Session 1: (10:45am – 12:15pm)

1. Current Topics in Special Education
Presenter: Marty Mittnacht, Director of Special Education
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Updates from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

2. Una Conversación con Sara Vásquez
Presenter: Sara Vasquez
Continuar la conversación sobre el tema de la discapacidad con nuestra conferenciante principal en un ambiente mas íntimo y casual

3. Year in Review: Significant Cases, Legislation and Regulations in Special Education
Presenter: Dan Heffernan, Esquire
Kotin, Crabtree & Strong
Learn about new special education regulations, legislation, and how it affects school-based services for children with special needs.
Presentation

4. Special Needs Financial Planning – Demystified!
Presenters: Cynthia Haddad, CFP, John Nadworny, CFP, ChFC
Bay Financial Associates LLC
Learn how to develop a comprehensive special needs financial plan for each state of a child’s life. Presenters will share tips and planning strategies for parents, grandparents and siblings.
Presentation

5. Como se preparar para uma reuniao de IEP
Presenter: Patricia Schram, M.D.
Children's Hospital, Boston
Sera uma palestra interativa de como se preparar para uma reuniao de IEP e conseguir o que voce quer.
Presentation

6. Special Education Law and Children with ASD
Presenter: Leslie Hughes, Autism Public Education Specialist
Massachusetts Advocates for Children
Learn about changes to state and federal law that impact children with ASD, including the MA Autism IEP Act. Understanding these rights and procedures ensures children with ASD receive educational opportunities that reflect their competency and potential.

7. How to Find Your Way in a Medicaid World: Getting MassHealth Prior Approval for Durable Medical Equipment
Presenters: Svetlana Uimenkova, Esquire & Linda Landry, Esquire
Disability Law Center
This workshop will provide an overview of the MassHealth prior approval process for MassHealth consumers seeking funds for durable medical equipment.
Presentation | Handout

8. 教育評估：家長應該知道些什麼?
Presenter: Lusa Lo
University of Massachusetts, Boston
參加者將會認識教育評估結果、特殊教育服務以及「個人化教育計劃」年度目標/短期目標之間的關係。

9. Reasonable Job Accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act
Presenter: Kenneth An, Enforcement Supervisor
US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
This workshop will help parents, caregivers and individuals with disabilities/special needs plan for sustainable employment through reasonable job accommodations and will cover other general disability work related issues.
Handout

10. The Children’s Behavioral Health Initiative: Building a Strength-Based, Family-Driven System of Care
Presenter: Emily Sherwood, Director
Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services
Learn about the new MassHealth behavioral health services for MassHealth-enrolled children and youth, and the role of the Children’s Behavioral Health Initiative.
Presentation

11. Supporting Literacy Development for ALL Children
Presenter: Su Theriault, Mentor Coordinator, Instructor
Boston Ready
This interactive session will teach how and why to use rich vocabulary with children, with and without special needs, and how it benefits them socially, emotionally, physically and helps increase their understanding of the world around them.
Handout

12. Engaging ALL Families in Schools
Presenters: Roxanne Hoke-Chandler, Massachusetts PIRC @ FCSN
Kim Hunt, President, Massachusetts PTA
When parents partner with schools, they support their children’s education and improve school quality. Learn about the National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) standards for parent involvement, best practices, and partnership opportunities.
Presentation | Handout

13. Accessible Recreation for All
Presenter: Gigi Ranno, Project Director
Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation, Univeral Access Program
Learn about adaptive equipment and accessible outdoor recreation opportunities offered through the Universal Access Program so individuals with disabilities can enjoy safe, fun, no or low cost, year round outdoor activities in Massachusetts’ State Parks.
Handout

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Session 2: (1:30pm – 3:00pm)

14. An IEP Primer
Presenter: Madeline Levine, Assistant Director, Special Education Planning and Policy Development Office - Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
A session for parents new to the Individualized Education Plan process.
Presentation

15. Medecina & Arteteapia: Estimulandolos sentidos de las personas con discapacidad desde su propis casa
Presenters: Dr. Isadoro Zamudio, Daniela Felix
Whittier St. Health Clinic
Este taller ofrece creatividad, y alternativas prácticas para estimular los sentidos de una persona con discapacidades.

