Autism: Putting the Pieces Together: An Interdisciplinary Conference for Teachers, Parents, and Professionals
Kean University will host an interdisciplinary conference, entitled Autism: Putting the Pieces Together: An Interdisciplinary Conference for Teachers, Parents, and Professionals, on November 21, 2008.
This regional conference will bring together families, teachers, school administrators, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, counselors, social workers, psychologists, community organizations and others affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders. Family members and professionals will have the opportunity to learn about the local, regional and national resources available to those whose lives ASD touches each day. Panelists also will discuss the latest discipline-specific research, as well as the various strategies used to cope with this disorder.
The conference will feature top research and medical experts on autism from throughout the country. Keynote speakers include Jake Greenspan, one of the co-directors of DIR Support Services in Bethesda, Md. DIR Support Services is a child development center specializing in the use of the DIR/Floortime model. Jake and his DIR co-director Tim Bleeker, with the help of Dr. Stanley Greenspan, developed evaluation and intervention programs based on all aspects of the DIR model. Their goal has been to develop and implement these intervention programs for children with a variety of developmental and learning challenges.
The conference lunchtime speaker is Jim Watkins, who co-anchors the Emmy Award-winning CW11 News at 10. Jim and his wife, Lauren Thierry, are the parents of an autistic child. Both are active in promoting awareness about autism through numerous organizations such as The New York Center for Autism. Jim has served as emcee for many charitable events throughout the New York City metropolitan region. Lauren made a much-praised documentary, Autism Every Day, which premiered to a sold-out audience at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.
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Autism Spectrum Disorder Certificate Program - Fall 2009
Kean University is looking forward to offering an Autism Spectrum Disorder Certificate Program beginning in Fall, 2009!
This fifteen credit program offers a large variety of 1.5 credit courses to choose from by expert faculty in educating children and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). These interdisciplinary courses will focus specifically on ASD in areas including early childhood education, speech-language pathology, special education, occupational therapy, social work, counseling, and educational leadership, transitioning to adulthood, among others.
There will be two tracks within the program, one for educators/professionals and one for families/caregivers. Interdisciplinary workshops exploring specific issues will be a part of the program and will be open to anyone interested but required of students enrolled in the certificate program. A capstone course will enable students enrolled in the certificate program to create a project addressing a current issue with ASD in their area of expertise. Finally, a required mentorship after completion of the certificate coursework or the development of a monitored discussion board designed for professionals who had completed the certificate program will also be part of the program.
If you are interested in receiving more information about this important new program please send your contact information to grad-adm@kean.edu .
Watch our website www.kean.edu/~keangrad for information about our upcoming Autism Spectrum Disorders Symposium Series.
We look forwarding to hearing from you!
Post Conference Information
Jake Greenspan's PowerPoint - [PDF]
Jim Watkins - Jim blogs about his experience at the conference and provides a video of his speech. Click here to visit his blog
Session Presentations:
Communication, Social Skills, Behavior & Play in PDF format [PDF]
Transition to Independence
[PDF - PowerPoint Presentation]
[PDF - CLE Backgrounder]
[PDF - CLE Gatefold]
For information on our future event, please join our mailing list
Keynote Speaker:
Jake Greenspan
Jake Greenspan is the Co-Director of DIR Support Services in Bethesda, Maryland. DIR Support Services is a child development center specializing in the use of the DIR/Floortime model. Jake and Co-Director Tim Bleecker, with the help of Dr. Stanley Greenspan, developed evaluation and intervention programs based on all aspects of the DIR model. Their goal has been to develop and implement these intervention programs for children with a variety of developmental and learning challenges.
His previous work experiences include:
- Teaching children with learning disabilities
- Developing social programs
- Working with Physical Therapists
- Using the Interactive Metronome
- Working at a visual-spatial cognitive development center
Since the start of DIR Support Services in 2004, they have worked with over 650 families, and have presented 1 to 4 day workshops for various health and educational organizations. Workshops include:
Workshops include:
- Training the entire Special Ed. District of Maui, HI in DIR/Floortime
- Working on an ongoing basis with 5 Special Ed. Schools throughout the US.
- Training 10 different special needs organizations in DIR/Floortime
Their ongoing goal is to provide services for families with children with special needs and to educate and promote the use of the DIR Model.
Luncheon Speaker:
Jim Watkins
Jim Watkins co-anchors the Emmy Award winning CW11 News at 10.
