1-day DIR/Floortime Conference, 10/15/11, Burbank, CA ($100)

DIR/Floortime: A State-of-the-Art Approach for People with Special Needs 
www.regonline.com

When:  Saturday, October 15, 2011 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM (Pacific Time). 

Where: Los Angeles Marriott: Burbank Airport, 2500 North Hollywood Way Burbank, California 91505 United States. 

Phone: 626-793-7350 x219

Email:  katherine@pasadenachilddevelopment.org
Website:  http://www.pasadenachilddevelopment.org/dirconference/

Course Description

DIR^® is the original parent-mediated intervention for young children with special needs. This conference will examine the success of the DIR^®/Floortime approach to intervention. Speakers will shed light on their experience with DIR^®/Floortime in diverse settings, including the home, clinic and educational setting. There will be an opportunity to explore the many DIR^®/Floortime services available in California. This conference will be of interest to parents, occupational therapists, speech and language pathologists, dietitians, mental health professionals, registered nurses, educators, early interventionists, and any professionals involved in the care of children with special needs. This conference is sponsored by the DIR^®/Floortime Coalition of California, the Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders, and Pasadena Child Development Associates.

Course Objectives

Following this course, participants will be able to:

1. Describe the three components of the DIR^®/Floortime approach
2. Identify the goals and outcomes of a DIR^®/Floortime Program
3. Explain how DIR^®/Floortime is used for infants, children and young adults of all abilities
4. Explain how affect-based (emotional) interactions and relationships are the core of the DIR^®/Floortime approach
5. Describe how the DIR^®/Floortime approach builds capacities for social interaction, language and communication, and higher-level thinking
6. Identify how DIR^® programs are used in the home, community clinic, and school setting
7. Access research which supports the DIR^®/Floortime approach

Agenda

9-10am
DIR^®/Floortime: The Heart and Soul of Supporting Children with Special Needs and Their Families

Barbara Kalmanson, PhD
Licensed Psychologist& Special Educator, Academic Dean, ICDL Graduate School

10-11am
Young Adult Panel

Young adults with developmental challenges will speak about their experiences growing up and where they are today.

11-12pm
The P.L.A.Y. Project’s Findings: Research and Evidence Supporting DIR^®/Floortime

Richard Solomon, MD
Medical Director of the P.L.A.Y. Project at the Ann Arbor Center for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics

12-1:30pm, Lunch (on your own)

1:30-2:30pm, Session 1
The DIR^® Model: A School-based Approach
Kelly Ettinger, M.A. Ed.; Keri Allen, MOTR/L; Sara Chapman M.A.
The Creekside School, San Jose, CA

2:30-3:30pm, Session 2
Anxiety & Autism: The Perfect Storm

Ricki Robinson, MD, MPH Co-Director of The Descanso Medical Center for Development and Learning; Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at USC Keck School of Medicine

3:30-4:30pm, Session 3
DIR^® Montage

This session will feature a video montage with contributions from many of the DIR^®/Floortime programs in California.  At the conclusion, there will be a live performance.

Continuing Education - additional $50 charge (total registration, $150)

This course meets the qualifications for 6.0 hours of continuing professional development credit for the following:

Speech and Language Pathologists

Occupational Therapists
Pasadena Child Development Associates is an approved provider of continuing education by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) #4956.

MFTs/LCSWs
Pasadena Child Development Associates is an approved provider towards licensure requirements by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.

