develop skills necessary to implement social skills strategies.