Jim and his wife, Lauren Thierry, are the parents of an autistic child. Jim and his wife have been active in numerous organizations, including The New York Center for Autism, in promoting awareness about autism and research. They are active in numerous charities throughout the New York metropolitan area, including Ronald McDonald House, Project ALS, Special Olympics and The Leukemia Society. Jim has often served as emcee at numerous community events. Lauren made a much-praised documentary, Autism Every Day, which premiered to a sold-out audience at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.
Jim has more than a decade of experience as an anchor, reporter, writer, and producer at The CW11 News at Ten. A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Jim began his broadcast career at WKPT-TV in Kingsport, Tennessee where he was an anchor and reporter before moving to Nashville (anchor, WTVF-TV), Boston (host, WBZ-TV's Evening Magazine), Los Angeles (correspondent, FOX Television's nationally syndicated Entertainment Daily Journal), Cincinnati (anchor, WLWT-TV) and Philadelphia (anchor, WPHL-TV).
Jim enjoys playing guitar and mandolin but his real passion is his family. Currently, he is patiently teaching his three children to play baseball.
LIST OF AWARDS:
- NATIONAL ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS AND SCIENCES (NATAS) EMMY AWARDS
- 2005: Outstanding Single Newscast over 35 Minutes: "WB11 News at 10: 9/11 Day of Tribute"
- 2004: Outstanding Event Coverage: "9/11 America Remembers"
- 2003: Best Single News Cast over 35 Minutes: WB11 News at 10: "Crash of American 587"
- 2002: Outstanding Single Newscast: WB11 News at 10 "TWA 800 - 5 Years Later"
NEW YORK STATE BROADCASTERS ASSOCIATION AWARDS
- 1999: Outstanding Newscast
Future Autism Related Programs: If you would like to be kept aware of future programming, please click on the button below and complete our online database form.
CEU and Professional Development Hours
Kean University is an approved provider for Professional Development Units for Education, National Board of Certified Counselors, Social Work and School Psychologists. We will provide professional development units to the participants who attend the Autism Conference on November 21st, 2008. Everyone needs to sign in and out at every breakout sessions in order to receive PDU.
We are in the process of confirming American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) CEUs. Information will be posted as soon as it becomes available.
If you have any questions, please contact:
Reenat Hasan
Coordinator of Continuing & Professional Education
Nathan Weiss Graduate College
Kean University
Phone # 908-737-5952, Email – hasanr@kean.edu
Cancellation/Refund Policy:
Registrant requests for refund of registration fee will be considered if a written request is sent via fax/email/postal mail postmarked no later than November 5, 2008. No refunds will be given for late notices or no shows. Registrants may send a substitute attendee if written notice is received prior to the Conference. Refunds will be issued within 3 weeks post-conference.
Kean University
Maria Perez
Library 145
1000 Morris Ave
Union, NJ 07083
mperez@kean.edu
Fax: 908.737.4659
Kean University Electronic Commerce Policy and Privacy Statement
Kean University recognizes the privacy interests of online users and believes that the protection of those interests is one of its most significant responsibilities. It is University policy that confidential information entered by an online user during the course of an electronic transaction be used only for the purposes described in that transaction, unless an additional use is specifically stated on the site. Therefore, the University has adopted the following Electronic Commerce Policy and Privacy Statement applicable to information obtained during an electronic transaction:
1. Purpose. This policy applies to electronic transactions involving Kean University and sets forth the parameters for the University’s use of personal information (i.e. name, telephone number, physical address, shipping address, email address, credit card number) to complete such transactions.
2. Acquisition of Information. Information provided by the user is the minimal data needed to successfully complete a web transaction. The University uses contact information (i.e. name and shipping address) and financial information (i.e. credit card number and expiration date). This information is used for billing purposes and to complete a user’s electronic commerce transaction. If there is a problem processing a transaction, this contact information is used to get in touch with the user. The University does not acquire any more information about users that is necessary to complete a web transaction.
3. Implication of Consent by Online User. By conducting electronic commerce transactions on the University’s web site, the user is consenting to Kean University's use and collection of the information provided by the user for the purposes of the transaction and other specified uses. If the University decides to change its privacy guidelines, such changes will be posted on this page or other privacy statement pages so that users will be aware of what information the University collects, how it will be used and with whom the information will be shared. By continuing to use the University web site after a change is posted, the user agrees to the applicable version of these guidelines. Please refer to this policy before making a transaction or sharing personal information. To correct any inaccuracies in information provided to the University, please send an email message to the contact address listed below.
4. Security Measures. Although Kean University takes every reasonable precaution to protect online user information, the University cannot ensure the privacy of online communications.
