JOURNAL TRANSCRIPT
10 ANNUAL TH
AUTISM CONFERENCE WITH GUEST SPEAKERS: SEAN COVEY - THE 7 HABITS SILKEN LAUMANN - UNSINKABLE MICHAEL JOHN CARLEY - NEW WAY OF LOOKING AT AUTISM AND MORE!
JAN 24TH - JAN 26TH, 2018 ROGERS PLACE
AND EDMONTON MARRIOTT RIVER CREE RESORT
ROGERS PLACE EDMONTON MARRIOTT RIVER CREE EDMONTON MARRIOTT RIVER CREE
WEDNESDAY, JAN 24TH 8:30 AM – 9:45 AM
REGISTRATION AT ROGERS PLACE
9:45 AM – 12:00 PM
Keynote Speaker: Sean Covey – Leader in Me
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
LUNCH BREAK (concessions open for purchase – lunch not included)
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Silken Lauman: Unsinkable
2:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Michael John Carley: Old Ways of Looking at Autism, New Ways of Looking at Autism
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Reception: Snacks and Drinks available in the Lounge
7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Oil Kings Game INCLUDED
THURSDAY, JAN 25TH 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
REGISTRATION & BREAKFAST
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Keynote Speaker: Amy Laurent – Emotional Regulation
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
LUNCH PROVIDED
1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
A: Amy Laurent - Emotional Regulation Intervention B: Kyle Pushkarenko - Physical Literacy in ASD C: Parent Panel – Facilitated by David Nicholas
3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
A: cont’ Amy Laurent - Emotional Regulation Intervention B: cont’ Kyle Pushkarenko - Physical Literacy in ASD C: David Nicholas - Experiences of Parents and Strategies for Moving Forward
Evening
7:00 PM: Poker Tournament – River Cree Casino
FRIDAY, JAN 26TH 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
REGISTRATION & BREAKFAST
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Keynote Speaker: Catherine Lord
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
LUNCH PROVIDED
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
A: Jonathan Weiss: Mental Health B: Pat Mirenda: AAC in autism C: Successful Community Experiences
Evening
6:30 PM: Tell me a Story Gala for Autism
*tentative schedule - subject to change
10TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS SEAN COVEY - THE LEADER IN ME Wednesday, January 24th | Rogers Place: Lower Bowl Club Seats Sean Covey is a business executive, author, speaker, and innovator. Currently, Sean is Executive Vice President of Global Solutions and Partnerships at FranklinCovey and oversees FranklinCovey’s international operations in over 100 countries around the globe. Sean also serves as FranklinCovey’s Education Practice Leader and is devoted to transforming education throughout the world through teaching faculty and students principle-centered leadership. Sean is a New York Times best-selling author and has written several books, including the Wall Street Journal #1 Business Bestseller, The 4 Disciplines of Execution, The 6 Most Important Decisions You’ll Ever Make, The 7 Habits of Happy Kids, and The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, which has been translated into 20 languages and sold over 5 million copies worldwide. He is a versatile keynoter who regularly speaks to kids and adults within schools and organizations and has appeared on numerous radio and TV shows. Born in Belfast Ireland, Sean’s favorite activities include going to movies, working out, hanging out with his kids, riding his motorcycle, producing short films, and writing books. Sean and his wife Rebecca, who is also a BYU graduate, live with their children in Alpine, Utah.
SILKEN LAUMANN - UNSINKABLE Wednesday, January 24th | Rogers Place: Lower Bowl Club Seats Olympic Hero | Mental Health Advocate Four-time Olympian Silken Laumann is one of Canada’s most inspirational leaders, a bestselling author, and a highly recognizable and beloved athlete who has made her work reaching her own potential and helping others reach theirs. Inspiring, funny, thought provoking, and always down to earth, Silken opens her heart and leaves her audience ready to unlock their own potential and aspire to their own greatness. What prevails in Silken is the human spirit, the humor to keep learning through the failures, the courage to see opportunities within obstacles, and the tenacity to never stop trying to be better.
