Conference Description

Friday, November 14

Gary Mesibov

Structured Teaching

One of the world’s leading autism experts, Professor Gary Mesibov, former director of Division TEACCH in North Carolina, in the United States is coming to Calgary to speak to families, educators and therapists!

The TEACCH program has developed and taught strategies and programs (commonly referred to as structured teaching) that has served people with ASD all over the world of all ages and all levels of functioning. Structured teaching is based on the understanding of the neurological differences that research has identified in people with ASD and then adjusting educational, self-help, social and community-based program approaches to more closely match the learning strengths and needs of our children and youth with ASD.

This presentation will describe some of the learning differences that have been identified in people with ASD, and will show how these can be accommodated by making adaptations in how educational programs are created and delivered to assist people with ASD to think, learn and understand more effectively and independently in the home, school and community. The emphasis will be placed on educational programs in inclusive settings as well as home and community-based strategies.

Dr. Gary B. Mesibov, internationally acclaimed speaker, was the Director of Division TEACCH at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 1992 until 2010. Prior to Dr. Mesibov’s appointment as Director of Division TEACCH, he served as the Division’s Co-Director from 1987 and the Associate Director from 1983.Dr. Mesibov also serves as Professor of Psychology, Dept. of Psychiatry, and Clinical Professor, Dept. of Psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

In 2010 he was given the American Association on Intellectual Developmental Disabilities award for service to people with disabilities and in the same year the Autism Society of America gave him their highest award, the Founders Award, given to those who have made substantial contributions to the field of autism spectrum disorders over a period of years. His world-wide contributions to the autism community have been numerous. Through his work, he has improved the lives of people affected by autism.

Saturday, November 15

Joyce Cooper-Kahn

Late, Lost and Unprepared:  How to Help Youth Build Better Executive Functioning

Executive functioning is an umbrella term for the mental processes that serve a supervisory role in thinking and behavior.  Individuals with autism spectrum disorders, attention disorders and learning disabilities all have weak executive skills.   For example, they may be disorganized and have trouble with planning, have weak ability to monitor their own behavior and performance, and struggle with situations where they must shift flexibly from one thought or behavior to another.  We can help these young people by creating plans that include both short-term supports for daily success and long term strategies that facilitate the development of executive skills and build greater independence over time.

This workshop will provide parents, teachers and other professionals with an understanding of executive functioning and how to help children who have weak executive skills.  First, we will focus on what research tells us about executive functioning.   We will use that information to consider practical principles of intervention, and we will apply these to intervention planning and to creating an “EF Smart” environment.  Participants will have the opportunity to consider the needs of an individual child and to create an intervention plan over the course of the day.  There will be ample time for questions and discussion to enhance learning.

Joyce Cooper-Kahn, Ph.D. is a clinical child psychologist with specific expertise in the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with executive functioning deficits. She is the author of two books on executive functioning: Late, Lost and Unprepared:  A Parent’s Guide to Helping Children with Executive Functioning (Woodbine House, 2008) written with co-author Dr. Laurie Dietzel, and Boosting Executive Skills in the Classroom:  A Practical Guide for Educators, written with Margaret Foster, M.A. (Jossey-Bass, 2013).

In her work, Dr. Cooper-Kahn brings together science, clinical experience, and an appreciation for the daily demands of those raising and teaching children. Her passion lies at this junction where psychology informs daily life.

For over 20 years, she has specialized in helping children, families and schools to successfully manage the full range of developmental challenges affecting children.   Dr. Cooper-Kahn has worked in a variety of settings, including Johns Hopkins Hospital and the Kennedy-Krieger Institute.  She is also the co-founder of Psychological Resource Associates, a private mental health practice in Severna Park, Maryland.

To register for this conference, or for more information, click here.