The University accepts credit card payments online for electronic commerce transactions. Unless otherwise noted on the web site, all University credit card transactions are encrypted.
In addition to providing measures to protect users’ online information, the University strives to protect user information off-line. Only employees who need the information to perform necessary functions are granted access to this information. Personal information will be stored in a confidential manner.
5. Links to Other Web Sites. The University’s web site may contain links to other web sites. However, please be advised that Kean University is not responsible for the security and/or privacy practices for those web sites. If a user leaves the University’s web site, he/she is encouraged to carefully read the privacy statements of every web site that is accessed. This electronic commerce policy and privacy statement only applies to this Kean University web site.
6. Disclosure to Third Parties. Typically, a user’s information will be used only to execute the immediate transaction and will be provided to other parties only as necessary to complete the transaction. However, those parties are not permitted to use or re-disclose that information for unauthorized purposes. The University will provide individually-identifiable information about users to third parties only if: 1) compelled to do so by order of a duly-empowered governmental authority or court; 2) required by law, regulation or ordinance; or, 3) expressly authorized by the user.
The University will not sell any personal information to third parties for purposes of marketing, advertising or promotion.
7. New Jersey Open Public Records Act. Pursuant to the New Jersey Open Public Records Act, N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq., the University may be required to provide information in University records to a third party. Unless exempted by this law, the information will have to be disclosed by the University. Additional information about the New Jersey Open Public Records Act is available at: http://www.state.nj.us/grc/.
8. Alternatives to Website Transactions. The University’s web site provides access to information and services. If you prefer not to provide any information to the University online, you may cancel the transaction and contact Maria Perez, Kean University, 1000 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ 908.737.4652, email address: mperez@kean.edu to learn about other available options for conducting business in person, by mail or by telephone.
9. Questions. If you have questions about this privacy policy, please contact Maria Perez, Kean University, 1000 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ 908.737.4650, email address: mperez@kean.edu
Panel Sessions
Day’s Schedule
The conference begins in Downs Hall with registration and breakfast
| Event | Time | Place |
|---|---|---|
| Registration & continental breakfast | 8:00 A.M. | Wilkins Theatre |
| Keynote speaker | 9:00 A.M. | Wilkins Theatre |
| 5 Concurrent Panel sessions start | 10:30 A.M. | TBA |
| Snack break | 12:30 P.M. | TBA |
| Luncheon speaker | 1:00 P.M. | Wilkins Theatre |
| Networking luncheon | 2:15 P.M. | TBA |
| Vendors Exhibit |
PANELS
Communication, Social Skills, Behavior & Play
Speech-Language Pathologists and Special Educators will discuss methods and strategies to employ as part of an integrated service delivery program.
Expert Co-Moderators:
Dale Jasina, M.Ed., CCC-SLP,
Coordinator of Therapeutic Services, Children's Center of Monmouth County, Neptune, New Jersey Click here for bio
Ethel Kozlik, Ed.D., CCC-SLP,
Principal, Morris-Union Jointure Commission, Developmental Learning Center, New Providence, New Jersey Click here for bio
Barbara Kristoff, Ed.D., CCC-SLP, BCBA
Assistant Director of Educational Services and Principal Gibbons Campus of the Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center,
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Click here for bio
Expert SpeakerS:
Lynn Chodos
Supervisor of Outreach Services Children's Center of Monmouth County, Neptune, New Jersey Click here for bio
Barbara DeLoretto
Supervisor of the Developmental Learning Centers’ Curriculum and Staff Training and Grant Supervisor at Morris-Union Jointure Commission (MUJC) Click here for bio
Stephanie M. Gwizdz, Ed.M., BCBA
Coordinator of Curriculum & Instruction
Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center Click here for bio
Early Diagnosis and Intervention
A key element to successful outcomes for individuals with ASD is early intervention. This session will feature panelists who will discuss the current thinking about early identification of ASD, as well as outcomes when diagnoses are made early. Panelists will also discuss how to determine appropriate interventions for each family.
Expert ModeratorS:
Janice Prontnicki, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.A.P.
Neurodevelopmental Pediatrician, Immediate Past President of American Academy of Pediatrics/NJ Chapter Children's Specialized Hospital, Mountainside, NJ Click here for bio
Expert SpeakerS:
Mr. Scott Buckley
Behavior analyst, Dennis B. O'Brien Elementary School Click here for bio
Scott Matthews
Founder and Executive Director of Intensive Therapeutics, Inc Click here for bio
Dr. Rina Goldberg
Child Neurologist, Institute of Neurology at St Barnabas, in Livingston, New Jersey Click here for bio
Sherri Glassman, Ph.D.