JAN 24TH - JAN 26TH, 2018 | 2
MICHAEL JOHN CARLEY Wednesday, January 24th | ROGERS PLACE Michael John Carley received his B.A. from Hampshire College, and his M.F.A. from Columbia University. As the Founder, and first Executive Director of GRASP, the largest organization comprised of adults on the autism spectrum, he spoke at 100 conferences, hospitals, universities, and health care organizations. He has written, Asperger’s From the Inside Out and Unemployed on the Autism Spectrum. Along with his (then) 4-year old son, he was diagnosed with AS in Nov of 2000. SESSION DESCRIPTION Wednesday Luncheon: A Company Was Walking Down the Street, and it Thought, “Let’s Look Into Hiring People on the Autism Spectrum!”… Individuals with non-apparent disabilities are a growing segment of the workforce. With their strong intellectual capabilities and a supportive educational environment, more and more are earning college and post-graduate degrees, and we hear about many new initiatives designed for spectrum adults. Yet unemployment and retention rates for these individuals are significantly worse than those of the general population, and don’t seem to be getting any better…even when most D&I numbers could use the boost. Additionally, certain regions actually present more challenges herein because of the cultures they may have. What’s going on? SESSION DESCRIPTION Wednesday Keynote: Old Ways of Looking at Autism, New Ways of Looking at Autism: The New Look at the Needs of Kids and Adults on the Autism Spectrum, and the Schools That Teach Them Very akin to a journey, “The New Look . . . “ examines the many ways we look at the entire autism spectrum, if not the new neurodiverse world, and this presentation guides us through the confusing mixed messages we receive today. With a very humanist roadmap, Michael John Carley discusses obstacles faced by kids, their teachers, adults, the myths surrounding their capabilities, and he briefly goes over the sociological history of why we react the way we do to words like “autism” and “Asperger’s.” Lastly, as an adult with Asperger’s himself (and the father of a now-college age child with Asperger’s) Carley sprinkles in his own personal reflections as he outlines—characteristic by characteristic—how subjective our view of the spectrum truly can be.
AMY LAURENT Thursday, January 25th | MARRIOTT RIVER CREE Amy Laurent, Ph.D., OTR/L is a developmental psychologist and a registered pediatric occupational therapist. Currently in private practice, Amy specializes in the education of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and related developmental disabilities. The SCERTS Model, of which she is a coauthor, along with differentiated instruction and developmental theory guide her practice. Amy’s current research interests involve examining the relationship between characteristics of young children diagnosed with Autism and strategies used by parents to support them within the context of natural routines and play. She frequently lectures and provides training throughout the United States and internationally on the SCERTS Model, and other topics related to therapeutic and educational intervention for children with ASD. SESSION DESCRIPTION AM Keynote: Emotional Regulation Approach to Challenging Behaviour Challenging behavior is often associated with emotional regulatory difficulties. Emotional regulation is a core developmental challenge faced by individuals diagnosed with ASD throughout development (i.e., pre-verbal stages, emerging language stages, and conversational stages). This talk will introduce the developmental construct of emotional regulation, the regulatory challenges experienced by individuals with ASD, as well as briefly highlighting practical guidelines for prioritizing intervention targets in this area for a wide developmental range. SESSION DESCRIPTION PM Breakout: Intervention Strategies for Emotional Regulation Challenging behaviors require thoughtful interventions. This breakout session will focus on the reduction of challenging behaviors by supporting the development of emotional regulatory abilities for individuals at various developmental levels (i.e., pre-verbal stages, emerging language stages, and conversational stages). Emphasis will be placed on cross contextual program planning, intervention in natural environments, and collaboration between families and professionals. The concept of Emotional Regulation Plans will be introduced.
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CATHERINE LORD Friday, January 25th | MARRIOTT RIVER CREE Catherine Lord, PhD, is the Director of the Center for Autism and the Developing Brain, a joint project of New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical College and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, in partnership with New York Collaborates for Autism. She completed degrees in psychology at UCLA and Harvard, and a clinical internship at Division TEACCH at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Lord is a licensed clinical psychologist with specialties in diagnosis, social and communication development and intervention in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). She is renowned for her work in longitudinal studies of social and communicative development in ASD. She has also been involved in the development of standardized diagnostic instruments for ASD with colleagues from the United Kingdom and the United States (the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS), an observational scale, and the Autism Diagnostic Interview — Revised (ADI-R), a parent interview, now considered the gold standard for research diagnoses all over the world. Dr. Lord was the Chair of the National Research Council’s Committee on the Effectiveness of Early Intervention in Autism and is a member of the DSM5 Neurodevelopmental Disorders Committee. Her work at the Center for Autism and the Developing Brain involves continued research in validity and longitudinal studies, early diagnosis of children with autism, regression in children with autism and clinical evaluations and diagnoses of children and adults who may have autism.