CSUN Call for Papers - 9/6/11 - AT Conference 2012

SAVE THE DATES!
Call for Papers: September 6, 2011 to September 30, 2011
Conference: February 27, 2012 to March 3rd, 2012 (San Diego)

The Center on Disabilities at California State University, Northridge is pleased to announce that the Call for Papers for the 27th Annual International Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference begins next month.
The Call for Papers will open on Tuesday, September 6, 2011 and will close on Friday, September 30, 2011. Please Note: The Call for Papers will be open for 4 weeks only this year! Please plan early and submit your proposals as soon as possible. We are moving up our timelines and schedules to prepare for this year’s early event dates. Visit http://www.csun.edu/cod/conference for more information about the Call for Papers and the 2012 CSUN Conference.
This year, we are honored to announce that Michael Paciello, Founder and President of The Paciello Group, will be the 2012 Conference Chair. Mike has been a long-time associate of the CSUN Conference and is currently serving his third term as a member of the Conference Advisory Council. Mike's experience as an international leader and technologist, with a dedication to stimulating education and research that ensure equality of access to information, will be assets to his new role as the 2012 Conference Chair.
Dr. Arthur Karshmer, last year’s Conference Chair, will once again take on the role of Program Chair which, with his experience and expertise, will ensure a diverse and rewarding schedule of relevant and significant presentations.
The 2012 CSUN Conference will be held February 27 to March 3 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel in San Diego, California.
Regards,

Sandy Plotin
Managing Director
Center on Disabilities
conference@csun.edu
 -----------------------------------
The Center on Disabilities at California State University, Northridge is pleased to announce that the Call for Papers for the 27th Annual International Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference begins next week.
The Call for Papers will open on Tuesday, September 6, 2011 and will close on Friday, September 30, 2011. Please Note: The Call for Papers will be open for 4 weeks only this year! Please submit your proposals as soon as possible. We have moved up our timelines and schedules to prepare for this year's early event dates.
Visit http://cfp.csuncod.org on Tuesday, September 6, 2011 to make your Call for Papers submission. We strongly encourage you to review the information extremely carefully as the submission procedures have changed with a new on-line system. Also please remember that computer labs are no longer available for General Session presentations.
Visit http://www.csun.edu/cod/conference for more information about the Call for Papers and the 2012 CSUN Conference.

2012 CSUN Conference Dates - February 27 - March 3, Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel, San Diego, CA

Grand Opening-CALIF CCAF Communication Center - Los Angeles, 8/26/11

Thanks to Amy Hlad for the invitee to this event where she will demonstrate Dynavox technologies -

Communities Actively Living Independent & Free (CALIF) would like to invite you to come see the new Communication Center. CALIF was awarded a grant through the California Communication Access Foundation (CCAF) to implement a Communication Center for the disabled community and others.

Purpose of the Communication Center: The CALIF Communication Center was put into operation to provide access to equipment, tools, ways of connecting, and better communication for people with disabilities.

From the CALIF website: (click here for more)

Communities Actively Living Independent & Free's (CALIF) story is a piece of the overall and continuing story of the Disability Rights Movement in Los Angeles. The founders of CALIF not only come from a very diverse group of people with disabilities and ethnic backgrounds but also from different Disability Rights Activist groups like ADAPT, Californians for Disability Rights, California Network of Mental Health Clients, Special Services for Groups and AARP.
[Amy Hlad, Dynavox] will be attending this opening to demonstrate and discuss the latest in high tech DynaVox devices and services. Those attending will have the opportunity to try DynaVox devices, learn about the funding process, and meet and network with clinicians in the field, families, and supporters of AAC and AT.

When:    Friday, August 26 · 1:00pm - 5:00pm
Where:   Communities Actively Living Independent and Free (CALIF)

               634 South Spring Street, 2nd Floor

               Los Angeles, California 90014

For more information, please contact me at amy.hlad@dynavoxtech.com or CALIF at info@calif-ilc.org

Inexpensive ($180), 3-day PODD training in San Marcos, 9/28-30/11

Presenter: Linda Burkhart
Linda is a well-known teacher and leader in the field of assistive technology, adaptive play, and augmentative communication for children who face significant disabilities. She has conducted workshops and presentations nationally and internationally since 1982. She has also developed many publications and software to be used in these areas.

• Target Audience: This workshop is for anyone working with young children who have difficulty communicating through speech.
• Description: Children who are nonspeaking or have only limited speech, in addition to other challenges, often struggle to interact and communicate. This may include children who have physical disabilities, multiple disabilities, sensory processing challenges, limited social interaction skills, and/or a range of cognitive limitations and learning difficulties.
  