16. What Can We Learn From the Arts?
Presenters: Kati Blair, Nicole Agois
VSA arts of Massachusetts
Students learn and develop in different ways. This workshop demonstrates the benefits of arts-integrated education and provides examples of how parents can use art to support their children’s learning at home.
Handout

17. Improving the Social Skills of Individuals with ASD in Inclusive Classrooms
Presenter: Robert Putnam, Ph.D., BCBA
The May Institute
This workshop will discuss evidence-based practices to improve social skills of individuals with ASD, and provide examples about how to implement these practices in school and at home.

18. La participación efectiva de las familias en el proceso de transición
Presenter: Rosalia Fajardo, Outreach Director
Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center
Los participantes del taller aprenderán acerca de la perspectiva cultural de la participación de la familia, los efectos en el comportamiento de la crianza de los hijos relacionados con la participación, y cómo las familias quieren participar en la transición de sus hijos. Habrá tiempo para compartir estrategias para la participación de las familias.

19. Creating a Successful Respite Project
Presenters: Celia Brown, Seven Hills Foundation
Barbara Donati, Family TIES of Massachusetts @ FCSN
Learn how families, colleges and community agencies worked together to create a family-centered, free respite program for families with children and youth with special healthcare needs. Attendees will learn how they can adapt this model to their community.
Presentation | Handout

20. Educational Assessments: What Parents Should Know
Presenter: Lusa Lo
University of Massachusetts, Boston
Participants will learn about educational assessments and the relationships between evaluation results, special education services, and IEP goals and objectives.

21. Avaliando e Tratando de Crianças com Problemas de Comportamento
Presenter: Ana Turrer, Psychologist
North Suffolk Mental Health Association
Essa palestra será uma conversa com o grupo sobre problemas comportamentais. Nesta palesta será aprensentada aos pais estratégias que os ajudarão a avaliar e lidar com os problemas de comportamento.

22. What You Can Do at Home to Prepare Your Teen for Post-Secondary Learning, Work, and Independent Living
Presenter: Arlyn Roffman, Ph.D., Professor of Special Education
Lesley University
Learn practical strategies you can use at home to empower your teen, teach life skills and self-determination in preparation for continued education, work, community life and all aspects of adult life.
Presentation | Handout

23. Medications and Choices: What Parents and Youth Say about Psychiatric Medications
Presenters: Lisa Lambert, Meri Viano
Parent Professional Advocacy League (PAL)
An increasing number of children and youth are prescribed psychiatric medications. What does the family need to know in order to make a decision about their use? Learn the results of a family-driven research study, and share your experiences.
Presentation

24. 根据美國殘疾人法案的合理的工作輔助設施
Presenter: Kenneth An, Enforcement Supervisor
US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
這次研討會將幫助家長，照顧者和殘疾人士/通過合理的工作輔助設施﹐可持續就業的特殊需求計划以及包括其他一般殘疾工作有關的問題。

25. Sexuality Concerns and Your Child: Talking About Sensitive Issues
Presenter: Sally Fogel
AASECT Certified Sexuality Educator
It’s not easy to talk about sexual issues, but being able to have this conversation with your child, teen or young adult is important. Sexuality and sexual behavior are very much in the news; it’s up to us to clarify the messages we want our young people to have.
Handout

26. The Massachusetts Families Organizing for Change Family Leadership Series
Presenters: Panel, Massachusetts Families Organizing for Change
The Family Leadership Series (FLS) shares “best practices” for people with disabilities, helps families create a vision for their family member, and assists them in achieving that vision. Listen to a panel of FLS graduates share how this series helped their family, and what it can do for yours.

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Session 3: (3:30pm – 5:00pm)

27. Functional Behavior Assessment: It’s not all about getting attention!
Presenter: Anne Howard, Ph.D., Professor of Special Education
Fitchburg State College
Learn about Functional Behavior Assessments - how they are done at school and can be done at home – and how to use the information to develop a Behavior Support Plan.
Handout

28. Person-Centered Plans: Bridges to Tomorrow
Presenters: Dr. Christine Shane, Fitchburg State College
Patricia Pakos, M.S., Arc of Massachusetts
Explore the WHO, WHAT, WHEN, and WHY of Person-Centered planning. Learn how to connect the Person-Centered Plan to write Transition Plan goals around the student’s strengths, talents, interests and dreams, so it becomes a bridge to adult life.

29. ADHD y la dinámica de la Familia
Presenter: Dr. Rosanna Batista
Children's Hospital, Boston
Este taller interactivo ofrece una visión general de los síntomas, los tipos de diagnósticos, los comportamientos de los 5 a los 12 años de edad, de los niños con ADHD. El presentador compartirá la perspectiva dinamica de la familia latina.
Presentation

30. Evaluations: The Legal A to Zs
Presenters: Constance Hilton, Esquire & Tim Sindelar, Esquire
Hilton, Sindelar, and Hahn
Families will their legal rights to school evaluations for children with disabilities, including the right to independent evaluations and how to work with professional to get effective evaluation reports that can improve your child’s special education services.
Presentation

31. Spotlight: A Social Skills Intervention for Children and Adolescents with Asperger’s, HFA, and other Core Social-Emotional Deficits
Presenters: Brian Gordon, Kim Zahlaway
Spotlight Program at the North Shore Arc
Spotlight is a clinically-based social program for children 6 – 22 years old. Learn how the use of theater, video, and knowledge-based trivia games help children develop social emotional confidence.
Presentation | Handout

32. Como Hablar con Su Doctor
Presenter: Dr. Rebeca Alvarez Altalef
The Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center
Se enfoca en como mejorar su comunicación con su Medico, para que sus citas sean eficientes y completas. Tambien describe las obligaciones que su Doctor tiene hacia la familia y el paciente. Habran sugerencias de cómo hacer su visita al medico una experiencia educativa.
Presentation

33. Hearing and Vision Impairments in Children w/ Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Presenters: Adria Hodas, MSN, RN & Laurie Denno, MA, BCBA
Perkins School for the Blind
This workshop will provide an overview of hearing and visual impairments in children with intellectual/developmental disabilities and strategies for working with these children who are blind, deaf, or deaf/blind.
Presentation

34. Deficit de Atencao- como ajudar sua crianca
Presenters: Patricia Schram, M.D., Children's Hospital Boston
Ana Turrer, Psychologist, North Suffolk Mental Health Association
Uma discussao das causas e tratamentos do deficit de atencao e como voce pode ajudar sua crianca.
Presentation

35. Championing Your Child: What Your School Principal and Your Pediatrician Want You to Know
Presenters: Joe Petner & Lisa Dobberteen
Today’s children grow up in a complex world. Learn how to work with all the adults in your child’s life to better advocate for needed services in various settings: school, childcare, medical settings, and more.

36. We Are Able
Presenters: Panel of Young Adults
A panel of young adults with disabilities shares their perspectives about transition. Watch a video they created to raise awareness of the issues they faced and listen to a discussion of how they overcame them.
Handout

37.Turning Three
Presenter: Julie Sinclair
Parent Training and Information Project @ FCSN
Learn the differences between Early Intervention and publicly funded preschool for children with disabilities. Eligibility for special education, the Team process for decision making and the parents’ role in the transition process to preschool will be discussed.

38. Health Care Transition for All Youth: Changing Roles & Preparing for the Difference
Presenters: Dr. Richard Antonelli, Mallory Cyr, Patti Hackett
Healthy and Ready to Work National Resource Center
Children and Youth with special health care needs want a full range of opportunities like everyone else. Learn how to prepare your youth for this changing role, and develop the skills to promote health and self-determination as they move to eligibility based adult services and supports.

39. 家長在家里應該做些什麼以便准備青少年中學後的學習，工作和獨立生活。
Presenter: Arlyn Roffman, Ph.D., Professor of Special Education
Lesley University
认识可以在家里使用的實用方法以加強青少年，教育他們的生活技能和自我決定的能力，以准備繼續接受教育，工作，社區的生活及各方面的成人生活。

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