JOIN US FOR A 3-DAY EVENT FILLED WITH FUN & LEARNING! • ACCESS TO ROGERS PLACE LOWER BOWL CLUB SEATS FOR WEDNESDAY KEYNOTE SESSIONS!
• TICKET FOR OIL KINGS GAME ON WEDNESDAY EVENING INCLUDED WITH WEDNESDAY AND 3 DAY REGISTRATIONS
• MEALS AND SNACKS INCLUDED at MARRIOTT RIVER CREE
• VENDORS, BOOK SALES AND EXHIBITORS AVAILABLE
ALL-IN FOR AUTISM CHARITY POKER TOURNAMENT
TELL ME A STORY GALA FOR AUTISM
Thursday, January 25th at 7:00 PM River Cree Resort & Casino
with Martin Kerr
Friday, January 26th at 6:30 PM
Join our 3rd Annual no-limit Texas Hold ‘Em Charity Poker Tournament
Come and have fun with us at the Marriott River Cree to celebrate and support all families affected by autism. Show your support by attending this entertaining and engaging evening. We will have an incredible dinner, a performance by Martin Kerr, a silent auction, and more! Join us for this special night out.
• $100 buy in, space is limited, fun for every level of player
Tickets: $125
ARE YOU FEELING LUCKY?
CHECK OUT WWW.CHILDRENSAUTISM.CA OR CALL (780) 495-9235 FOR MORE INFO JAN 24TH - JAN 26TH, 2018 | 4
CONCURRENT SESSIONS: DR. DAVID NICHOLAS Thurday, January 25th MARRIOTT RIVER CREE
Dr. David Nicholas, PhD, RSW, is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary, and is cross-appointed to the Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta. His research addresses quality of life, employment support and transition to adulthood in disability, family support, and parenting, with a focus on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). He is the recipient of multiple national and international research grants, and brings extensive experience in training and clinical practice in social work relative to disability and chronic health issues and the impacts of disability on the family. He has authored numerous publications on family experience in ASD. SESSION DESCRIPTION: Who Signed Me Up for This?: The Experiences of Parents and Strategies for Moving Forward in ASD Parents are central and a key resource for their child. Autism often brings unanticipated and different experiences of parenting, with some parents saying that, “you have to live it to understand it”. Various tensions arise as parents raise their child through developmental phases from early toddlerhood on into adulthood. Challenges emerge starting at initial recognition of difference, then at the time of diagnosis, into and through school, and over time – managing the present and considering the future. Parents provide specialized roles of ‘nurturer’, ‘advocate’ and ‘therapist’ as well as a range of additional tasks in the context of care. Strategies are important for: (1) managing various challenges along the parenting journey, and (2) more fully recognizing and reaching toward the goodness of family life as affected by neurodiversity. For parents and their families, it is important to gain new learnings, find pathways that nourish the soul, derive strength from a nurturing community, and seek joy on the journey. This presentation will reflect on the experiences and needs of parents, but also offer strategies that encourage growth, hope and a good life in the present and future. To that end, autism is marathon, not a sprint; strengthening parents & families and walking the journey together as a strong community are urgently needed – not just for parents but for young people with ASD, families and our community.
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KYLE PUSHKARENKO Thurday, January 25th MARRIOTT RIVER CREE
Kyle Pushkarenkois a Physical Literacy Consultant with Children’s Autism Services of Edmonton and a Doctoral Candidate and Sessional Instructor in the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation at the University of Alberta. Kyle’s research explores the understandings and meanings attached to the concept of physical literacy according to those who support and facilitate the physical activity experiences of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. His research and views on physical literacy development have been presented internationally, nationally, and locally. He is an active advocate for and practitioner of adapted physical activity and physical literacy development for children with autism spectrum disorders. SESSION DESCRIPTION: Promoting physical literacy as a means of unlocking potential in children with autism spectrum disorders Physical literacy is considered to be one’s human potential to engage in meaningful physical pursuits. When provided with opportunity, this potential can be nurtured into a positive attitude toward one’s movement capability, furthering the motivation to interact and establish connections with the surrounding environment. For children experiencing disability, including those diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, the development of physical literacy is thought to support their physical development, and promote social, emotional, intellectual and cognitive capacities. Given that physical literacy occurs across multiple environmental contexts and according to the diverse nature of each child, the provision of continuous and collaborative efforts is essential to support each child’s physical literacy journey. One of the largest barriers to the development of physical literacy in children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder is the lack of awareness and knowledge of the concept by those responsible for its facilitation. As such, the objective of this session is to offer an overview of physical literacy and to provide ideas for creating meaningful and purposeful physical activity experiences allowing for each child’s physical literacy development to flourish.