  This three day course will demonstrate the use of a Pragmatic Organization Dynamic Display (PODD) approach developed by Gayle Porter (Melbourne, Australia). Generic templates for multi-page 'light tech' communication books have been carefully designed to support genuine communication for a variety of functions throughout the day. These templates may be customized for a range of access methods and other individual needs.
  
  Come learn strategies for creating multi-modal language learning environments that provide receptive models and expressive opportunities for language development. Learn strategies for teaching and using PODD with children and their communication partners. Videos and case examples will be shared. Participants will have an opportunity for hands-on practice with PODD Communication books.
  
  Participants will be able to:
  - Describe the challenges faced by professionals creating communication systems in terms of vocabulary organization, layout, design, range of access strategies and customizing for individual requirements.
  - Discuss the importance of receptive language input and creating a language learning environment
  Use a PODD Communication book to provide receptive language input for students
  - Discuss the features of a PODD communication system in terms of vocabulary organization, layout, design, range of access strategies and customizing for individual requirements.
  - Use PODD generic template resources to produce customized communication books.
  - Discuss the teaching and learning strategies for implementing PODD communication systems with students and team members.

• Hosted by: NCCSE - view all of their low-cost trainings, click here
• Cost:          $180
• Date(s) & Time(s):  09/28/11, 9/29/11, 09/30/11, 8:30am - 3:30pm
  
  
• Location:  North County Regional Education Center
                    255 Pico Avenue, San Marcos, CA 92069
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   

Upcoming Event - CSHA District 7 September Social Networking & Recruiting Event

September 16th, Friday - Join members of SCAAC-N and your local SLP community at this CSHA District 7 evening event at the home of Terry Kappe in Temple City.  Bring a prospective CSHA member and you will both be entered to win an iPad & Super Duper products.  Pre-register and view the flyer by clicking HERE.

Save the Date - SCAAC-N Fall Quarterly Meeting, 10/18/11

End-Of-Summer Greetings from SCAAC-N!  

October 18, Tuesday - At the Fall Quarterly SCAAC-N Meeting, Leslie Comstock, SLP, of the Southern California Diagnostic Center will share information on Evidence Based Practice in Autism from her work with the National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders.  Preview the EBP Briefs by clicking HERE. Follow the links to downloads of the Brief Package, Overview, Evidence base, Steps for Implementation, Implementation Checklist for each of the EBP interventions such as Functional Communication Training, Peer-Mediated Instruction, PECS, Social Narratives, Visual Supports, and more.
View companion video modules by creating an account with Autism Internet Module (click HERE, made available by the Educational Service Center of Central Ohio).  After entering a user email and creating a password, scroll down from Module Navigator to autism in the classroom (or click HERE).

We can't wait to hear more from Leslie on October 18!  Our meeting will be held in Pasadena, CA, from 6:30-8:00.  I hope you will join us then.

AAC Job Annoucement - ATEC

AAC Savvy SLP
Assistive Technology Exchange Center (ATEC)
Los Angeles/Orange Counties, California
The ATEC team is growing to meet the increasing demand for services. We have an immediate opening for a speech and language pathologist (SLP) to work full or part time.The position requires knowledge of AAC, as well as strong communication and organizational skills.Appropriate licensure is required. Prior AAC experience is preferred. Job locations in Los Angeles/Orange County, California.

Our Assistive Technology Exchange Center (ATEC) provides comprehensive assistive technology (AT) services for persons with a broad range of disabilities, including AAC program development, assessment, training, and education, throughout Southern California.

We offer competitive salaries, medical, dental, life, 403(b) retirement plan.Don't hesitate! Let's get started together!
Contact Name: Bruce Fleming
Email: brucef@ocgoodwill.org
Phone: 714361-6200 ext. 226
Fax: 714 361-6220
Website: www.atec-oc.org/default.aspx
Posted: 8/5/11