Using Attribution Retraining to Improve Problem-Solving and Self-Regulation

Thursday, April 22, 2021 – 10 am – 11 am (Mountain Time)

Featuring Sherry A. Moyer, MSW, LSW

This workshop gives audience members an opportunity to learn the critical role of assessing our circumstances, identifying our options and then taking action to improve the situation BEFORE it becomes a crisis. Using a side-by-side comparison of real-life examples for both children and adults, the presentation gives a practical approach to recognizing disruptive effects of negative or hostile attribution patterns on self-regulation and immediate steps that everyone can take to promote positive attribution and successful outcomes.

How to Incorporate Structured Strategies into Everyday Life

Thursday, May 6, 2021 – 10 am – 11 am (Mountain Time)

Featuring Amy Gaffney

Strategies that provide structure and predictability help individuals on the spectrum better understand a given situation, which leads to greater success and independence.   This webinar will discuss three structured strategies that can be used throughout a person’s day:  structured language supports, visual schedules, and work systems.  These strategies are often introduced at school but should also be extended into a child’s home and community, and continue to be utilized into adulthood.  Participants will have the opportunity to make an action plan as they learn more ways to utilize structured strategies throughout the day.

Sensory Issues and Emotions: A Guide to Assisting Children and Adolescents with Self-Awareness and Strategy Development

Featuring Lauren H. Kerstein

With this presentation, participants will be given the opportunity to engage in a deeper exploration of sensory issues and the impact they have on our emotions, mental health system and self-regulation. The presentation will guide participants through developing a better understanding of sensory challenges and strategies that might effectively assist a child with increasing his/her ability to understand and manage sensory issues.

Using the SPELL Framework to Understand, Respond, and Work Effectively with Children and Adults on the Autism Spectrum

Featuring Richard Mills

This webinar will discuss the SPELL Framework, initially developed by the UK’s National Autistic Society (NAS), and how it promotes a better understanding and response from people who are supporting and caring for autistic children and adults.

Understanding and Supporting Children with ASD for a Positive Future

Featuring Maureen Bennie

How we support children with ASD today affects future outcomes. By increasing our knowledge of ASD, understanding learning difficulties and strengths, and effectively addressing core concerns such as communication, sensory issues and challenging behavior, we can create positive, trusting relationships that foster happiness and well-being. So how do we get there? This webinar explores a number of ways to provide the best support for children, while also understanding that what we do today can build a positive future.

Designing Sensory Spaces for Children and Teens at Home

Featuring Paula Aquilla, OT

Parents and children are spending more time together during COVID. Schools have been closed and restrictions have been made on community spaces, making home ‘the space’ for everyone. In this webinar, you will learn what to consider when designing your space and how to enlist your child in designing the space they will use. The same space can have more than one purpose – learn how to change the space with multiple purposes in mind.

The Brain and Autism: Linking Neurology and Interventions to Address Academic and Behavior Challenges

Featuring Dr. Brenda Smith Myles

This session will briefly overview some of the neurological research and autism spectrum disorder in laymen’s terms. Specifically, brain research related to academics/learning, social, sensory, and regulation will be addressed. This research will then be linked to practical, easy-to-use evidenced-based interventions that can help autistic students learn.

Teaching Literacy Skills to Students with Autism – Reflections and Foundations

Featuring Leslie Broun

When Leslie began working with students with autism in 1988, there was very little information available on what to teach or how to teach it, but gradually, through the 1990’s, thanks to individuals like Temple Grandin, autism became more understood and part of the educational discourse. In this webinar, Leslie will discuss her specific influences in developing teaching skills, in particular  – literacy, for students with autism. One of the most significant of these is the role of neuroscience, which we can neither ignore nor underestimate in conceptualizing instruction, e.g. how irregularities in the brains of persons with autism can affect elements of social understanding and thus, reading comprehension.