DR. JONATHAN WEISS - TOWARDS THRIVING Friday, January 26th
MARRIOTT RIVER CREE Jonathan A. Weiss, Ph.D. (York University), is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology, and a Clinical Psychologist. He completed a pre-doctoral internship at Surrey Place Centre (Toronto) and a post-doctoral fellowship in the Dual Diagnosis Program at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and was a fellow in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto. Dr. Weiss holds the CIHR Chair in Autism Spectrum Disorders Treatment and Care Research, as well as operating funds from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. His research focuses on the prevention and treatment of mental health problems in people with autism spectrum disorders and/or intellectual disabilities across the lifespan. SESSION DESCRIPTION: Towards thriving: Combining psychosocial interventions to address mental health in adolescents and adults with autism within a positive youth development framework People with autism often struggle with managing anxiety, anger, or depression, with high rates cited in both adolescence and adulthood. Increasingly, cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and mindfulness-based therapy (MBT) are being used to help address these difficulties. These treatments are best provided within a context of promoting thriving and positive growth more generally in people across the spectrum. This presentation is suited for parents, professionals and graduate students. Experience with working with people with autism, and in providing cognitive behavioural or other psychosocial treatments is an asset, but not required.
DR. PAT MIRENDA
Friday, January 26th MARRIOTT RIVER CREE Pat Mirenda is a Professor in the Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology and Special Education at the University of British Columbia , where she has been on faculty since 1996. She is also a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). Her primary areas of interest are autism/developmental disabilities, augmentative and alternative communication, positive behavior support, inclusive education, and literacy development. She is the principal investigator of several projects that are housed in the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Research Lab at UBC. SESSION DESCRIPTION: Taking the Initiative: Supporting Spontaneous Communication in Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder Despite widespread use of the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), many minimally verbal students with autism fail to initiate even basic requests in the absence of adult directives. In many cases, this lack of spontaneity is the result of instructional errors during PECS implementation. The first part of this session will identify the most common of these errors and offer suggestions for remediation. The second part of the session will discuss the need to move “beyond PECS” in order to provide opportunities for students with autism to initiate messages through the use of core and fringe vocabulary displays.
Level of the topic presented is indicated by the icons: This session is suitable for all audiences including those new to autism. The session will include introductory information on the topic described. This session is suitable for attendees with some knowledge of autism and will include practical strategies and tools on the topic described. This session will provide advanced information and is suitable for attendees with a background in autism. There will be presentation of new research findings and ideas.
JAN 24TH - JAN 26TH, 2018 | 6
REGISTRATION FEES
FOR 2018 CONFERENCE. JAN 24TH - 26TH, 2018
REGISTRATION FEES • ALL INCLUSIVE - 3 day Conference: $525 • Wednesday Keynotes and Oil Kings Game: $118 • 1-Day Conference Thursday or Friday: $250 • 2-Day Conference Thursday and Friday $425
PARENT & STUDENT DISCOUNT: $25
3-DAY PACKAGE INCLUDES: Access to all 3 days of the event including Keynote speakers at Rogers Place, Oil Kings game Wednesday evening, all Thursday and Friday speakers, Thurs & Fri meals, & snacks and conference handbook. Free parking at Rogers Place will be provided to the first 200 registrants. *Wednesday Employment Luncheon and meals at Rogers Place are NOT included
ADDITIONAL OPTIONS EMPLOYMENT LUNCHEON with Michael John Carley WED Jan 24, Rogers Place: $75 POKER TOURNAMENT Thursday Jan 25TH, 7:00 pm: $100 TELL ME A STORY GALA FOR AUTISM Friday Jan 26TH, 7:00 pm: $125
*Conference registrations are refundable up to December 22nd with a $25 cancellation fee. After December 22nd, conference registrations are NON-REFUNDABLE; however they can be transferred to another by contacting our office.
LIVE WEBCASTING WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR SOME SESSIONS. Please see www.childrensautism.ca for updates on webcasting as they are available.
TO REGISTER PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT:
WWW.CHILDRENSAUTISM.CA OR CALL (780) 495-9235 FOR MORE INFO Please contact our office if you are interested in discussing sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities.