Training Programs

National Speaker Conference
Michelle Garcia Winner, MA CCC-SLP

October 26-27, 2006
Quidnessett Country Club
North Kingstown, RI

Thursday: 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

                                                                  Day One Only                        Day 1 & 2
Fees:                               Early Bird*          Regular       Early Bird*       Regular

*Early Bird registration applies to all registrations received WITH payment BEFORE October 6, 2006.

St. Joseph Hospital for Specialty Care is approved by the Continuing Education Board of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) to provide continuing education activities in speech-language pathology and audiology.  This program is offered for 1.1 CEUs (Intermediate level; Professional area). ASHA CE Provider approval does not imply endorsement of course content, specific products, or clinical procedures.

Department of Education

Continuing Education/Professional Development will be offered by the DOE for 11 contact hours.

About our Speaker

Michelle Garcia Winner, speech language pathologist and specialist for persons with social cognitive deficits, is internationally recognized as an innovative therapist, energetic and enthusiastic workshop presenter and author based in San Jose, Ca. where she runs her private practice, the Center for Social Thinking. Michelle and her team specialize in developing further understanding and educational strategies for helping persons with social thinking/social communicative deficits, including those with High Functioning Autism (HFA), Asperger Syndrome (AS), Pervasive Developmental Disability Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS) and Non-Verbal Learning Disabilities (NLD). Michelle's therapists have at least a master's level education in a related field (e.g. speech language pathology, education, psychology).

Michelle has developed the I LAUGH Model of social cognition to help explain the complex difficulties our students experience socially and academically. She has written four books: "Inside Out: What Makes The Person With Social Cognitive Deficits Tick?" (2001) and "Thinking About You Thinking About Me" (2002), "Worksheets! for Teaching Social Thinking and Related Skills," and "Think Social! A Social Thinking Curriculum for School-Age Children."

She has released a training video/DVD, produced through The Gray Center, entitled “Social Thinking Across The School And Home Day” (2003) and another DVD, Strategies for Organization: Preparing for Homework and the Real World," which comes with an instructional booklet. All of Michelle’s work is very practical. She has a knack for taking abstract concepts and explaining them in concrete ways to the benefit of educators and students alike.

Program Description

Thursday

Social Cognitive Deficits Across the School and Home Day: The ILAUGH Model of Social Cognition.

Designed for parents & professionals to understand the inner mind of persons high on the Autism Spectrum (Asperger Syndrome, PDD-NOS or High Functioning Autism), with ADHD, Non-Verbal Learning Disability or have no working diagnosis but they fit the clinical picture! Participants will learn not only functional treatment strategies they can use both at school and at home, but they will also better understand why these students' react and respond the way they do.

On this day we will introduce the I LAUGH model of Social Cognition which helps to demonstrate how social processing difficulties impact not only social skills but also the ability to work as part of a group and focus on specific academic tasks such as written expression, reading comprehension and organizational skills for many of our students.

We will also address how best to approach writing IEP goals that impact real, albeit, slow change in how students understand the world around them. Concepts related to assessment will also be introduced and the problem with using only standardized tests to qualify these students will also be explored. This workshop is noted for its depth in explaining WHY students with social skills difficulties have related academic challenges, which impact them across their school and home day.

Friday

The Nuts and Bolts of Starting Social Thinking Programs: Practical Strategies for Assessment and LIFE.

Attendance at “Understanding Social Thinking Across the Home and School Day” is required to fully appreciate the information presented on this day.

This workshop is designed for parents and professionals to gain more specific knowledge about assessing and teaching our students at home and at school. On this day the audience will be required to work in small group activities and engage in active dialogue about informal/qualitative assessment and treatment techniques that will be specifically described for use in the classroom, home and in the therapy room.

Given that all people who live and work with these students are constantly engaged in their own “diagnostic treatment”, the day will begin with a video illustration of an informal assessment procedure that helps parents and professionals to more fully understand their child's range of social thinking strengths and weaknesses. Information reviewed in this assessment process will directly help with the planning of functional treatment plans. This information is useful not only for the speech language pathologist but also the paraprofessional, parent, classroom teacher, etc.

In the afternoon, participants will learn more specifically about how to develop a “ME Binder” to teach a student about his own IEP; Social Behavior Mapping, a user-friendly strategy to help explain to students why behavioral expectations exist in all places but vary from activity to activity. Strategies will be reviewed for running social thinking groups; participants can practice these in small group experiences.

This workshop has helped to illuminate how to break down abstract concepts into more concretely defined teachable moments!

Click here to download a brochure/registration form.

Register Online

Parent to Parent

General Description:
As parents navigate their way through the special education system, they find comfort and support from other families living with Autism.  Parent to Parent was created from this concept.  Parent coaches are trained to educate and support families as they begin their journey in learning and living with Autism. The class is designed to be an introductory level program.

The class is facilitated by two trained parents, along with a licensed MSW, SLP, OT or PT on the team to support the parents.

The program is offered in both English and Spanish.

Series Topics

1. General Overview of Three Core Deficits
2. Visual Learning Style and Supports
3. Close-ending Activities for your Child
4. Intro to Communication
5. Positive Advocacy

Fall 2006
Spanish
September 11 through October 16, 2006

A Starting Point

A 9 week training series for parents and professionals working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Fall session runs from September 20-November 8. Classes are held Wednesday nights at our training center. $299.00 for professionals, $75.00 for parents. Space is limited.  [more]
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ASpire

General Description:
Individuals living with Asperger Syndrome face unique challenges and often times their distinctive strengths can mask areas of need.

The ASpire Series is a five-week program designed to teach parents and professionals about the unique characteristics and learning styles of individuals with AS and how they impact their success at home, in school and in the community.

Series Topics:

1. Introduction to Asperger Syndrome
2. Social Communication & Social Relationships
3. Marching to the Beat of a Different Drum Part I,
4. Marching to the Beat of a Different Drum Part II and Open Forum
5. Open Forum

Scheduled Series

Fall 2006
October 3 through November 7

Date: Tuesday evenings
Time: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at our Cranston Office
Fee: Professionals $299.00
Parent Scholarship to $75.00
Credit: 18 contact hours from DOE

Register Online

Click here for Social Skills Programming