School psychologist Little Falls Public Schools, Little Falls, NJ Click here for bio
Michele Havens, Ed. D.
Consultant-Special Education, Madison, NJ Click here for bio
Family: Challenges of ASD, a Parent's Perspective
This session features a panel of parents with children at different stages of life. Panelists will share their own stories about the choices they made in the areas of treatment and education, followed by a discussion of stress management for families of children with ASD. There will be a Question & Answer session where the audience can ask more specific questions about family issues.
Expert ModeratorS:
Gerard Costa, Ph.D.
Director, YCS (Youth Consultation Service) Institute, Newark, NJ
Founding Director of the YCS Institute for Infant and Preschool Mental Health, East Orange
Member of the Advisory Board and DIR faculty of the Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders (ICDL).
Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, UMDNJ, Newark, NJ
Expert SpeakerS:
Matt Walencik
Parent of a pre-schooler
Mrs. Cinnamon Lenahan
Parent of an 11 year old (daughter) Click here for bio
Cheryl Santos
Parent of an 11 year old (son)
Mr. Alejandro Anderson
Parent of a 14 year old (son)
Anne France Saillot
Parent of a 16 year old
Philip Eliezer Levine, M.D.
Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University New York, New York Click here for bio
Services for ASD Families and Children
In the age of technology, it is easy to be overloaded with information about services available for individuals and their families affected by ASD. This session features panelists who will provide information about the services available for individuals and families throughout the lifespan: Early intervention, school-age, and adult services.
Expert ModeratorS:
Susan Polirstok, EdD
Dean, College of Education, Kean University Click here for bio
Expert SpeakerS:
Meira L. Orentlicher, Ph.D., OTR/L
Assistant Professor Occupational Therapy Program Touro College New York, NY 10010 Click here for bio
Eric Nixon, Ed.D.
Assistant Professor Centenary College, Department of Education Hackettstown, New Jersey Click here for bio
Ms. Shannon Bolivar
Family Support Director ARC- Union County, Springfield, NJ Click here for bio
Michele Charmello, MA
New Jersey licensed Special Educator
Director of Early Intervention Services for Hudson Milestones of Hudson County, New Jersey. Click here for bio
Andrea Vaccaro
Transition Specialist, Bergen County Special services School District Click here for bio
Transitions to Independence in ASD
The difficulties faced by individuals affected by ASD continue throughout their lifespan. This session features panelists who address issues ranging from difficulties with socialization, reliance on others to perform simple daily tasks, improving success in college, and independent living.
(When choosing your preferred session on our registration page, please identify “Improving Social Skills and Independence in ASD” as your choice and you will be registered to attend “Transitions to Independence in ASD”.)
Expert ModeratorS:
Frank Caragher
Executive Director, ARC of Union County ,Springfield, NJ Click here for bio
Expert Speakers:
Jason Campbell, OTR
Caldwell Pediatric Therapy Center Click here for bio
Amy Gravino
Young adult with Autism Spectrum Disorder, graduate student at Caldwell College, author and autism advocate Click here for bio
Thomas McCool, EdD
President/CEO of the Eden Family of Services, Princeton, New Jersey Click here for bio
Marie Segal, PhD
Director, Project Excel, a program for individuals with documented learning disabilities attending Kean University, Chairperson of the Department of Special Education, Director of the Institute of Child Study Click here for bio
Ann-Marie Stripling
Outreach Coordinator, College Living Experience Click here for bio
PLEASE NOTE: The views of individual speakers, moderators, panelists, vendor, or sponsors may not necessarily represent the vies of Kean University. Kean University therefore takes no responsibility for the information provided by an individual participating in the "Autism: Putting the Pieces Together" conference. Kean University does not endorse individual speakers, moderators, panelists, vendor, or sponsors.
Sponsorships and Vendors
Annette L Becklund, MSW, LCSW & Associates
Counseling and therapy for children and their families diagnosed with Autism and Asperger's, ADHD, mood issues, etc. Social skills groups, teaching self-advocacy, parent support, and education. www.AnnetteLBecklund.com
ARC of Union County
The ARC of Union County, Inc. is a non-profit, non-sectarian 501 (c) (3) membership-based organization dedicated to enriching the lives of individuals of all ages with developmental disabilities and to assisting their families in promoting the quality of their care and support. Affiliated with both the New Jersey and National ARC, The ARC of Union County was founded in 1949 by parents of children with disabilities. Various programs of the ARC of Union County are licensed by the New Jersey State Department of Health, Human Services, and Education and the agency holds distinguished accreditations from CARF and NAEYC, nationally recognized accrediting authorities.
The ARC of Union functions as both an advocacy and service agency. Its goal for both endeavors is to promote holistic community integration and independence for people with developmental disabilities across life spheres and within early childhood, educational, social, residential, vocational, and family domains. The ARC of Union uses both of its functions to promote the quality of life for people with developmental disabilities and to provide meaningful choices and options for consumers of services.
Autism Family Services of New Jersey
Provides family support, respite, after school programs for people with autism and their families.
AXA Advisors LLC
Securities and investment advisory services offered through AXA Advisors, LLC (NY, NY 212-314-4600), member FINRA, SIPC. Annuity and insurance products offered through AXA Network, LLC and its subsidiaries. Stuart Flaum is licensed to sell insurance in the following states: NY, NJ; is registered to offer securities in the following states: NY, NJ and is registered to offer investment advisory services in the following states: NY, NJ.
Balogh Family
Ben Balogh is a 3 year old diagnosed with Autism and his loving parents are looking for “a few good therapists” to help with his home program. We are interested in implementing the Floortime Play Based approach intensively and are looking to hire qualified candidates.
Blessed with Autism
Blessed with Autism was founded by Christina Peck, CPC, a parent of a child diagnosed with PDD-NOS. Christina Peck, CPC has written a workbook called “Blessed with Autism: A Parents’ Guide to Financial Support for the Treatment of Children with Autism and Special Needs” which will be able to purchase.
Celebrate the Children School
DIR school for Alternative learning styles, predominately autistic. Also CTC therapy center: assessments, floortime, social skills, parent support, DIE professional groups, etc
Children’s Center of Monmouth County, Neptune, NJ
The Children's Center of Monmouth County offers educational services, training in adaptive living and pre-vocational skills for students, ages 3 to 21, with multiple disabilities or a diagnosis of autism and pervasive developmental delays.
The Children's Center provides each student with a functionally based academic curriculum, as dictated by the Individualized Educational Plan. Included within a functional curriculum are the skills that are ultimately needed to successfully participate, to the fullest extent, in the community.
The Children's Institute
The Children's Institute (TCI) is a private, non-profit school approved by the New Jersey State Department of Education, serving children facing learning, language and social challenges, ages 3-21.
Creating Choices for Children
Creating Choices for Children is a parent organization partnered with the Caldwell/West Caldwell School District for special needs children that provides information, advocacy, and support as well as programs focusing on learning, recreation, and socialization.
The Davis Center
The Davis Center specializes in sound-based therapy for learning, development and wellness supporting people with autism, ADHD, learning and wellness challenges. Therapies such as AIT, Tomatis, and BioAcoustics are included in The Davis Model of Sound Intervention. A test battery determines if, when, how long, and the order for therapies.
Different Roads to Learning, Inc./DRL Books, Inc.
Different Roads to Learning, Inc. carries over 350 products carefully selected to support the Autism community. We understand and embrace the unique needs of every child on the spectrum and strive to enable parents and professionals to help our children grow to their fullest potential. We have carefully researched our products to ensure their equal quality and utility while we continue to explore new topics in order to offer you the most appropriate and progressive materials available.
DRL Books was founded by the parent of a child with autism who saw the need for a comprehensive catalog of learning materials critical to any ABA program. It is a division of Different Roads to Learning, a catalog and website dedicated to presenting affordable materials that will help our children with autism learn. More information at www.difflearn.com
Discovery Toys
Discovery Toys is an educational toy company dedicated to providing high quality toys for children. Discovery Toys supports children with autism by dividing the product line into six autism support areas and labeling every toy in the catalog by those areas. These product labels will assist parents and educators in finding developmentally appropriate toys to support learning.
Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center, Rutgers University
The DDDC exists to meet the needs of people with autism spectrum disorders and their families. As an ABA program, we use these principles to organize our delivery of services. We recognize that it is our responsibility to work collaboratively with the families of the children and adults we serve, and with the agencies that fund their treatment. As a university-based program, our commitment includes the education of undergraduate and graduate students and the dissemination of knowledge through research, training, and consultative services. We also strive to provide information about the treatment and education of people with autism spectrum disorders to the entire professional community and to the general public. In addition, we are committed to furthering the understanding of the nature and treatment of autism spectrum disorders through research.
Services and programs include: School Program, Adult and Transitional Services, Outreach Services, Research and Training, Educational Services, and Early Intervention Programs
Eden Family of Services
Eden Outreach, a division of the Eden Family of Services, provides a range of autism services including consultations, evaluations, workshops, conferences and trainings. Online training is available atwww.edenlearning.com. The Eden Curriculum, a comprehensive series of teaching programs, reflecting Eden’s more than 30 years of experience can be purchased online at www.edenoutreach.org.
Family Link
The New Jersey Early Intervention System (NJEIS), under the Division of Family Health Services, implements New Jersey's statewide system of services for infants and toddlers, birth to age three, with developmental delays or disabilities, and their families. The Department of Health and Senior Services is appointed by the Governor as the state lead agency for the Early Intervention System.
For more information, please visit www.njeis.org
Friendship Connection
The Friendship Connection is a social skills program for children with various abilities. Children will learn, practice, apply, and generalize appropriate social skills in a variety of situations and settings. Individual needs will be considered and addressed to enable the child to learn and gain the most from this experience. The program includes discrete skill development including areas such as conversation, interaction initiations, staying on topic, understanding social cues, body language, anger management strategies, listening and attending strategies, and many other essential interaction and engagement skills, including any which arise with the children needing intervention. Skills are taught through the use of social stories, social sequences (visual cues), role-playing, literature, and various group and written activities (differentiated to the individual levels). A key to our strategy is to generalize immediately through group play, games, and cooperative activities. Children leave every session with materials, which will assist with practice at home and generalization across settings. Many of the groups spend a significant amount of time targeting playground skills, as this is a need for many of the children during school year and in various social outings.
Golfers Giving Inc.-An Autism Charity
Golfers Giving Inc.-An Autism Charity
provides scholarships to special education teachers and related fields.
Our annual golf tournament is the main fundraiser.
SAVE THE DATE
AUTISM GOLF CLASSIC
APRIL 25, 2009
For scholarship information click on www.golfersgivinginc.org.
Intensive Therapeutics
Intensive Therapeutics, Inc. is a 501 (c) (3), non-profit, charitable organization that provides group and individual occupational therapy services to children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, sensory-motor issues and children with special needs.
Kean University Counseling & Disability Services
The Office of Disability Services welcomes you to Kean University. Kean University is strong in its commitment to the full inclusion and equal opportunity for all persons with disabilities. The University adheres to the requirements of the American with Disabilities Act, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Every effort is made by our friendly professional staff to provide students with the opportunity to participate in all areas of college life. http://www.kean.edu/~kcc/
Kean University Doctoral Programs (Ed.D. and Psy.D.) and Graduate Programs
The Nathan Weiss Graduate College at Kean University houses two doctoral programs, twenty-six master degree programs, two professional diplomas, and forty-five program options. Our fields of study range from teacher education to accounting and from biotechnology to psychology. Our faculty is committed to providing our graduate students with an excellent and useful professional education. Students are attracted to Kean’s graduate programs for several reasons, including our small class size, a talented faculty, a close student-professor relationship, and the reasonable cost of graduate education at Kean. The best reason, however, is that a graduate degree form Kean stresses an education that you can put to work in your career.
Doctoral Programs: Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Urban Leadership and Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in School Psychology. More information at www.kean.edu/~grad
Kean University Project Excel
Project Excel is a program for individuals attending Kean University with documented learning disabilities or Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD/ADHD) as their primary disability. A learning disability is a generic term that refers to a heterogeneous group of disorders manifested by significant difficulties in the acquisition and use of listening, reading, writing, reasoning, or mathematical abilities. These disorders occur in persons of average to very superior intelligence. Even though a learning disability may exist concomitantly with other handicapping conditions (e.g. sensory impairment) or environmental influence (e.g. cultural or language difficulties), it is not the direct result of those conditions or influences. http://www.kean.edu/~pexcel/
Kean University Library – Spread the Word – Resources about Autism
Compiled by the Spreading the Word Team: Prof. Craig Anderson, Prof. Janette González and Prof. Chrisler Pitts
The Nancy Thompson Library at Kean University is a comprehensive information and learning center that offers specialized collections and services designed to meet the academic information needs of the Kean University community. Located in the heart of the Kean campus, the Nancy Thompson Library houses the Library’s print, media, and online collections. As part of the library services, librarians compile research guides to furnish Kean University students, faculty, and staff with the best resources in specific subject fields of interest.
The Spreading the Word Team has prepared a guide to online and print resources on Autism. These resources are either available from the Library or are free quality Internet resources. The resources listed in the Books, E-Books and Databases section are available to anyone using a computer in the Kean University Library. Off-campus access is available only to faculty, staff and students currently affiliated with Kean University. http://library.kean.edu/
Kean University Occupational Therapy Department
Kean University's Occupational Therapy program is New Jersey's first and premier occupational therapy program, preparing occupational therapy students to become superior clinicians, administrators, educators, and researchers.
The Department of Occupational Therapy will be offering information about a spring workshop for young adults who are interested in going to college, who have been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. Transition To College will give young adults the experience of being on a college campus, while providing opportunities to explore campus life, learn about campus activities, and socialize with peers. http://www.kean.edu/~ot/
Kean University Graduate Program in Speech-Language Pathology
The graduate program in Speech-Language Pathology, accredited by the Council on Audiology and Speech Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, offers both traditional and nontradional students an opportunity to prepare for careers in a rewarding, exciting, and competitive field. The department’s new state-of-the-art facility on Kean’s East Campus enables the prominent faculty to teach and train students to a level of excellence in both academic and clinical curricula. The Kean University Center for Communication Disorders services clients from the community, including those with social/pragmatic/communication problems secondary to PDD and ASD. www.kean.edu/~cdd/
Kean University Speech-Language and Hearing Student Association
This group is for all the students currently in the Speech Pathology/Speech Correction program and for anyone who is interested in learning more about the major.
Learning by Design, LLC
Learning by Design, LLC provides services in the areas of early intervention, school behavioral consultation, social skills, parent, teacher, inclusion and community training, customized presentations and business management services for those with autism and other special needs. www.lbdesign.org
Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes
Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes is an organization dedicated to helping students learn to their potential. Our research-driven instruction develops the sensory-cognitive processes of phonemic awareness, symbol imagery, and concept imagery.
Morris-Union Jointure Commission, Developmental Learning Centers
The Morris-Union Jointure Commission (MUJC) is a regional collaborative public school district that provides services and programs to meet the needs of its 29 constituent school districts.
MUJC provides public school programs in supportive environments for students with autism or autistic-like behavior at the three Developmental Learning Centers (DLCs) it operates in New Providence, Union, and Warren, NJ. Over the past several years MUJC has expanded its services and programs to meet the growing needs of its educational community.
Mtown Clothing Company
Mtown Clothing Co. was founded by Charles"Mr.Middletown" O'Rourke, a local NJ Realtor and Entrepreneur www.MrMiddletown.com . Mtown Clothing Co.was created in 2006 out of a desire and direction of "Giving Back" to the community.
BBU/BGU Baby Boy University/Baby Girl University are product lines that Charley developed over the past year and will be donating 25% of the profits to a National Autism Awareness Charity, Additionally in this same year Charley also created "Jersey Autism" a trendy logo in the shape of NJ to shine a light and create awareness to the ever increasing and shocking statistics that NJ is experiencing with regards to Autism.50% of the profits from "Jersey Autism" will be donated to a NJ based Autism Awareness/Research Organization.
NICHD Brain & Tissue Bank for Developmental Disorders
The NICHD Brain & Tissue Bank is a national repository for brain and various tissues. We collect both unaffected and affected tissue.
New Jersey Center for the Advancement of School Counseling at Kean University
The New Jersey Center for the Advancement of School Counseling at Kean University was established in 2007 through a 3-year grant from the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE). The Center, in partnership with the NJ School Counselor Association & NJDOE, provides leadership to school counseling and counselor education programs in helping reinvent how school counseling is conducted in New Jersey through pilot schools' attendance at the School Counselor Institute.
The goal of the grant program is “to develop statewide systemic reform in school guidance and counseling based on the implementation of comprehensive, developmental school counseling programs that are focused on promoting life and career development and student achievement through partnerships between state government agencies, state school counseling associations, and institutions of higher education” (NJDOE, 2007). Two keystones of this process, in support of the Governor's initiative to personalize high schools, is to implement a career plan for ALL students based on a systematic decision making process, and the implementation of some type of advisor-advisee program.
For more information go to: www.kean.edu/~reinvent
OTAP
OTAP is an internationally renowned pediatric occupational therapy facility specializing in sensory processing disorders. Our therapists are experts in providing the latest research & innovative methods for ensuring "therapy without walls" through comprehensive evaluations, individual & group treatments, advocacy, social skills, intensive parent/professional trainings & nutritional services. We believe that exceptional children deserve exceptional therapy without any boundaries!
P.G. Chambers School
At P.G. Chambers School, “discovering potential” is an important part of our mission, inspiring us to provide the best, most comprehensive special education and therapy programs for children with special needs. P.G. Chambers School helps children with disabilities develop confidence in their own abilities and lead fuller, more productive lives through early intervention, special education, therapy programs and other specialized services. More information at: www.chambersschool.org
Pocket Full of Therapy
Pocket Full of Therapy is a catalog company dedicated to assisting Occupational Therapists and others concerned with the development of children find the unique materials needed to provide effective, appropriate, motivating and fun, pediatric therapy and learning. The catalog is arranged into categories pertinent to development. This makes classroom, home programs and gift giving recommendations easier. More information at www.pfot.com
Princeton Speech-Language Learning Center
We use the most effective, research-based methods for the most rapid improvement. Our nationally certified speech-language pathologists are highly trained in treating individuals diagnosed with conditions including:
Autism spectrum disorders; Attention deficit disorder; Auditory processing disorders; Speech and Language disorders; Feeding difficulties; Childhood apraxia of speech; Learning disabilities and Dyslexia.
We use a variety of methods such as DIR/Floortime; SCERTS, sensory integration, oral-motor/apraxia approaches. PSLLC's services often supplement school programs and outside therapies such at OT, ABA and RDI. We work together with a child's family, teachers and other professionals to facilitate carryover.
PSLLC can be an integral part of a child's evaluation team. We administer a variety of communication assessments for individuals on the autism spectrum. We are clinically trained to administer the ADOS-Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, adn the ADI-R, Autism Diagnostic Interview. These are the gold standard tools used in the assessment of autism and PDD.
Skillbuilding Buddies
Skillbuilding Buddies™ mission is to help empower learners with special needs the skills they need to have successful social experiences
Skillbuilding Buddies™is an online video service that offers award-winning, educational videos at skillbuildingbuddies.com. The videos are available free of charge—anytime.
Skillbuilding Buddies™ features award-winning educational videos and support materials for children in the areas of social skills, adaptive skills, communication and motor skills. The site also offers informational videos for parents and educators.
Superb Therapy, LLC
SPEECH/LANGUAGE THERAPY English/Spanish;
One-time consults or on-going therapy;
SPEECH & LANGUAGE IMPROVEMENT WORKSHOP for Parents, Caretakers, Expectant & Adoptive Parents & Professionals; Introducing: The Pearls of Wisdom Workshop featuring the Full STEAM Ahead method of communication improvement. Books & Music that stimulate communication
Susan Mendelson, MSW, LSW
Susan Mendelson, MSW, LSW is a licensed social worker and adjunct professor at Kean, and has a private practice that focuses on working with children and families in the area of social skills training. My clients include children on the autism spectrum as well as ADHD, anxiety, OCD, selective mutism, Turner's Syndrome and various learning disabilities. The children learn to navigate the social aspects of their lives including conversation skills, bullying, peer relations, conflict resolution, non-verbal communication, anger management, understanding emotions, assertion vs. aggression.
Therapy Tree, LLC
Therapy Tree, LLC is a private, family run special needs provider. We specialize in Pediatric Occupational Therapy services. We strive to personalize and individualize our services according to each child, and his/her family’s unique needs. www.TherapyTreellc.com
TINY TOTS THERAPY, Inc.
Tiny Tots Therapy, Inc. is a pediatric therapy service provider for children with special needs, ages birth through adolescence. The outpatient clinic is located in scotch plains, where the following services are available: Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech & language therapy, Music Therapy, Yoga and Sensory-motor Social Skills Groups.
Some of the therapists have specialized training in Sensory Integration, Intensive TheraSuit program, Handwriting without Tears, Yoga for the special child, Kinesiotaping, MEDEK, Deborah Beckman Oral motor therapy, Therapeutic listening, ABA (not all included). Home based therapy services and workshops/in services to families and community are also provided. Visit: www.Tinytotstherapyinc.com for details.
Trinitas Children's Therapy Services
We provide pediatric school-based and center-based (outpatient) physical, occupational, and speech therapy services, as well as in-services and recreational programs.
Xanadu Behavior Therapy
Xanadu Behavior Therapy is celebrating its 10th year of delivering quality ABA services to families of children affected by autism and related disorders! Located in Hackettstown and Brick, our qualified staff provides in-home and community-based assessments, family training, individualized instruction, school consultations, staff training, and various workshops.
PLEASE NOTE: The views of individual speakers, moderators, panelists, vendor, or sponsors may not necessarily represent the views of Kean University. Kean University therefore takes no responsibility for the information provided by an individual participating in the "Autism: Putting the Pieces Together" conference. Kean University does not endorse individual speakers, moderators, panelists, vendor, or sponsors.